Princess Cruises Increases Gratuity Rates

Princess Cruises just announced higher gratuity rates. The cruise line is also adding a bigger service charge to food and drinks bought onboard.

New Daily Gratuity Rates for Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises started charging more for daily crew tips on March 8, 2026. The company calls these charges “Crew Appreciation” fees.

Suite guests now pay $20 per person each day. This is up from $19. Mini Suite, Cabana, and Reserve Collection passengers will pay $19 per day instead of $18.

All other cabin types went from $17 to $18 per day. These new rates only affect guests without Princess Premier or Princess Plus packages. Those packages already include the crew gratuities.

The charges get added to your onboard account automatically. You can change the amount up or down before you leave the ship if you want.

Higher Service Charges on Food and Drinks

Princess also raised its service charge on food and beverage purchases. The rate went from 18% to 20%. This applies to guests without drink packages or the Premier and Plus plans.

“These changes help us keep pace with rising operational costs while ensuring we continue recognizing the exceptional service our crew provide worldwide,” Princess said in a statement.

The cruise line stressed that all collected gratuities go directly to crew members. Princess said they’re “committed to delivering outstanding value and memorable vacations for our guests.”

Other Cruise Lines Are Raising Rates Too

Princess isn’t alone in this move. Carnival Cruise Line announced similar changes in February. They raised daily gratuity rates and drink package prices on April 2.

These price increases happen regularly across the cruise industry. Danny Genung is the CEO of Harr Travel, a travel agency. He says cruise companies raise fees because of inflation and economic changes.

“You look at the cost of hotels and transportation, fuel and food and everything else, and I think it’s really just a normal response,” Genung said. “You know, compensating employees, offsetting costs that have increased.”

What This Means for Your Cruise Budget

The rate increases are modest but can add up. A seven-day cruise for two people in a regular cabin now costs $252 in gratuities. That’s $14 more than before the increase.

Suite passengers pay even more. The same seven-day cruise for two in a suite costs $280 in gratuities. That’s $14 more than the previous rate.

Remember that these charges are separate from your cruise fare. Add them to your budget when planning your trip. You can prepay gratuities before your cruise if you prefer. This helps avoid surprises on your final bill.