Holland America Line has quietly added an announcement to the “Crew Appreciation & Service Charge Policy” web page of its web site noting that as of February 1, 2023, gratuity charges might be growing. While the rise is comparatively minimal, this follows the development of different cruise strains likewise elevating gratuity charges.
Holland America Line Raising Gratuities
Holland America Line, a part of Carnival Corporation & plc, has introduced a slight enhance in gratuity charges to take impact on all sailings from February 1, 2023. The enhance might be $.50 (USD) per visitor per day in all stateroom classes.
The new price will then be $17.50 per particular person per day for company in suites, and $16.00 per particular person per day in non-suite stateroom classes comparable to balcony, oceanview, and inside staterooms.
Holland America Line describes these charges as “a daily amount for each guest that will be automatically added to your onboard account for your convenience, to recognize the efforts of a wide variety of crewmembers who contribute to the experiences of all our guests.”
Guests have the choice to regulate crew appreciation and repair prices at their discretion, up till disembarkation, at which period the cost turns into last and nonrefundable. Pre-paid gratuities are thought of nonrefundable from the time of buy, and no further quantity might be added to company’ onboard accounts if the quantities are already paid.
Holland America Line has not clarified whether or not or not company booked on sailings after February 1, 2023 can nonetheless pre-pay gratuities earlier than that date to reap the benefits of the decrease price, which stays at $17 per particular person per day for suites and $15.50 per particular person per day for non-suites by January 31.
Other Cruise Lines Also Raising Gratuities
The announcement from Holland America Line follows a related enhance from Princess Cruises, which is elevating gratuity charges by $1.50 per particular person, per day for all cabin and suite classes, efficient on Wednesday, December 14, 2022.
While the price change for Princess Cruises is thrice as excessive as that for Holland America Line, Princess Cruises’ day by day gratuities had been already considerably decrease than Holland America Line’s. Now, each strains can have charges of $16 per particular person per day for all non-suite cabins, although Princess Cruises’ suite gratuities vary from $17-18 per day relying on the precise stateroom class.
Similarly, Norwegian Cruise Line additionally just lately introduced an enhance in day by day gratuities beginning on January 1, 2023. After that date, charges will enhance steeply as follows (all charges are per visitor, per day):
- $25 for the Haven and suite company (up from $20)
- $20 for membership balcony suites (up from $18)
- An further $4 day by day for all different cabin sorts
Will Other Cruise Lines Raise Service Charges?
While no different cruise strains have but indicated a change in gratuity charges or service charges, traditionally when one line will increase the speed, most different main strains comply with.
This could also be very true with strains beneath the identical company umbrella, which implies related gratuity will increase might be coming for Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Cunard Line, or Seabourn, all of that are a part of Carnival Corporation & plc.
Similarly, the opposite cruise strains which can be a part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings – Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises – might also see gratuity will increase.
At the second, there have been no upcoming gratuity will increase introduced for any line within the Royal Caribbean Group, which incorporates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea Cruises, TUI Cruises, and Pullmantur Cruises.
Royal Caribbean International did enhance gratuities in September 2022, nonetheless, elevating charges by $1.50 per particular person per day ($16.00 whole) for normal staterooms, and $1 per particular person per day for suites ($18.50 whole).
Disney Cruise Line additionally increased gratuities in July 2022, elevating charges by $1 per particular person per day, for a complete of $14.50 day by day for many staterooms, and $15.50 day by day for concierge staterooms and suites, charges that at the moment are among the many lowest within the business.
Given that Disney theme parks have introduced price hikes for various ticket sorts and season passes, it’s not unreasonable to anticipate a gratuity enhance coming quickly for the cruise line. Stay tuned to Cruise Hive for updates.