If you’ve cruised in the last decade, you’ve probably noticed how tipping has shifted. Instead of worrying about who to tip and when, most cruise lines now add automatic gratuities to your onboard account—usually around $16 to $25 per person, per day. It keeps things simple and helps ensure crew across the ship are paid fairly, including many you’ll never meet but rely on every day.
But one question still gets cruisers debating: do crew members actually prefer cash tips over automatic gratuities?
A former cruise ship waiter recently shared their perspective in a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” (AMA), and their answers quickly caught attention. Here’s what they said—and what cruisers might want to know before their next sailing.
Life Behind the Scenes (According to Someone Who Lived It)
The former waiter explained that their ship sailed under a Maltese flag, so details can vary by cruise line. Still, much of what they described will sound familiar to many cruisers.
Automatic gratuities were already included in their pay, with the chance to earn extra bonuses based on how their department performed. Guests could also leave additional tips, either in cash during the cruise or through envelopes given out near the end where names and departments could be written.
The important part is this: crew pay didn’t depend on cash tips. Those were always optional and on top of what they already earned. That’s why, when asked whether they preferred automatic gratuities or cash, the answer wasn’t surprising—but the reason behind it was.
Why Cash Still Feels Different
The waiter didn’t say they preferred cash because it made them richer. They preferred it because it felt different.
“I preferred if they gave me cash because then I would not touch my bank account and in my head it means I’m not spending money😂 if that makes sense.”
That line resonated with a lot of cruisers for one simple reason: it’s relatable. Cash doesn’t feel like “salary.” It feels like a bonus. Something you might save, stash away, or use for something meaningful later—especially when you’re living onboard for months at a time.
For guests, that helps explain why cash tips often feel more personal. They don’t replace automatic gratuities, but they do feel like a direct thank-you handed from one person to another.
Read more: Don’t Be That Guest: 17 Awkward Tipping Fails That Quietly Make Staff Cringe
Real Numbers: What Cash Tips Actually Look Like
So what kind of cash tips did that actually amount to?
According to the AMA, on a “normal” sailing, the waiter said they might receive around €100 (about $117 USD) in direct cash tips. It’s not a huge amount, but it’s enough to stand out as extra.
On a short five-day cruise, the numbers added up quickly. They received €300 in cash while guests were still onboard, including €100 from one particularly generous passenger. After the cruise ended, another €350 came through the envelope system, and once again, the largest single tip—€150—came from that same guest.
The pattern is pretty clear: most guests tip modestly, a few go above and beyond, and those moments tend to be the most memorable.
It’s Not Always About Money
One of the most memorable moments the waiter shared had nothing to do with cash at all.
During a casual conversation, they mentioned missing Cola Haribos. The next night, a guest surprised them with a bag.
“It feels like we matter and are not just another sea in the ocean basically. Little things matter.”
That sentence hits harder than any dollar amount. Crew members spend months away from home, working long hours in tight spaces. Being treated like a person—not just “staff”—is what sticks with them.
The waiter also summed up what they loved most from guests very simply:
“I loved it when they were just very friendly and treated us like humans… And hated it when they were very rude.”
How Cruisers Feel About Cash Tips
Once the discussion hit social media, it quickly turned into a debate about cash tipping itself. Some cruisers said they strongly support giving cash on top of prepaid gratuities, especially after hearing how much crew members sacrifice.
One commenter wrote, “Most of the cruise workers are away from their families for 6 months or more. Most of them work extra hard, so please give them an extra tip, and keep a smile for us and them.” For these cruisers, cash tips feel like a direct, personal way to show appreciation.
Others pushed back just as firmly, saying extra cash tipping shouldn’t be expected. One blunt response summed it up as, “It’s called a job!” while another added, “I’m not walking around handing out cash like Santa Claus when I’ve already pre paid.”
Many cruisers landed somewhere in the middle, saying things like “I tip all the time. Including pre paid,” or “I always do it in cash.” A common middle-ground view was simple: “Always bring extra cash, gifts, candy and thank you cards.”
The reaction shows just how divided cruisers are when it comes to cash tipping—and why the topic keeps coming up again and again online.
So What Should Cruisers Actually Do?
The short answer is that automatic gratuities and cash tips serve different purposes. Automatic gratuities help ensure steady pay for crew across the ship, including many people you’ll never interact with directly. Removing them doesn’t automatically redirect that money to the crew members you see most.
That said, when someone genuinely goes above and beyond—your cabin steward remembers your routine, your waiter knows your preferences, or a bartender makes your trip feel personal—cash tips are almost always appreciated. They’re a direct way to recognize exceptional service in the moment.
Many cruisers take a mixed approach: they leave automatic gratuities in place and tip selectively in cash for standout service. It keeps things simple, fair, and focused on enjoying the trip rather than overthinking how tipping works.
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