How to use the cruise gratuity calculator
- Enter the number of nights, the number of full-rate guests and the gratuity per guest per night from your booking. The starting rate is an example.
- If some guests pay a different rate, enter how many and what the rate is. Enter 0 for guests whose gratuity is waived.
- Open More options to add drinks, spa and shop bills and the service charge percent printed on them. The service charge starts at 0.
- Read the total, the cost per night and per guest, and the breakdown. Copy, Print or export the CSV.
Formula
full-rate guests = guests x nights x daily rate
other-rate guests = guests x nights x their rate
service charge = bills x service charge % (rounded half up to the cent)
total = full-rate + other-rate + service charge
Money is kept in whole cents. The per-night figure is the total divided by the number of nights, and the per-guest figure is the total divided by all guests.
Two guests for seven nights
Two guests at $16 a night for 7 nights come to 2 x 7 x $16 = $224, which is $32 a night and $112 per guest.
Add one guest at a reduced $8 a night for 7 nights ($56) and 18% service charge on $300 of bar bills ($54). The total becomes 224 + 56 + 54 = $334, or $111.33 per guest across three guests.
Where the numbers come from
Cruise lines handle gratuities in different ways. Some add a daily amount per guest to your onboard account, some let you prepay, and some let you change or remove it at guest services. The rate often depends on cabin type, and children may pay less or nothing. This page has no rates built in: take them from your booking or the line's own information.
A percentage service charge on drinks and spa treatments is a separate item from the daily gratuity, which is why it has its own box.
Budgeting for the full cost
Gratuities are one of several costs that come after the fare, along with port fees, excursions and drinks. For the rest, use the trip budget planner, and for tips elsewhere on the trip the tip calculator. The resort fee calculator shows how a per-night extra adds to a hotel stay, and the tip pool calculator is useful for group tips.
Whether to adjust a gratuity is your decision and the line's policy, and this page does not give an opinion on it.
Assumptions and limits
- Nights are whole numbers from 1 to 365. At least one guest is needed.
- Rates are what you enter. No cruise line or cabin rate is built in, and the starting $16 is an example.
- The service charge starts at 0 and applies only to the bills you enter.
- Nothing is stored or uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
How are cruise gratuities calculated?
Usually as a daily amount per guest multiplied by the number of nights. Enter the amount from your booking and the page multiplies it out for everyone in your group.
Are cruise gratuities the same on every line?
No. Rates, rules for children and options to prepay or adjust all differ by cruise line and cabin, so no rate is built in. Use the figures on your booking.
What is the service charge on drinks?
Many lines add a percentage to bar and spa bills automatically. Enter the total of those bills and the percent printed on them under More options to include it.
Can I get the cost per night?
Yes. The page shows the total divided by nights and the total divided by guests, which helps when you compare cruises or set a budget.