Via iStockphoto / @juuuelz TikTok
A Massachusetts woman says that Royal Caribbean staff don't get any portion of the pre-paid gratuity customers pay on ships. Is that true?
A Massachusetts woman aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship skipped a pre-paid gratuity under the assumption that the money wasn’t going to employees. Then she says she got a call from the cruise ship asking why she didn’t leave a tip.
In a video with more than 20,000 views, Juelz (@juuuelz), a content creator and teacher, explains what went down.
Wait, How Do Pre-Paid Gratuities Work?
For those who are unaware, Royal Caribbean requests pre-paid gratuities from customers. If a customer opts out of the pre-paid gratuity, they may receive a daily service charge while aboard. The daily charge ranges from $18.50 to $21, which many would assume goes directly in the crew’s pockets.
According to other cruise ship customers, the only way to remove both charges is to cancel any pre-paid payments before boarding. A customer then has to directly request the subsequent daily service charge be removed once they’re on the ship by visiting the guest relations desk. Royal Caribbean says the same, with the company’s website noting that “modifications cannot be made once the sailing has ended.”
The Phone Call
Juelz says she watched a video from another content creator, who claimed the gratuities were not going toward staff members.
“She was talking about how Royal Caribbean staff members have been reaching out to her to tell her that … they do not receive extra for those whole, you know, prepaid gratuities that the cruise line wants you to pay up front that allegedly is supposed to go to them,” Juelz says.
Because of the content creator’s video, Juelz made the move not to pay the standard pre-paid gratuities. Then, she says she got a call from Royal Caribbean.
“After I booked that cruise, guess who decided to call me? And guess what they wanted to talk about?” she asked. “Prepaid gratuities. I literally hung up the phone. I was like, ‘No, don’t worry. They’ll … be getting cash tips from my pocket when I’m on there.’”
Who Do The Royal Caribbean Tips Go To?
Royal Caribbean itself states that “gratuities collected are pooled and applied toward the compensation of onboard crew members, including dining, bar and culinary services staff, stateroom attendants, hotel services teams, and others who work to enhance the overall cruise experience.”
So it appears true that the gratuities go to workers. However, it seems to make up their compensation rather than being additional income. Royal Caribbean doesn’t hide this in its wording, as it says the gratuities are “applied toward the compensation” of its workers.
Cash Is King
This is why many recommend tipping in cash when possible.
“I bring 500$ in cash to SPECIFICALLY tip MY people. I tip them well. and still give them an envelope at the end of the cruise,” one said.
“Not paying gratitude is no longer optional thank goodness … for all those people who tried to get out of it! We not only pay the gratuities … we bring about $300 extra in cash, and on the last night we walk around and hand it out to our favorite people with a thank you note. kindness goes a long way,” a second shared.
A third shared that tipping in cash unexpectedly worked to their advantage.
“Fun fact – I bring 200-300 cash and tip the staff I use on day one / day two, better service all well then little more at the end,” they wrote.
@juuuelz I loooove how this is unfolding. #royalcarribean #cruisetips #cruiseship #cruisetok #cruiselife
BroBible reached out to Juelz and Royal Caribbean via email for comment.