There is probably no topic more discussed onboard among novice and experienced cruisers than tipping: when to tip, how much to tip, whom to tip.
It is important to understand that, technically speaking, no tip is ever required. A tip is a voluntary expression of thanks. On nearly all big-ship mainstream lines, the service crewmembers are dependent on the generosity of travelers for the vast majority of their salary. Luxury cruise lines often have no tipping policies. In these cases, the gratuities are built into the fares.
With the evolution of the cruise industry and increasingly diverse population of cruisers, tipping is confusing: Europeans expect a surcharge to be added to their account for first class service while the Japanese typically do not tip. This is a great article from Cruise Critic explaining the hows and whys of tipping. Insiders guide to cruise tipping
