Carnival charges you $16 to $18 per person per day in automatic gratuities. It sounds simple enough until you realize that by the end of your cruise, you could be handing over a few hundred dollars in tips you never really agreed to.
Most people just let it slide. It’s expected. It’s built in. But not everyone thinks it’s fair.
What if the service didn’t match the price? What if you’d rather tip directly? And what if you don’t like being told who deserves what without any say?
That’s when the real questions start — and the answers aren’t always as obvious as Carnival makes them seem.
Can You Remove Gratuities on a Carnival Cruise?
Yes — but only if you didn’t prepay them.
You can remove or reduce gratuities by visiting Guest Services during your cruise, after the charges appear on your Sail & Sign account (usually on the second-to-last day) and before you disembark. Once you’re off the ship, it’s too late — the charges become final.
The process is simple: just ask. You don’t need special approval. Staff may ask why — often to log feedback — and they might remind you that gratuities are pooled and support crew members you may never see, not just your steward.
Important: If you prepaid gratuities, they’re treated as part of your cruise fare and are usually non-refundable once your trip begins.
Should You Remove Gratuities on a Carnival Cruise?
Let’s be real — this is one of the most divisive cruise topics out there.
Some cruisers say, “Don’t touch the tips — the crew works hard and deserves every penny.” Others fire back: “If I got mediocre service or prefer to tip directly, why should I pay a flat fee just because it’s expected?”
And honestly? Both sides have a point.
Carnival charges $16–$18 per person, per day. For a 7-day cruise, that’s $112–$126 per person — and even more for families. It adds up fast. So if you’d rather hand a $20 bill directly to the steward who made your week awesome, you’re not alone.
Some guests feel strongly that tipping should be optional, not baked into the cruise cost like a hidden tax. Others believe cruise lines should just pay their staff properly, instead of putting the burden on passengers to fill the gap.
Still, gratuities aren’t just for your waiter or steward. They’re pooled across departments, so part of that charge supports laundry teams, kitchen crews, and behind-the-scenes workers you’ll never meet.
At the end of the day, Carnival leaves the choice to you. If your service was exceptional — leave it on. If it wasn’t? Adjust it. Remove it. Do what feels fair to you. No guilt trip needed.
What Are Gratuities on a Carnival Cruise?
Gratuities on a Carnival cruise are service charges automatically applied to each guest to help compensate the crew for the work they do throughout your trip.
Daily Gratuity Charges
Carnival applies a daily service charge to every guest’s account to cover these tips. For standard staterooms, the current rate is $16 USD per person, per day. If you’re staying in a suite, the rate is $18 USD per person, per day. These amounts are charged per guest, not per room, and they apply to everyone aged 2 and older.
When and How Gratuities Are Applied
You have the option to prepay your gratuities at the time of booking or any time before your cruise begins. If you don’t prepay, Carnival will add the gratuity charges to your Sail & Sign account automatically during your cruise — typically on the second-to-last day. These will then be settled along with any other onboard purchases before you disembark.
Gratuity Exemptions
The only general exemption to Carnival’s gratuity policy is for children under the age of 2, who are not charged daily gratuities. Aside from that, the charges apply to all other guests equally, regardless of stateroom type, group size, or itinerary length.
What Gratuities Cover and Who They Support
The gratuities you pay on a Carnival cruise help compensate a wide range of crew members who keep your trip running smoothly — from your stateroom steward and dining staff to the kitchen and housekeeping teams working behind the scenes. The system is pooled, so your daily charge is shared across departments, not just given to one person.
Still, not every crew member is included. Spa workers, casino staff, shop employees, and some management roles are usually paid differently — often through commissions or separate salary structures — and aren’t part of the gratuity pool.
Prepaid vs Onboard Gratuities: What’s the Difference?
When booking your Carnival cruise, you can either:
- Prepay gratuities before sailing (charged to your card and locked in as part of your cruise fare)
- Pay onboard, where charges are added to your Sail & Sign account (usually on the second-to-last day)
Prepaying can be convenient if you want to get the cost out of the way early or are paying off your cruise in installments. Just keep in mind that once the cruise begins, prepaid gratuities are typically non-refundable.
If you wait to pay onboard, you have more flexibility. You can adjust or remove the charge at Guest Services — but only before you disembark. This option also lets you use onboard credit to cover the cost, which isn’t possible if you prepay.
Can You Remove Prepaid Gratuities on a Carnival Cruise?
Carnival gives guests the option to prepay gratuities either when booking the cruise or anytime before the sail date. Once paid, these gratuities are treated as part of your overall cruise fare and are generally non-refundable once the cruise begins.
That means if you decide later that you want to remove them, you won’t be able to do so through the usual onboard process. Unlike gratuities added to your Sail & Sign account during the cruise, prepaid gratuities have already been charged to your card in advance and are not designed to be reversed.
That said, Carnival does leave a bit of room for discretionary adjustments if something goes wrong. If you’re genuinely unhappy with the service you received, you can still speak with Guest Services while onboard.
While there’s no guarantee, some guests have been able to request a partial or full refund of their prepaid gratuities in specific cases. These situations are handled case by case, and any issues should be brought up before disembarkation.
Can You Reduce the Gratuities Amount on a Carnival Cruise?
Yes, Carnival does allow guests to reduce the amount of gratuities if they feel the service onboard didn’t meet expectations. To do this, you’ll need to visit the Guest Services desk during your cruise and request an adjustment. It’s a simple process, but you should be prepared to briefly explain your reasoning.
Like gratuity removals, this must be done before you disembark, as any changes to gratuity charges cannot be made once the cruise has ended. This option gives guests a bit of flexibility, especially if their experience was mixed rather than outright negative.
Cruiser’s Choice: Do What Feels Fair
Now that you know how Carnival’s gratuity system works, the next step is figuring out what feels right for you. The charges are added automatically, but that does not mean you are locked in. Carnival gives you the flexibility to make your own call.
If the service truly improved your cruise, many would say the default gratuities are well deserved. But if the experience was mixed, or if you are cruising on a tight budget, you might prefer to take a different approach — and that’s completely fine.
Here are a few things to consider:
- Do you feel the service lived up to the charge?
- Would you rather tip specific crew members in person?
- Are you traveling with a larger group where costs add up quickly?
- Do you want to use onboard credit to cover gratuities instead of paying upfront?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. What matters most is that you understand your options and feel good about your decision. Whether you keep the charge as it is or adjust it based on your experience, the choice is yours — and that is exactly how it should be.
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