GALVESTONCRUISES.COM: Carnival, Royal Caribbean & Princess Cruises from Texas to Mexico

Onboard Credits are added to your ship-board account upon checkin at the terminal.
Onboard Credit are typically non-transferable and non-refundable.
Onboard Credits may not be applied to cruise fare or Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses.
Check the rate information for specific terms applicable to this particular sale.

It is customary to extend gratuities (tips) to the shipboard staff for their services. How much to tip is a personal matter and completely up to our guests.

Carnival's recommended guideline to what is appropriate is $16 USD per person, per day for guests in standard stateroom accommodations and $18 USD per person, per day for guests booked in suites. The majority of the tipping amount goes to employees such as stateroom stewards, assistant stewards, dining room waiters and assistant waiters. A small portion goes to a mix of other personnel who are in guest-facing customer service positions within areas such as culinary and hotel services, along with certain key positions in entertainment and guest services.

Here is the breakdown, per day:

Housekeeping Team: $5.50 ($7.50 for suites)
Dining Team: $6.50
Alternative Services: $2.50

Tipping applies regardless of the dining options selected, such as eating at the casual dining restaurant or open seating dining.

You may choose to prepay your gratuities now at the time of booking, or have them added once onboard.

If you choose not to prepay, Carnival will automatically add the recommended gratuities to the your Sail & Sign account toward the end of the cruise.

Guests less than two years of age are not required to extend gratuities.

Should a guest not be satisfied with the service they receive, they can vist the Guest Services desk while onboard. This will allow Carnival to address their concerns in a timely and appropriate fashion. At the discretion of the guest, they may adjust the gratuities at any time while onboard. Gratuities will be deemed undisputed unless a request to modify is received prior to disembarking the ship.

Royal Caribbean's suggested gratuity guidelines take in account the crew members that work hard to provide and maintain the highest level of service while sailing the high seas. Whether working behind the scenes or serving your evening meal, the staff and crew make sure you enjoy every moment spent onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean will automatically add a $13.50 USD gratuity per guest for standard staterooms and $16.50 USD for each Suite guest.

Here is the breakdown, per day:

Standard Staterooms:
Stateroom Attendant: $3.45
Dining Services: $6.35
Other Hotel Services: $3.70

Suite Staterooms:
Suite Attendant: $6.10
Dining Services: $6.35
Other Hotel Services: $4.05

Tipping applies regardless of the dining options selected, such as eating at the casual dining restaurant or open seating dining.

You may choose to prepay your gratuities now at the time of booking, or have them added once onboard.

If you choose not to prepay, Royal Caribbean will automatically add the recommended gratuities to the your SeaPass® account on a daily basis.

Gratuities apply to individual guests of all ages and stateroom categories.

In the unlikely event that a guest onboard being charged the daily automatic gratuity does not receive satisfactory service, the guest may request to modify the daily amount at their discretion by visiting the Guest Services desk during their cruise. Guests can make modifications to the daily charge up until the morning of departure from the cruise. Guests who prepaid gratuities are not able to modify while onboard, but can contact Royal Caribbean or their travel agent post-cruise to request any modifications.

Carnival's rates with non-refundable deposits offer a great incentive for guests who have their vacation dates set and do not plan to make changes to the sailing or guests.

• Guests who cancel prior to the final payment date will receive a future cruise credit in the amount of the deposit received less a $50 USD service fee per person.
• Future cruise credits are issued in the name of the original payee, regardless of whether they were ever booked in the cancelled reservation. For bookings paid with a travel agency credit card or check, the cruise credit will then be issued in the name of the cancelled guest.
• The future cruise credit can only be redeemed on bookings made in USD currency, will be applied to guests’ cruise fare, is non-refundable, non-transferable and any unused portion will be forfeited.
• Guests must sail within 24 months from the date of the cancellation.
• Cancellations that occur after the final payment due date are subject to standard cancellation penalties.

Royal Caribbean's Non-Refundable Deposit program will allow you to book at the best available rate.

Non-refundable deposit bookings ("NRDB") cancelled prior to final payment due date will receive a future cruise credit in the amount of the deposit minus a $100 per person service fee ("FCC"). FCC is non-transferable and expires after 12-months from issue date. $100 per person service fee applies to changes to NRDB ship or sail date. Deposits made toward Guarantees and Grand Suites and higher categories are non-refundable and are subject to NRD Booking Terms.