7. Tipping
What You'll Pay: Tipping policies vary by line; many recommend about $10 to $12 per passenger, per day, to be distributed among those who provide key services -- dining room waiters, assistant waiters and cabin stewards. If you have butler service, be prepared to tip extra. Bar tabs are automatically charged a 15 percent gratuity. When the maitre d' performs a special service, such as arranging for a birthday cake to be brought to the table, he should be tipped, as well.
Savings Tip: Generally, tipping is not an area where you can save money. You can adjust the auto-gratuities at the ship's purser's desk or choose to tip below the recommended amount if you feel you've received subpar service. However, Cruise Critic discourages this in most cases. The ship's crewmembers -- particularly the waiters, assistant waiters and cabin stewards -- work hard and depend on tips to round out their salaries. Unless the service has been extremely poor, tip the recommended amount or add a little more, if you can, for outstanding attention.
