Princess Gratuities: $18 to $20 Crew Appreciation Per Day

Where these numbers come from

Princess calls its daily tip the crew appreciation charge. It posts to the onboard account every day and is sorted into three rates by cabin. It sits in addition to a percentage service charge on optional purchases.

The rates are $18 per person per day in most staterooms, $19 in mini-suites, cabanas and club class, and $20 in suites. The Reserve Collection is listed at the $19 tier in the policy page. The page does not list a separate child rate, so assume every guest on the booking pays. On Australian and New Zealand departures billed in AUD, the line says the daily charge no longer applies.

Here is a worked total for four guests on a 7-night cruise. Standard rooms: 4 x 7 x $18 = $504. Mini-suites: 4 x 7 x $19 = $532. Suites: 4 x 7 x $20 = $560, or $56 more than standard. Drinks bought separately at $300 of menu price carry a 20% charge, which adds $60. The cruise gratuity calculator can run other group sizes.

The service charge is 20% on optional purchases, including drinks and specialty restaurants, and the line calls it nonrefundable. Plus and Premier beverage terms state that bar service charges are included for qualifying drinks, so a Plus day at $65 does not need another 20% on top. The stand-alone Plus and Premier drink packages shown on the beverages page state a 20% service charge being applied, so check the final total.

Princess lets you adjust crew appreciation at any time before you settle your onboard account, up to disembarkation. Adjustments are at your discretion, and the charge cannot be refunded after the cruise ends. The Plus and Premier bundles prepay crew tips for guests 1 and 2, so the daily charge will not be billed for them.

Compared with the others, Princess's $18 standard rate matches the low end of the four lines here and sits below Norwegian's $20. Use the cruise cost calculator to add it to fare and taxes. For fares and dress rules read the Princess overview, and for break-even math use the Princess drink package page.

Sources

• Princess crew appreciation and service charge policy
• Princess FAQs: onboard experience
• Princess Plus and Premier packages

Figures checked on September 30, 2026.

This page is general information, not legal, insurance or travel-agent advice. Fees, rules and limits change, so confirm the figures with the official sources listed above before you book or travel.