My First Alaska Cruise with Princess Cruises… and it was NOT what I expected! From breathtaking glaciers to surprising onboard moments, this is my honest take on sailing to Alaska with Princess for the very first time.
Our cruise was a 7 night cruise on Discovery Princess, sailing from Seattle. In this Alaska cruise video I share what’s it really like on a Princess Alaska cruise? What was the itinerary like & did the excursions live up to the hype? How was the food, entertainment, and the ship itself?
If you’re planning an Alaska cruise or wondering if Princess is the right choice, this video is for you. You might be wondering if Princess is the best cruise for Alaska, whether cruising with kids or as seniors. I’m sharing my experience, tips I wish I knew, and what surprised me most about cruising Alaska.
We were hosted by Princess Cruises, however all opinions are my own.
Carnival gratuities are $17 per person, per day in standard cabins and $19 per person, per day in suites. These rates have applied since 2 April 2026, and everyone aged 2 and over is charged. You can prepay them online until about two days before you sail, or leave them to be added to your Sail & Sign account on board. Prepaying doesn’t save money at today’s rate. It does fix the price, spread the cost and keep your onboard bill smaller.
This guide covers exactly what you’ll pay, how Carnival prepaid gratuities work, the deadline, what happens if you cancel or want to make changes, and whether prepaying is worth it for your trip.
Carnival gratuities 2026: current daily rates
Cabin type
Per person, per day
Previous rate (before 2 April 2026)
Interior, ocean view, balcony
$17.00
$16.00
Suites
$19.00
$18.00
Children under 2
$0
$0
The $1 rise announced in February 2026 was Carnival’s first daily gratuity increase in about three years. The previous rates of $16 and $18 had applied since April 2023. Guests who prepaid before 2 April 2026 kept the old rate, whatever their sailing date.
Carnival says the daily charge is shared among the crew who look after you, including stateroom attendants, dining room and culinary teams, and crew working behind the scenes.
How Carnival prepaid gratuities work
Prepaying means paying the full daily gratuity for everyone in your cabin before you board, instead of having it posted to your onboard account each day.
Booked direct: log in to Manage My Booking on carnival.com and add prepaid gratuities. They are listed alongside other pre-cruise purchases.
Booked through a travel agent: ask your agent to add them. You may not be able to do this yourself online.
By phone: if your final payment date has passed, you can usually still add them by calling Carnival, but you’ll pay at the time you add them.
The amount is calculated automatically from the number of guests aged 2 and over and the length of the cruise. On board, crew see your prepaid status when your Sail & Sign card is scanned. Since October 2026 Carnival has also been piloting “Crew Love” stickers for the cards of guests who prepaid, starting on Carnival Sunrise. The response has been mixed and Carnival says it is evaluating the feedback, so you may or may not see one on your ship.
Prepay deadline
At the time of writing, prepaid gratuities can be bought online until 11:59pm Eastern Time two days before your sailing date. After that, the standard daily amount will simply post to your Sail & Sign account on board.
Does prepaying lock in the rate?
Yes. Prepaying fixes the price at the rate in force when you buy. If Carnival raises gratuities again before you sail, you won’t pay the difference. Carnival honoured this with the 2026 increase. That is the strongest financial reason to prepay early if you are booking far ahead.
Standard cabins, including balconies, are charged $17 per person per day. Photo: Isabella Mendes on Pexels
Worked example: what Carnival gratuities cost
Here’s what common trip types cost at 2026 rates. The figures are the same whether you prepay or pay on board, unless the rate changes before you sail.
Trip
Calculation
Total gratuities
2 adults, 4 nights, balcony
2 x 4 x $17
$136
2 adults, 5 nights, interior
2 x 5 x $17
$170
2 adults, 7 nights, balcony
2 x 7 x $17
$238
2 adults, 7 nights, suite
2 x 7 x $19
$266
2 adults + children aged 8 and 1, 7 nights
3 x 7 x $17 (under-2 free)
$357
4 adults, 7 nights, two cabins
4 x 7 x $17
$476
For a couple on a week-long cruise, $238 is a significant sum to see on the final bill. That is the main reason many people prefer to pay it months ahead.
The 20% service charges prepaying doesn’t cover
Prepaid daily gratuities only cover the daily charge. Carnival also adds a separate automatic service charge, raised from 18% to 20% in late 2025, to many purchases:
Bar drinks and drinks packages, including CHEERS! and Bottomless Bubbles. Bottomless Bubbles rose to $11.99 per adult, per day from April 2026, which comes to about $14.39 with the 20%.
Spa and salon treatments. A $109 massage comes to about $131.
Specialty dining cover charges.
Room service: there’s no automatic charge on food orders, but bar drinks ordered through room service carry the 20%. Many guests hand the delivery crew a few dollars in cash.
Carnival treats this 20% as a service charge rather than a discretionary tip, so it can’t be removed the way the daily gratuity can. Budget for it separately, especially if you’re weighing up a drinks package.
Can you adjust or remove Carnival gratuities?
If you didn’t prepay, you can ask Guest Services to raise, lower or remove the daily gratuity at any point during the cruise. It must be done before you disembark. Once you leave the ship, the charges are final.
If you did prepay, Guest Services generally can’t refund or reduce them on board, because the money has already been paid. Contact Carnival or your travel agent before sailing, ideally no later than 48 hours before departure, if you want them removed.
Removing gratuities is legal, but it is a contentious subject. Carnival’s crew pay is structured around the daily charge, so most regular cruisers only adjust it after a genuine service problem that hasn’t been fixed.
Refunds if you cancel
If your cruise is cancelled, or you cancel within your booking terms, prepaid gratuities are refunded to the original form of payment, along with other pre-cruise add-ons. Check your booking conditions if you cancel close to departure.
Guest Services is where you adjust any gratuities that weren't prepaid. Photo: Joolsmagools ®️ on Pexels
Using onboard credit and gift cards for gratuities
You generally can’t use onboard credit to prepay gratuities before the cruise. Prepaid gratuities are paid using the same methods as your cruise fare. Onboard credit can cover gratuities that post to your Sail & Sign account during the voyage. That makes not prepaying the better choice if you expect a large credit, from a promotion, a casino offer or a travel agent perk, that you might otherwise struggle to spend.
One catch is that onboard credit is applied to your charges as they post, so it may be used up on drinks or shopping before the gratuities arrive. Our Carnival onboard credit guide explains how it is applied. If you’re paying for your cruise with discounted Carnival gift cards, check that they can be applied to your booking before the final payment date. That way the discount effectively applies to prepaid gratuities too.
Carnival prepaid gratuities: pros and cons
Pros
Locks in the current rate if Carnival raises gratuities before you sail.
Spreads the cost and leaves a smaller Sail & Sign bill at the end.
Easier budgeting, which helps families and groups who split costs.
One fewer thing to deal with at Guest Services on board.
Cons
No saving at today’s rate. It is the same price as paying on board.
Money leaves your account earlier, potentially months before you sail.
Harder to adjust once on board if service disappoints.
Onboard credit can’t be used to prepay, so it can cost you if you have credit to burn.
Is it worth prepaying Carnival gratuities?
For most guests, yes. If you’re booking well ahead, want a predictable budget, or don’t have much onboard credit, prepaying costs nothing extra and protects you from the next increase. It makes less sense if you have a large onboard credit balance to use, or if cash flow before the trip is tight. For a broader look at how other lines handle this, read our guide to whether you should prepay gratuities on a cruise.
Whatever you decide, extra cash tips for crew who go out of their way, such as your stateroom attendant, a favourite bartender or the room service crew, are always welcome. They are never required.
FAQs
How much are Carnival gratuities per day in 2026?
$17 per person, per day in standard cabins and $19 in suites, for sailings from 2 April 2026. Children under 2 are not charged.
Are Carnival gratuities mandatory?
The daily gratuity is added automatically, but you can ask Guest Services to adjust or remove it before the cruise ends if it wasn’t prepaid. The 20% service charge on drinks, spa and specialty dining can’t be removed.
What happens if you don’t prepay gratuities on Carnival?
Nothing changes apart from timing. The daily amount posts to your Sail & Sign account and is charged to your card on file, or taken from cash deposits or onboard credit, at the end of the cruise.
When is the deadline to prepay Carnival gratuities?
At the time of writing, online purchase closes at 11:59pm ET two days before your sail date. After the final payment date you may need to call Carnival, and payment is due immediately.
Do kids pay Carnival gratuities?
Yes, from age 2. Children are charged the same daily rate as adults in the same cabin type.
The best cruise ships for Alaska depend on what kind of trip you want, not just which is newest or biggest. For most first-timers, a mid-size or large ship that includes Glacier Bay National Park, such as Royal Princess or Holland America’s Eurodam, is the safest choice. Luxury travellers should look at Regent Seven Seas Explorer or Seabourn Encore. Families do best on Disney Wonder or Quantum of the Seas, and wildlife-focused travellers should pick an expedition ship like Lindblad’s Greg Mortimer.
Below, we match specific ships to specific types of traveller. Every ship listed is scheduled to sail Alaska in the 2027 season, based on cruise line announcements. If you are still deciding between brands rather than individual ships, start with our guide to choosing the best cruise line to Alaska for you, then come back here to pick the ship.
Which is the best cruise ship to Alaska? The quick answer
If you want one recommendation that suits most people, choose a ship whose itinerary includes Glacier Bay National Park. Access to the park is limited by permit, so only some ships go there, and it is often the highlight of the trip. In 2027, Royal Princess sails 7-day round trips from Seattle with Glacier Bay on Saturday departures, and Holland America’s Eurodam sails 7-day round trips from Seattle that include Glacier Bay. Both are big enough to offer plenty of dining and entertainment without the crowds of the largest megaships.
From there, the “best” ship shifts with your priorities:
Best for luxury: Regent Seven Seas Explorer or Seabourn Encore
Best for families: Disney Wonder or Quantum of the Seas
Best for big-ship fun: Norwegian Encore or Norwegian Bliss
Best for scenery and wildlife: Greg Mortimer (Lindblad Expeditions)
Best for value: Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Spirit or Serenade of the Seas
Best for a modern premium feel: Celebrity Edge or Star Princess
Best cruise ships for Alaska in 2027: comparison table
Passenger figures are approximate, based on standard (double) occupancy, and homeports reflect announced 2027 programs. Itineraries can change, so always check the specific sailing before you book.
Ship
Cruise line
Approx. guests
Best for
Typical 2027 Alaska itinerary / homeport
Royal Princess
Princess Cruises
3,600
First-timers, Glacier Bay
7-day round trip from Seattle (Glacier Bay on Saturday sailings); some 9- and 10-day trips
Star Princess
Princess Cruises
4,300
Newest big ship, modern design
7-day Inside Passage round trip from Seattle (Sundays); some 9- and 10-day trips
Eurodam
Holland America Line
2,100
Mid-size comfort, Glacier Bay
7-day Alaska Explorer round trip from Seattle, with Glacier Bay and Sitka
Nieuw Amsterdam
Holland America Line
2,100
One-way glacier routes, land tours
7-day Glacier Discovery between Vancouver and Whittier (Anchorage)
Seven Seas Explorer
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
750
All-inclusive luxury
7-night one-way between Vancouver and Whittier, with Hubbard Glacier
Seabourn Encore
Seabourn
600
Intimate luxury, longer voyages
7- to 15-day Alaska and Inside Passage sailings, May to September
Greg Mortimer
Lindblad Expeditions
Around 150
Wildlife, Zodiacs, kayaking
Expedition voyages including Inside Passage, Misty Fjords, Tracy Arm and Hubbard Glacier
Disney Wonder
Disney Cruise Line
2,400
Families with young children
7-night round trip from Vancouver (Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan)
Quantum of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
4,200
Families with teens, activities
7-night round trip from Seattle
Norwegian Encore / Bliss
Norwegian Cruise Line
4,000 each
Big-ship fun, freestyle dining
Mostly 7-day round trips from Seattle
Celebrity Edge
Celebrity Cruises
2,900
Modern premium, couples
7-night sailings from Seattle or Vancouver
Carnival Luminosa
Carnival Cruise Line
2,300
Value, longer cruise from California
10-day round trip from San Francisco
Best ships for a luxury Alaska cruise
Regent Seven Seas Explorer
Regent has scheduled Seven Seas Explorer for 16 Alaska sailings in summer 2027, all seven-night one-way trips between Vancouver and Whittier. Calls include Skagway, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and the smaller port of Klawock, with scenic cruising in the Inside Passage and at Hubbard Glacier. With around 750 guests, all-suite accommodation and a fare that includes most drinks, specialty dining and many shore excursions, it is the closest thing to a floating luxury hotel in Alaska. Because it sails one way, it pairs naturally with a pre- or post-cruise land stay in Denali.
Seabourn Encore
Seabourn Encore offers 18 Alaska departures between May and September 2027, ranging from 7 to 15 days. Every voyage includes at least one scenic cruise of Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm, Endicott Arm or Glacier Bay. At roughly 600 guests, it can visit smaller ports and feels far less busy than the big ships. The 14-day combination voyages are worth a look if you want to see more of the coast without changing ships.
On any luxury ship in Alaska, the cabin matters more than usual, because so much of the scenery passes right outside. Our round-up of the best balcony cabins at sea explains what makes a balcony worth paying extra for.
Smaller ships can get closer to glaciers and wildlife in narrow fjords. Photo: Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto on Pexels
Best small ship for an Alaska cruise: scenery and wildlife
Greg Mortimer (Lindblad Expeditions)
Lindblad’s two long-serving Alaska ships, National Geographic Sea Bird and Sea Lion, are retiring after the 2026 season. For 2027, the company has chartered the Greg Mortimer, an expedition ship with a distinctive X-BOW hull, multiple Zodiac platforms and space for about 150 guests. Its Alaska program focuses on places big ships cannot reach easily, with Zodiac cruising, kayaking and wildlife watching in areas such as Misty Fjords, the Inian Islands, Tracy Arm, Endicott Arm and Hubbard Glacier.
This is the right ship if your idea of Alaska is whales, bears and quiet coves rather than shows and casinos. Expect a higher price per day than mainstream lines, fewer formal onboard amenities and a schedule that changes with weather and wildlife.
Best cruise ships for Alaska for families
Disney Wonder
Disney Wonder returns to Alaska in 2027 with 7-night round trips from Vancouver. A typical sailing visits Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, with scenic cruising near the Stikine Icecap. Disney’s kids’ clubs, character experiences and family-friendly entertainment make it the easiest choice for parents of younger children. Fares tend to be higher than mainstream lines, and sailings during school holidays fill early.
Quantum of the Seas
Royal Caribbean is sending four ships to Alaska in 2027, and Quantum of the Seas sails 7-night round trips from Seattle. Quantum class ships are known for the North Star observation capsule, the SeaPlex indoor activity area and the RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator, which are useful on cool or rainy Alaska days. Its sister Anthem of the Seas sails one-way between Seward and Vancouver if you want to add a Denali cruisetour.
Best ships for big-ship fun in Alaska
Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss
Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss both sail mostly 7-day round trips from Seattle in 2027. These are large, lively ships with go-kart tracks, a wide range of restaurants and a flexible “freestyle” approach to dining and dress. Their forward-facing observation lounges are a good place to watch the scenery when the weather turns. If you prefer a smaller Norwegian ship with one-way glacier routes, Norwegian Jade sails between Whittier and Vancouver with a scenic day at Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier.
Star Princess
Star Princess, one of Princess’s newest and largest ships, returns for a second Alaska season with 7-day Inside Passage round trips from Seattle. It suits travellers who want the latest design and many dining options while keeping Princess’s long Alaska experience, which includes naturalists and local programming on board.
Scenic cruising days are when the choice of ship really shows. Photo: Zaval Cristi on Pexels
Best value ships for an Alaska cruise
Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend
Carnival has three ships in Alaska in 2027. Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend sail 7-day trips from Seattle to Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Tracy Arm Fjord and Victoria. Carnival Luminosa sails 10-day cruises from San Francisco, adding Prince Rupert in British Columbia. These are mid-size ships with a relaxed, fun atmosphere and often some of the lowest fares in Alaska. Luminosa is especially handy for Californians who would rather not fly to Seattle.
Serenade of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas sails 7-night round trips from Vancouver. It is one of the smaller ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet and has plenty of glass, which helps with views. It lacks the headline attractions of Quantum class ships, but it often prices lower.
Fares for all of these ships vary widely by date and cabin type. Early and late-season sailings in May and September usually cost less than July. Watch our cruise deals for 2027 for current offers.
Best mid-size ships for classic Alaska cruising
Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam (Holland America Line)
Holland America has six ships in Alaska in 2027, the year it marks 80 years of Alaska travel. Eurodam sails 7-day round trips from Seattle that include Glacier Bay, Sitka, Juneau, Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point. Nieuw Amsterdam and Westerdam sail 7-day one-way Glacier Discovery cruises between Vancouver and Whittier, which include Glacier Bay, and the northbound trip adds College Fjord. These mid-size ships suit travellers who want a calm, traditional cruise with good dining and live music. Read more about Holland America’s Alaska heritage tours if you plan to add a land journey.
Celebrity Edge
Celebrity Edge is one of three Celebrity ships in Alaska for 2027, alongside Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Summit. It has a contemporary design, a large number of balcony cabins and the Magic Carpet, a movable platform on the side of the ship. It suits couples who want a modern premium experience at a price below the luxury lines. If longer cruises with more glacier time appeal, Celebrity Solstice is often a better match.
How to choose the best ship for an Alaska cruise
A few practical points matter more in Alaska than in the Caribbean, and they often decide which ship is best for you:
Check the glacier on the itinerary. Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm (Dawes Glacier) offer different experiences. Glacier Bay requires a permit, so it appears on fewer sailings.
Decide on round trip or one way. Round trips from Seattle or Vancouver are simpler to book. One-way cruises between Vancouver and Whittier or Seward reach farther north and pair well with Denali, but flights cost more.
Look for indoor viewing space. Alaska weather is cool and often wet. Ships with large observation lounges, covered decks or glass-walled areas let you watch the scenery in comfort.
Weigh the balcony. A balcony is more useful in Alaska than almost anywhere else, especially on scenic cruising days.
Consider ship size. Bigger ships offer more to do on board, while smaller ships reach quieter ports and get you on and off faster.
FAQs
Which is the best cruise ship to Alaska?
For most people, a ship that includes Glacier Bay National Park is the best choice. In 2027, Royal Princess and Holland America’s Eurodam both offer 7-day Seattle round trips with Glacier Bay. Luxury travellers should consider Regent Seven Seas Explorer, and families should look at Disney Wonder.
Is a big or small ship better for Alaska?
Big ships offer more entertainment, more dining choice and often lower fares. Small and expedition ships, such as Lindblad’s Greg Mortimer, get closer to wildlife and visit remote coves. The right choice depends on whether you value onboard activities or time in nature more.
Which cruise ships go to Glacier Bay?
Only ships with National Park Service permits can enter Glacier Bay, and most of these belong to Princess Cruises and Holland America Line. In 2027, sailings with Glacier Bay include Royal Princess on Saturday departures from Seattle, Eurodam’s Alaska Explorer, Holland America’s Glacier Discovery cruises and Princess’s Voyage of the Glaciers.
What is the best month to cruise Alaska?
June, July and August bring the warmest weather and longest days, but also the highest fares. May and September are usually cheaper and quieter, with a chance of cooler, wetter weather.
If you’re taking a cruise from Southampton, you may wish to explore the city for a few hours either before you embark or after you bid farewell to your ship.
But finding places to leave your luggage isn’t always easy, that’s why I’ve created this list of the best places to store baggage for the day in Southampton.
I discovered a need for left luggage in Southampton when we had to disembark a cruise at 9 am, but our flight back to Manchester wasn’t until the evening. We wanted to explore Southampton without our suitcases, so I looked on Google to find somewhere to leave our luggage in Southampton.
I really struggled to find a good answer to this simple question. So, I decided to do some research, walk around the city taking photos of the best luggage storage options, and write this guide to help others having the same problem.
Since then, many of these places have closed and new ones have opened. But as I visit Southampton frequently, I’ve been able to keep this guide updated with the latest info for you.
Places to Store Luggage in Southampton
There are several places where you can store luggage in Southampton city centre. Cruise port staff often aren’t aware of it, but there are several shops and hotels that will store your suitcases securely for a few hours.
If you plan to store your luggage, it’s always a good idea to call ahead. Luggage storage facilities only have so much space, and it would be annoying to arrive with your cases and find that it’s full, or that the opening hours have changed.
The Best Places to Store Luggage in Southampton
Here’s my list of places to leave bags and suitcases in Southampton…
1. Premier Inn City Centre
🏆 Open Late
The best place to leave your luggage in Southampton is at the Premier Inn. It’s situated in the centre of Southampton and costs £4.95 per bag, per day.
The service is available from 7 am to 11 pm so this is a great option if you need to drop off or collect your bags early in the morning or late in the evening.
The Premier Inn is a great choice even if you aren’t staying there because it’s close to both the train and bus stations, and you can pre-book online so you’re guaranteed to be able to leave your bags with no hassle.
Address: Southampton SO14 0AB
Telephone: 0333 321 9006
Opening Times: 7 days a week, 7 am to 11 pm
Rates: £4.95 per bag
2. Maynards News and Food
If you’re getting the coach or train into Southampton then Maynards News and Food could be the perfect place to leave your luggage. It’s around a 6-minute walk from the main stations, and you can book online too to reserve your place.
You’ll need to though – the one downside of Maynards is they don’t have a lot of spaces. So reserve your spot with plenty of notice if you want to store your bags here. And they’re shut on Mondays and Sundays too.
Address: Southampton SO14 7FJ
Telephone: 023 8063 4974
Opening Times: Tues to Fri – 7 am to 9 pm, Sat – 10 am to 6 pm, Sun to Mon – Closed
Rates: £4.95 per bag
3. Biltong & Bangers
Biltong and Bangers is a food and gift shop with a focus on South African products like beers, biltong and biscuits. It’s located in a super convenient spot on the High Street, right next door to where Oceans used to be before it moved.
There’s a sign outside saying that you can leave your luggage. Unfortunately, though, you can’t book online, so you’d have to just turn up and hope that they have space for your bags.
Another good place to leave suitcases for the day is the Southampton branch of the courier service and printing shop, Mail Boxes Etc.
This luggage storage facility is also located on the High Street, so you can walk from the ship and can start sightseeing immediately after dropping off your bags.
Mail Boxes Etc is open for until 5.45 pm during the week, but it’s open for only half a day on Saturdays and is closed on Sundays. If you want to leave your luggage for more than four hours, you’ll be charged double.
You also can’t book in advance.
Address: 151 High Street, Southampton SO14 2BR
Telephone: 023 8033 5777
Opening Times: Mon to Fri – 9 am to 5.45 pm, Sat – 10 am to 2 pm, Sun – Closed
Rates: £5 for 4 hours, £10 for the full day
5. Holiday Inn Southampton
When we walked out of Southampton’s City Cruise Terminal with our suitcases, the first hotel that we came across was the Holiday Inn. I headed inside to ask if they could mind my luggage, even though I wasn’t staying at the hotel.
The lady behind the front desk kindly said yes! When I returned a few hours later, she didn’t ask for any payment, so I tipped her £5 per bag as a thank-you.
She explained that they can’t store luggage for everyone, but as she had the space available, she was happy to.
Sometimes in life, I find that if you don’t ask, you don’t get. So, if you pass any hotels on your way, it may be worth asking if they can store luggage as you never know! And if you pass the Holiday Inn, it’s worth asking if they have space.
Address: Herbert Walker Avenue, Southampton SO15 1AG
Telephone: 023 8017 9600
Opening Times: 24 hours
Rates: Free (tips appreciated)
6. Southampton Airport
There is a left luggage service at Southampton Airport which costs £10 per bag, per day.
Southampton Airport is about four miles from the city centre, so this isn’t the most convenient place to store luggage after a cruise if you want to spend the day in Southampton.
However, if you plan to take a trip to Eastleigh, Winchester or the New Forest National Park, this could be an option to consider.
Address: Southampton SO18 2NL
Telephone: 0344 481 7777
Opening Times: 24 hours
Rates: £10 per bag
7. CitySpareSpace
Another option that you can use to book your luggage storage in advance rather than turning up and hoping that there’s space, is CitySpareSpace.
The company partners with trusted local businesses to provide you with convenient Southampton luggage storage. Starting from £6 per bag, you can explore the city hands-free. It’s the same price for the whole day for small bags and no extra charge for large bags.
Thousands of travellers book luggage storage online with CitySpareSpace’s partners which are located all over the UK, including Southampton city centre. The company provide dedicated customer service, and every booking is backed by a reimbursement guarantee. They vet every individual partner to ensure the utmost security and quality.
With this option, you must book online as in-store payments won’t be accepted. Book on CitySpareSpace.com to confirm your reservation.
These Places Used To Offer Luggage Storage in Southampton but They Are Now Closed…
To keep this list as comprehensive as possible, I’m including here places that used to offer luggage storage in Southampton but do not currently, as of my last visit in August 2023.
Oceans in Southampton used to be the most popular place for cruise passengers to leave luggage and it was one that a lot of people recommend. This is because it was located right in the centre of Southampton, within walking distance of each of the cruise ports.
The business moved to Robins Nest in January 2022, but it has since closed completely.
Address: 160 High Street / Robins Nest, 129 High Street, Southampton SO14 2BT
Robin’s Nest Emporium
Robin’s Nest was a wonderful vintage shop that’s located in the former Natwest Bank on the High Street in Southampton. Being an old bank building, it has lots of secure storage down in the vaults beneath.
After I dropped off my luggage at Robin’s Nest, I used to love looking around the shop too as it had a lovely selection of vintage cruise memorabilia at the back. It’s a real shame this place has closed.
Vintage cruise memorabilia in Robin’s Nest
What About Southampton Train Station?
There are no lockers at Southampton train station. It isn’t possible to leave bags at the station at all. You can instead leave luggage at a number of shops on Southampton High Street for a small fee.
There’s also no luggage storage facilities at Southampton Cruise Terminal. Staff at the terminal may not be able to advise you of nearby places to leave bags either.
Once the cruise terminal opens for the first guests to check in, you can drop off your luggage. So even if your check-in time isn’t until later, you can leave your bags as soon as the check-in opens for those with earlier check-in times than yours.
To Conclude
Those flying to Southampton typically find that, once they disembark their cruise ship after breakfast, they have a few hours to kill before heading to the airport.
There are lots of places where you can store luggage for the day in Southampton, leaving you hands-free while you explore the city or do some shopping in the WestQuay shopping centre.
Whichever option you choose, it’s wise to call ahead to make sure that storage is available, particularly during busy periods.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Based on the biggest review datasets available in 2026, the worst cruise lines according to reviews are Norwegian Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises and Carnival. Norwegian is the only line near the bottom of every major source, while the others score poorly on some platforms and well on others, usually because of crowding, extra fees, inconsistent food and service, or ageing ships.
Below is our own ranking of the 10 lowest-rated cruise lines, built from Cruise Critic member ratings, the Consumer Reports 2026 survey and the latest Which? cruise survey, with an honest look at why each line scores low and who it still suits. “Worst” here means lowest-rated by passengers, not unsafe or dishonest.
How we ranked the worst cruise lines
No single review score tells the whole story, so we combined three independent sources:
Cruise Critic member ratings (out of 5): the largest pool of cruise reviews, from tens of thousands of passengers, mostly from North America. Checked in October 2026.
Consumer Reports (US): a January 2026 survey of 18,850 members rating 19 ocean cruise lines on value, food, service, excursions and entertainment. It published rankings rather than scores.
Which? (UK): the most recent cruise survey we could find, published March 2025 from fieldwork in October 2024, with 2,865 respondents and a customer score for 26 ocean lines.
We used Trustpilot only as a supporting signal. Its scores swing wildly depending on whether a company invites reviews: MSC Cruises’ UK profile, which invites customers, scores 3.9 from more than 19,000 reviews, while its US profile, which does not, scores 1.7 from just over 100. That is a perfect example of why one site’s number should never be treated as the final word.
Lines ranked higher on this list were rated low by more than one source. Small specialist lines with too few reviews to compare fairly were left out.
Crowding on big ships is one of the most common reasons lines score low. Photo: Brittany Yang on Pexels
The 10 worst cruise lines according to reviews (2026)
Cruise line
Rating data
Common complaints
Who it still suits
1. Norwegian Cruise Line
Cruise Critic 3.6; last of 19 in Consumer Reports 2026; Which? 66% (last)
Extra charges, value for money, food changes, show queues
Freestyle diners, Alaska and Europe fans who like big-ship choice
2. Costa Cruises
Cruise Critic 3.0 (lowest major line); Which? 81%
Food, service consistency, crowded buffets
Europeans and Med lovers wanting a lively Italian vibe
3. MSC Cruises
Cruise Critic 3.3; low in Consumer Reports 2026; Which? 75%
Crowding, buffet quality, disorganised service
Families (kids sail free on many fares), new-ship fans, Yacht Club guests
4. P&O Cruises
Cruise Critic 3.4; Which? 72% (second from bottom)
Passenger space, entertainment, “cost cutting”
UK cruisers wanting no-fly holidays from Southampton
Quieter, older travellers; Alaska and long voyages
7. Ambassador Cruise Line
Which? 74%
Facilities on older, smaller ships
UK adults wanting small, traditional, no-fly cruising
8. Cunard
Cruise Critic 3.7; Which? 76%
Waits for food, value for money
Transatlantic fans and lovers of dressy tradition
9. Regent Seven Seas
Cruise Critic 3.7; Which? 81%
Cabin or technical issues, complaint handling
Luxury travellers wanting excursions and drinks included
10. Princess Cruises
Cruise Critic 3.8; Which? 75%
Price versus value, food, crowding on big ships
Couples and mature cruisers who like MedallionClass ease
Cruise Critic figures for P&O, Cunard and Regent are as reported by FinanceBuzz (October 2026) and Holland America as reported by Islands.com (April 2026); the rest were read directly from Cruise Critic in October 2026. Scores move over time, so check the latest before booking.
1. Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian is the clearest consensus pick for the worst-rated cruise line right now. It finished last of 19 lines in the Consumer Reports 2026 survey, last of 26 in the latest Which? survey (66%), and sits at 3.6 on Cruise Critic from more than 43,000 reviews. The recurring themes are value for money and charges: reviewers point to paid extras, Wi-Fi and drinks costs, and changes to dining and entertainment, such as a move away from reserved show seating. On the plus side, NCL’s freestyle dining and newer ships still win plenty of five-star reviews.
2. Costa Cruises
Costa has the lowest Cruise Critic rating of any major line at 3.0, with reviews split almost evenly between “excellent” and “terrible”. English-speaking reviewers often find the experience too unfamiliar: multilingual announcements, a busy European crowd and a buffet-heavy style. Yet Costa scored a respectable 81% in Which?, so British cruisers who know what to expect seem much happier than North American reviewers.
3. MSC Cruises
MSC scores 3.3 on Cruise Critic from more than 11,000 reviews and was among the lower-ranked lines in Consumer Reports. Complaints focus on very busy ships, the buffet, queues and service that can feel disorganised at peak times. The flip side is a young fleet, low prices and some of the best family value at sea, plus the well-reviewed Yacht Club. Ship choice matters a lot here, so see our list of the worst cruise ships according to real reviews before you pick one.
4. P&O Cruises
Britain’s biggest cruise line came second from bottom in Which? with 72%, with only two stars for passenger space, excursions and entertainment, and respondents saying standards had slipped due to cost cutting. Its Cruise Critic score of around 3.4 tells a similar story. It still wins on convenience: no-fly cruises from Southampton, British tastes and family-friendly big ships like Iona and Arvia.
5. Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival is a mixed case. Its Cruise Critic score of 3.8 from almost 27,000 reviews is mid-table, but it ranked low in Consumer Reports, scored 76% in Which?, and has a Trustpilot score of just 1.5 from around 450 reviews. Typical complaints are older ships, crowding, extra charges and customer service when something goes wrong. For a cheap, cheerful three- or four-night Caribbean break, many guests are perfectly happy.
6. Holland America Line
Holland America is well liked by its loyal fans, but scored 74% in Which?, with only two stars for facilities and entertainment. Some ships are older and quieter than rivals, which younger cruisers see as dull and others see as the whole point.
7. Ambassador Cruise Line
Ambassador is a small UK line using older, mid-sized ships from British ports. It scored 74% in Which?, with two stars for facilities, which is not surprising for ships without big-resort features. Reviewers who want a calm, traditional cruise without flying often rate it highly, so think of this as a mismatch for some passengers rather than a bad product.
8. Cunard
Cunard sits at 3.7 on Cruise Critic and 76% in Which?. The most frequent gripes are waits for food and whether the price matches the experience, though its transatlantic crossings remain unique.
9. Regent Seven Seas
Regent is a surprise entry. Its Cruise Critic score of about 3.7 is low for a luxury line, and reviews mention cabin or technical problems and frustration with complaint handling. That is partly about expectations: at Regent prices, small failures generate harsh reviews. It scored 81% with Which? respondents.
10. Princess Cruises
Princess scores 3.8 on Cruise Critic and 75% in Which?. Complaints tend to centre on value for money, food and crowding on the largest ships, while many guests praise the crew and MedallionClass technology.
Food and service drive more cruise reviews than almost anything else. Photo: Rene Terp on Pexels
Why some cruise lines score low
Crowding: mega-ships with 5,000 to 6,000 guests can mean queues at buffets, lifts and shows.
Extra fees: drinks, Wi-Fi, speciality dining, gratuities and excursions make the real price much higher than the advertised fare.
Older ships: worn cabins, plumbing issues and fewer facilities drag down scores.
Service under strain: stretched staff and slow complaint handling turn small problems into one-star reviews.
Expectation gaps: a budget line judged against a premium standard, or a European line judged by American norms, will always score lower.
The limits of review data
Review scores are useful but imperfect. Unhappy passengers are more likely to post, so open review sites skew negative, while lines that invite every guest to review (as MSC does on its UK Trustpilot page) look much better. Cruise Critic leans towards experienced North American cruisers; Which? reflects British members. Big lines get far more reviews than small ones, and individual ships within one line can vary hugely. That is why we only placed a line high on this list when several sources agreed.
Just missing out were Royal Caribbean, which ranked low in Consumer Reports but scores 3.9 on Cruise Critic and 78% in Which?, and Fred. Olsen, which scored 3.7 on Cruise Critic but a solid 80% in Which?.
What to book instead
If you want the lines passengers rate most highly, Which? respondents put Saga, Silversea, Noble Caledonia, Hurtigruten, Seabourn and Viking at the top, while Consumer Reports named Lindblad Expeditions, Windstar and Viking among its best. For individual ships, see our guide to the best rated cruise ships in the world. And if a low-rated line suits your budget, a good deal can still make it great value: browse our cruise deals for 2027.
If you are still deciding which line suits you, our step-by-step guide on how to choose a cruise can help.
What is the worst cruise line according to reviews?
Norwegian Cruise Line is the most consistent choice in 2026. It ranked last in the Consumer Reports survey of 19 lines and last in the latest Which? survey, mainly over value for money and extra charges.
Is Carnival the worst cruise line?
No. Carnival ranks low in some surveys and on Trustpilot, but its Cruise Critic rating of 3.8 is mid-table and higher than Norwegian, MSC, Costa and P&O. It remains good value for short budget cruises.
What are the 3 worst cruise lines?
Combining Cruise Critic, Consumer Reports and Which?, the three lowest-rated are Norwegian Cruise Line, Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises, with P&O Cruises close behind for UK passengers.
Which cruise line has the lowest Cruise Critic rating?
Among major lines, Costa Cruises has the lowest Cruise Critic member rating at 3.0 out of 5, followed by MSC Cruises at 3.3 and P&O Cruises at about 3.4.
One of the most common questions that I get asked in the DMs on my Instagram page is about what you get with Royal Caribbean when you book.
Which I guess isn’t surprising. It’s one of the biggest cruise lines in the world, if not the biggest. And when you book a Royal Caribbean cruise, it’s not always obvious what the cruise fare includes.
So here are all the things you get for free when you cruise, as well as the hidden costs on Royal Caribbean cruises (though they aren’t really hidden…)
Drinks
Firstly, let’s talk about the thing that most people want to know about – the drinks!
Included Drinks
The free drinks on Royal Caribbean cruise ships are:
Water (not bottled)
Flavoured water
Lemonade
Tea
Iced tea
Coffee
Hot chocolate
Fruit juice (only at breakfast)
All other drinks are chargeable. You can add each drink to your bar tab via your SeaPass card and pay for your drinks at the end of your cruise, or you can buy a drinks package for all-inclusive drinks throughout your trip.
The free drinks aren’t available in all venues and at all times, but you can find out exactly where and when to get them here: Guide To Royal Caribbean’s Free Drinks.
Enjoying a cocktail and an ice cream on Anthem of the Seas
The price of the Royal Caribbean drinks package varies depending on your cruise ship, itinerary and when you purchase the package. Royal Caribbean’s Deluxe Beverage Package usually costs somewhere between $50 and $115 per person, per day.
If you don’t drink a lot of alcohol, the Deluxe Beverage Package is rarely worth it. Instead, you may wish to consider the Refreshment Package or the Classic Soda Package.
I have a full guide to Royal Caribbean drinks packages which answers all your questions about them here: Royal Caribbean Drink Packages.
Whether or not the Royal Caribbean drinks package is worth it can be tricky to work out. To make it easy for you, I’ve made a drinks package calculator.
Just enter the drinks that you like to have and it will estimate your bar bill with and without the package.
Food
The next most-asked questions relate to what food you get included with your cruise…
There’s Plenty of Food Included
Royal Caribbean cruises include meals and snacks in a choice of dining venues. For something special, you can pay an extra fee to dine in one of the many speciality dining venues onboard.
On each ship, you can eat for free in the Main Dining Room, the Windjammer and at least two more free dining venues.
Lunch at the Windjammer
You can eat for free in these Royal Caribbean complimentary dining venues:
Main Dining Room – Formal restaurant
Windjammer – Casual restaurant
Mini Bites – Poolside snacks
Dog House – Hot dog stand
Cafe Promenade – Cafe food
Sorrento’s – Pizza slices
Noodle Bar – Fast food noodles
Vitality Cafe – Healthy breakfasts and lunches
Cafe @ Two70 – Cafe food
El Loco Fresh – Casual Mexican restaurant
Splashaway Cafe – Kids’ poolside snacks
Coastal Kitchen – Only for suite guests and Pinnacle Club members
Room service – Only continental breakfast items are free
Not every dining venue is available on every ship, but there will always be a choice of options available and the menus change every day.
Room service is free for continental breakfast items, but everything else has a $7.95 cover charge per order.
There’s really no need to pay anything extra for food as the free food is all excellent, but if you want to treat yourself then you might want to consider dining in one of Royal Caribbean’s speciality restaurants.
Royal Caribbean Speciality Dining Prices
The prices for speciality dining on Royal Caribbean cruises vary depending on your ship, itinerary and when you book it.
To find the exact prices for each speciality restaurant on your particular cruise, you’ll need to log into Royal Caribbean’s cruise planner.
To give you a rough idea, here are the speciality dining prices for two cruises I’ve taken. Remember, these are just examples from two particular cruises. They are not average prices and yours could cost more or less than this.
Anthem of the Seas
Chef’s Table – £74.09 ($100)
Chops Grille (Dinner) – £38.99 ($53)
Chops Grille (Lunch) – £17.93 ($24)
Izumi – £31.19 ($42)
Jamie’s Italian (Dinner) – £31.19 ($42)
Jamie’s Italian (Lunch) – £19.49 ($26)
Sushi & Sake (Lunch) – £31.19 ($42)
Taste of Royal (Lunch) – £27.29 ($37)
Wonderland – £42.89 ($58)
Dining Packages
Chops +1 Dining Package – £58.50 ($79)
3 Night Dining Package – £77.22 ($104)
Unlimited Dining Package – £155.22 ($209)
Harmony of the Seas
150 Central Park – £42.30 ($57)
Chef’s Table – £80.37 ($108)
Chops Grille (Dinner) – £42.30 ($57)
Chops Grille (Lunch) – £19.45 ($26)
Izumi – £33.84 ($46)
Izumi Hibachi Experience – £38.07($51)
Jamie’s Italian (Dinner) – £38.91 ($52)
Jamie’s Italian (Lunch) – £21.15 ($29)
Sabor – £18.61 ($25)
Sushi & Sake (Lunch) – £33.84 ($46)
Taste of Royal (Lunch) – £29.61 ($40)
Wonderland – £46.53 ($63)
Dining Packages
Chops +1 Dining Package – £71.07 ($96)
3 Night Dining Package – £97.31 ($131)
Unlimited Dining Package – £168.37 ($227)
Children aged 5 and under dine in speciality restaurants for free. For children aged 6 to 12 you only pay $10 for speciality dining when ordering from the kids’ menu.
Dining Packages – Worth It?
For a first cruise, I wouldn’t recommend booking speciality dining unless there’s a particular restaurant that you really wish to try. The free food is so good and the speciality dining is more expensive on Royal Caribbean ships than with some other cruise lines.
The dining packages don’t give a big discount compared to booking speciality dining restaurants individually.
Dining packages don’t include premium dining experiences like Chef’s Table, Wine Pairing Dinners, Taste of Royal and Mystery Dinner Theatre. Izumi Hibachi has a $10 surcharge with a dining package.
WiFi
The only mobile phone reception at sea comes from maritime networks, which should be avoided at all costs as they are crazily expensive. If you want to stay connected, you might want to get a WiFi package.
WiFi is not generally included on Royal Caribbean cruises, although WiFi packages are sometimes given as a free perk when booking during a promotional period.
Royal Caribbean WiFi costs from $20 per day for a single device.
There used to be several packages, including a cheaper one that started at around $10 per day, but that’s changed now that the faster Starlink internet has been installed across the fleet.
On your cruise, rather than tipping cash to individual staff members, guests are charged a set fee per day, which Royal Caribbean distributes evenly to its employees.
Royal Caribbean Automatic Gratuities
Royal Caribbean gratuities (also known as tips) cost $18 per person, per day for guests staying in Junior Suites and below and $20.50 per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above. This applies to guests of all ages, including children and babies.
Gratuities are tips for staff members
You can choose to pre-pay your gratuities before your cruise or have them added to your onboard account to pay at the end.
No further tipping is required or expected on board, although some people (mostly US guests) do sometimes give cash tips as well to recognise exceptional service.
If you have any questions about Royal Caribbean gratuities, you’ll find those answered here: Royal Caribbean gratuities.
On-Board Activities & Entertainment
Royal Caribbean ships have so much to do that it’s impossible to be bored. The great news is that almost everything is included for free.
Most activities on most Royal Caribbean ships are included in your cruise fare. So you won’t need to pay any extra for things like the FlowRider, climbing wall, zip line, ice skating, laser tag, mini-golf, water slides, shows or to use the gym.
However, on cruises departing from the UK, China and Singapore there may be a fee to use the iFly and the North Star observation pod.
The price varies depending on your cruise. While these activities used to be free, the introduction of an extra charge means that each ride lasts longer and you can avoid any queues. For more info, see this video by Cruise With Ben & David.
FlowRider and iFly
There are a few more things that cost extra on Royal Caribbean cruises. The prices vary depending on the ship and may go up and down according to demand, but here are some ballpark figures…
Prices of extra activities on Royal Caribbean ships:
All-access ship tour – $49 to $129
Escape room – $20
Private FlowRider lessons – $69 to $552
Fitness classes – $12
Cooking classes – $35 to $70
Spa and beauty services – From $32 for a wash and blow-dry to $2000+ for some treatments
Casino and bingo – Various
Art auctions – Each ship has several million dollars of art for sale
Photographs – From $20 per print
Video arcade – $1 to $3 per game
Laundry – $2 to $15 per item
Gift shop purchases – Various
Medical services – From $150
Visits to the adults-only Solarium (pictured at the very top of this post) are included on most Royal Caribbean cruises. However, on cruises from China, this area is only available for guests staying in Gold or Silver suites or Crown & Anchor Diamond members and above.
One of the biggest perks of cruising for parents is that the kids’ clubs are the best in the world. Some parents barely see their kids all week because the kids want to spend all of their time having fun with their new friends in the kids’ club.
Royal Caribbean & Babysitting
Until 2018, Royal Caribbean used to offer babysitting in your stateroom but this service has been discontinued.
However, for kids aged 3 to 11, the Adventure Ocean kids’ club is open until 10pm for free, or 2am for an extra fee. Under 3s can attend the Royal Babies and Royal Tots clubs until midnight.
Royal Tots Nursery
Babysitting Costs
This table shows the charges for childcare on Royal Caribbean cruises:
Age
Time
Price
0 to 3
9am to 6pm
$6 per hour
0 to 3
6pm to 12am
$8 per hour
3 to 11
9am to 5pm
FREE
3 to 11
7pm to 10pm
FREE
3 to 11
10pm to 2am
$10 per hour
12 to 14
8pm to 1am
FREE
15 to 17
9pm to 1am
FREE
Under 3s are looked after in the Royal Babies & Tots Nursery. This isn’t available on every ship. You can see a list of ships that have it here: The best Royal Caribbean ships for kids.
Official Royal Caribbean cruise excursions can be very pricey, so you may want to look for cheaper alternatives on reputable websites like Viator or via the Shore Excursions Group. Alternatively, you can just get off the ship and do your own thing.
Excursion from Athens
Private Island Activities
CocoCay Activities
If your cruise includes a visit to Royal Caribbean’s private Bahamian island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, then many of the activities are free of charge, but some have an extra fee.
Perfect Day at CocoCay
This table shows the prices of activities on Perfect Day at Cococay:
Experience
Price
Thrill Waterpark
Age 4+: $44-$99 per person Age 0-3: Free
Zip Line
$79-$139 per person
Up, Up and Away helium balloon
Age 13+: $39-$99 per person Age 4-12: $24-$64 Age 0-3: Free
Coco Beach Club
Age 13+: $54-$99 per person Age 4-12: $34-$69 Age 0-3: Free
Royal Caribbean offers ‘The Key’ – a program that gives premier access to exclusive experiences during your cruise.
The Key includes:
Priority check-in and boarding
Carry-on bag drop off
Welcome lunch on embarkation day
Private hours on the rock climbing wall and FlowRider
Priority departure at ports of call
VIP seating at shows
WiFi access
Exclusive breakfast on debarkation day
The cost for The Key varies depending on your cruise, but it will be somewhere between $26 and $40 per person, per day. If one person wants The Key, then everyone in the cabin aged six and over must also buy it.
However, if you plan to purchase WiFi anyway, like to be first off the ship in each port and like the idea of having set times for the rock climbing and FlowRider when you don’t have to queue, then it could be worth it for you.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…
The Bottom Line
If, like me, you’re cruising on a budget, then you don’t really have to pay anything extra at all for your Royal Caribbean cruise!
The only extra that you must pay for is gratuities. However, if you book your cruise during a promotional period then you may be able to get free gratuities included, or maybe some free on-board credit that you can use to pay for your gratuities.
With so many extras available, it’s easy to spend double your cruise fare or more on board the ship, particularly if you spend a lot of time in the spa or the casino!
When budget cruisers like myself book the cheapest inside cabins and don’t spend anything extra on board, cruise lines don’t make much of a profit at all and may even make a loss.
However, that’s okay because they make the money back with the people who do spend a lot onboard. Those that spend a lot in the casino even get free cruises because Royal Caribbean loves to have them on board spending money!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Have you found yourself with some Royal Caribbean onboard credit and want to know how you can spend it?
There are plenty of things that Royal Caribbean onboard credit can be used for, as well as some that it can’t, and planning ahead (just a little) can make your $ go a lot further.
While onboard credit may seem like free money, you’ll get a lot more out of it if you spend it wisely…
How Onboard Credit Works
On a Royal Caribbean cruise, your cashless onboard expenses account is also known as your SeaPass account.
When you make purchases on the ship, these will be charged to your account. At the end of your cruise, you can settle your account with cash, by credit or debit card or with onboard credit.
When you receive onboard credit, this is credited to your SeaPass account. It will offset any purchases that you make on the ship.
How To Get Royal Caribbean Onboard Credit (OBC)
There are many ways that you can get Royal Caribbean onboard credit. These include:
Promotions – If you book your cruise during a promotional period, you can get anywhere up to $400 of OBC per stateroom
Booking Onboard – If you book your next cruise while you’re already on a cruise, you can get up to $500 of OBC to spend on either your current sailing or the next one
Booking With A Travel Agent – Many travel agents offer onboard credit as a bonus for booking with them
The Royal Caribbean Visa Card – Each time you use Royal Caribbean’s branded Visa credit card you earn points. If you collect 10,000 points you’ll get $100 in OBC
Compensation – If something goes wrong on your cruise, such as if the ship has a technical problem or the service is poor, you may be given OBC by way of apology
Price Drops – If the price of your cruise drops after booking, you may receive the difference in OBC
Cancelled Cruises – If your sailing is suspended and you rebook for a later date, anything that was pre-purchased turns into OBC for your next cruise, sometimes with a 25% bonus.
Shareholders – If you own at least 100 RCL shares, you will receive $50 OBC on cruises of 5 nights or less, $100 on cruises of 6-13 nights and $250 on longer cruises
Military – Members and veterans of the US and Canadian armed forces may get $50 OBC per stateroom when booking certain cruise
Future Cruise Credit Vs Onboard Credit
If your Royal Caribbean cruise is cancelled, you may receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) that you can use to pay for another cruise ticket. This is different from Onboard Credit (OBC) which can only be used for onboard purchases.
You cannot convert Future Cruise Credit into Onboard Credit. So if the value of your FCC is higher than the cost of your next cruise, a new voucher will be issued for the remaining FCC.
What Royal Caribbean OBC Can Be Used For
Royal Caribbean onboard credit can be used to purchase most things onboard the ship. It can’t be used for medical expenses, taxes and port fees.
It used to be the case that you could only spend Royal Caribbean on board credit once you boarded your ship.
However, Royal Caribbean now lets you apply onboard credit to purchases made before your cruise via the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner website or via the telephone.
However, this only applies to certain types of onboard credit. If you purchase the onboard credit as a gift card, for example, you’ll probably have to wait until you board the ship to use it.
Unused Onboard Credit
If you don’t use your onboard credit during your cruise, you’ll lose it. So you must spend it all before the end of the last night of your cruise to avoid wasting it.
The Best Ways To Use Royal Caribbean Onboard Credit
When it comes to deciding what to spend your Royal Caribbean onboard credit on, some purchases are much smarter than others.
It’s a good idea to prioritise the things that you would purchase regardless of whether you have onboard credit or not. For example, everyone must pay gratuities, so budget to use your OBC on those first.
Some things you can buy on Royal Caribbean cruise ships are almost always a waste of money, even if you consider that money to be free!
So, here’s a list of how to use onboard credit on Royal Caribbean cruises, including all the best ways to make it work in your favour.
1. Gratuities
The best way to spend any onboard credit that you have is on gratuities. On a Royal Caribbean cruise, gratuities cost $18 per person, per day for most guests and $20.50 per person, per day for those staying in suites.
Gratuities are mandatory, and they go towards paying the crew members who work so hard to look after us. As this is something that we all need to pay anyway, it makes sense to spend your onboard credit on gratuities first, then see how much you have left for the fun stuff.
Here’s how much gratuities cost per day on a Royal Caribbean cruise, for each person including kids and babies.
Cruise Duration
Standard Staterooms
Suites
2
$36.00
$41.00
3
$54.00
$61.50
4
$72.00
$82.00
5
$90.00
$102.50
6
$108.00
$123.00
7
$126.00
$143.50
8
$144.00
$164.00
9
$162.00
$184.50
10
$180.00
$205.00
11
$198.00
$225.50
12
$216.00
$246.00
13
$234.00
$266.50
14
$252.00
$287.00
At the end of your cruise, any leftover onboard credit will be automatically offset against any gratuities owed on your final bill.
So you don’t need to do anything, just check the bill at the end of the cruise, and if you’ve calculated correctly, they should cancel each other out, and you’ll be left with a zero balance.
Most activities on board Royal Caribbean ships are included in your cruise fare, but there are some things that you have to pay extra for.
Royal Caribbean includes less and less for free these days, as some activities like the North Star observation pod and the iFly skydiving simulator on Quantum-class ships are now chargeable.
Here are the approximate prices of extra activities on Royal Caribbean ships.
North Star – $25
iFly Skydiving Simulator – $55
All-access ship tour – $49 to $129
Escape room – $20
Private Flowrider lessons – $69 to $552
Fitness classes – $12
Cooking classes – $35 to $70
Video arcade – $1 to $3 per game
Note that these may vary by sailing and are subject to change.
You probably won’t want to do all of these extra activities as there are so many things that you can do on board for free.
But if there are any that you definitely want to tick off, then these would be a great way to spend any onboard credit that you have left over after paying for gratuities.
3. Drinks
Royal Caribbean cruises do include some free drinks like water, tea, coffee, flavoured water and milk. For all other drinks, you can either add them to your onboard account individually or buy a drink package before your cruise.
There are several drinks packages to choose from and the prices vary depending on your cruise and when you buy it.
To work out whether you should buy a drink package or pay for your drinks individually, read my guide to Royal Caribbean drink packages. Or, if you’re short on time, you can use my Royal Caribbean drink package calculator that will work it out for you based on what you usually drink.
Whether you add your drinks to your onboard account or get a drink package, you can use your onboard credit to cover some or all of the cost.
Treating yourself to a special meal in one of Royal Caribbean’s upscale restaurants could be a great way to spend any onboard credit you’ve accumulated.
Like most things with Royal Caribbean, the cost varies depending on the ship and the sailing, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $25 per head for lunch at Chop’s Grille or Jamie’s Italian to $100 for dinner at the Chef’s Table.
If you really enjoy speciality dining, you can buy dining packages that let you eat in a certain number of restaurants or upgrade to enjoy unlimited speciality dining throughout your cruise.
5. Spa Services
Spa services can be pricy on a cruise. But, if you rarely ever visit the spa then perhaps now’s the time to treat yourself using your onboard credit. After all, if you think of it as free money then surely you can justify the price?
While some of Royal Caribbean spa treatments can cost upwards of $2000, you can just buy a day pass to use the spa facilities like the sauna and steam room for as little as $30, depending on your ship.
Or, for a similar price, you could treat yourself to a wash and blow-dry in the hair salon so that you’re looking your best for the formal night.
6. Babysitting
Childcare in Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean kid clubs is generally free of charge. But, there is a fee if your child is under three or if you want them to stay past 10 pm.
At between $6 and $8 per hour, the group babysitting option is cheaper than getting a sitter at home would be, so why not make the most of your time away and treat yourself to some adults-only time in the theatre, casino or nightclub?
This table shows the charges for childcare on Royal Caribbean cruises:
Age
Time
Price
0 to 3
9am to 6pm
$6 per hour
0 to 3
6pm to 12am
$8 per hour
3 to 11
9am to 5pm
FREE
3 to 11
7pm to 10pm
FREE
3 to 11
10pm to 2am
$10 per hour
12 to 14
8pm to 1am
FREE
15 to 17
9pm to 1am
FREE
7. Souvenirs
You might think that the souvenirs on Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships would be ridiculously expensive. But actually, there are some great deals to be had, particularly if you’re shopping with your free onboard credit!
While you’ll find plenty of designer bags, watches and jewellery costing thousands of dollars a piece, there are some affordable souvenirs too.
On my last cruise, I treated myself to some Royal Caribbean t-shirts which were two for $20. Bargain!
8. Shore Excursions
Your Royal Caribbean onboard credit doesn’t just have to be spent on things you find on the ship – you can also use it to purchase official shore excursions.
Shore excursions can be pricey, so it’s good to think about how much it would cost to organise a DIY version. But if you don’t have the time or want to avoid the hassle, then taking Royal Caribbean’s official excursions is the easiest way to explore ashore.
You can also use your onboard credit to pay for activities on Royal Caribbean’s island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. While there are lots of things to do on CocoCay for free, activities like the Thrill Waterpark and the Up, Up & Away balloon ride are chargeable.
9. WiFi
If you need to stay connected at sea, Royal Caribbean offers WiFi packages that start at around $20 per day.
While you may be able to get WiFi for free on a Royal Caribbean cruise, this isn’t always reliable. So, if you need to use your phone to keep in touch with work or family members who need you, then it makes sense to buy a WiFi package and cover the costs with your onboard credit.
10. Photos
Cruise ship photographers take some excellent photos, so why not take this opportunity to purchase some images that will give you everlasting memories of your Royal Caribbean cruise?
You usually don’t have to pay anything for the photoshoot, and then you can choose as few or as many photos as you like and take them home either digitally or in print.
When you visit the photo shop, just charge everything to your onboard account and it will be offset with any onboard credit you have left at the end of your cruise.
11. The Key Program
If you still can’t decide what to spend your onboard credit on, then Royal Caribbean’s The Key program gives you a little bit of everything…
The Key includes:
Priority check-in and boarding
Carry-on bag drop off
Welcome lunch on embarkation day
Private hours on the rock climbing wall and FlowRider
Priority departure at ports of call
VIP seating at shows
WiFi access
Exclusive breakfast on debarkation day
The cost for The Key varies depending on your cruise, but it will be somewhere between $26 and $40 per person, per day. If one person wants The Key, then everyone in the cabin aged six and over must also buy it.
Personally, I don’t think that the Royal Caribbean Key is worth it.
However, if you plan to purchase WiFi, like to be first off the ship in each port and like the idea of having set times for the rock climbing and FlowRider when you don’t have to queue, then it could be a good way to use up your onboard credit.
To buy The Key, you’ll need to access Royal Caribbean’s cruise planner online before you set sail.
Royal Caribbean cruise ships don’t have any self-service launderettes, so if you run out of clean clothes then you can either clean them yourself in the sink or pay for them to be washed or dry cleaned and pressed.
Personally, I like to use a Scrubba wash bag to wash my clothes for free on a cruise ship. But if you don’t have one, you can pay $2 to $15 per item for professional cleaning.
13. Casino
It may be possible to cash out your Royal Caribbean onboard credit in the casino, but this isn’t something that Royal Caribbean really want you to do.
Some cruisers have reported in forums that they’ve had some success with putting their Seapass cruise card into a slot machine and transferring money from their onboard account to the machine.
After spinning the wheels a couple of times, they press cash out and receive a ticket. You can take that ticket to the cashier’s window and receive real cash.
To use this method, it’s best to use a slot machine as if you do it at a table you will be charged an extra 5% to convert your onboard credit into chips.
Plus, there are reports of an unwritten rule that you gamble with some of the money before cashing out. According to one cashier, at least 10% seems to be an acceptable amount.
14. Bingo
Buying bingo tickets is one possible way to spend Royal Caribbean onboard credit. There are some big prizes to be won and you could even win a free cruise.
However, there are some pretty small prizes too, so even if you win it might cost you more to enter than the value of the prize!
Royal Caribbean bingo tickets start from $49 for 24 chances to win, although if you spend $69 you get 48 chances, so it doesn’t make much sense to go for the cheaper ticket packages.
On the whole, the returns aren’t great. So if you love bingo, this might be for you. But for most people, you’ll do better in the casino.
15. Art
Cruise ship art auctions can be fun to watch and you’ll usually get a free glass of fizz. But that’s probably where you should leave it.
These art auctions use all kinds of tricks to get you to buy. One of which is putting very small paintings inside huge frames, you can see!
Serious art investors would never buy art on a cruise ship as the paintings are known to be ridiculously overpriced. If you do some research, you’ll be able to find the exact same prints for a fraction of the price elsewhere.
And that’s exactly what you’ll be getting anyway, as the art that gets delivered to your home doesn’t come from the ship, it comes from a warehouse on land.
That said, I did buy some art at a Royal Caribbean art auction with my onboard credit. The picture was only $60 and I really liked it. I did turn down the offer of a $450 frame though and opted to get my print framed in a local shop for £49.
So, yes, you can use your onboard credit to pay for art from the art auction. But honestly, you’d do better to enjoy the free drinks, take note of the prices and buy elsewhere (unless its a painting that you really do love).
The Gift Card Trick
If you’ve taken a Carnival cruise in the past, you may know that people have been able to use their Carnival cruise onboard credit to purchase a Carnival gift card from the store on board as a way of extending their credit so that they can carry it over to their next cruise.
This trick won’t work on Royal Caribbean because, unlike Carnival gift cards, Royal Caribbean gift cards can only be used towards cruise fare, not onboard purchases and shipboard charges.
Royal Caribbean onboard credit expires at the end of your cruise, so be sure to use it before you lose it.
My Recommendation
If you have some Royal Caribbean onboard credit to spend, then the smartest thing to do would be to first put it towards gratuities, provided that you haven’t already pre-paid those.
Work out how much you expect to pay in gratuities based on the number of guests in your room, your stateroom type and the duration of your cruise. Then, subtract this amount from the amount of onboard credit you have.
This will leave you with an amount of onboard credit to spend on treating yourself. The best uses for any leftover onboard credit are drinks, speciality dining, spa treatments and souvenirs.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
The Nieuw Amsterdam cabins to avoid are mostly a handful of predictable spots: ocean-view rooms on Deck 4 that look straight onto lifeboats, Deck 8 cabins directly beneath the Lido pools, cabins above or below the Mainstage theatre, and rooms right beside the busy midship lifts. For a quiet, steady stay, a verandah midship on Decks 5, 6 or 7 is the safest bet, sandwiched between other cabins.
Nieuw Amsterdam is one of Holland America Line’s two Signature-class ships (Eurodam is her twin), and it is a well-liked, mid-sized vessel with 1,061 staterooms. Almost two-thirds of them have a verandah, so there are plenty of good choices. This guide walks through the cabins to avoid on Nieuw Amsterdam, then the best cabins for different kinds of traveller, so you can book with confidence. Deck plans do change, so always check the current deck plan before booking.
Nieuw Amsterdam at a glance
Nieuw Amsterdam entered service in 2010 and had her most recent dry dock in December 2023. She spent the 2026 summer in Alaska, sailing mostly from Vancouver, including a 14-day Great Alaska Explorer and seven-day Inside Passage and Glacier Discovery cruises, and is part of Holland America’s six-ship Alaska line-up again for 2027. For the 2027-28 season she takes over from Oosterdam on South America and Antarctica voyages, which makes cabin choice for long, potentially rough sea days more important than usual.
Nieuw Amsterdam is also on the list for the line’s Holland America Evolution refurbishment programme, though no date or detail has been confirmed for her yet. Deck plan specialists list a dry dock pencilled in for late 2028 that could add new suites and solo cabins and change cabin numbers, so treat any cabin numbers you see for sailings after that date with caution.
Category
Number of cabins
Typical size
Interior
156
About 154 to 207 sq ft
Ocean view
187
Varies; some are obstructed
Verandah
602
213 to 379 sq ft including balcony
Signature Suite
52
273 to 456 sq ft
Neptune Suite
62
About 506 to 590 sq ft
Pinnacle Suite
2
About 1,357 sq ft
Nieuw Amsterdam cabins to avoid: the quick list
Many guests sleep happily in all of these, but light sleepers, anyone prone to seasickness and those paying for a view should think twice.
Location
Why it can disappoint
Who should avoid it
Deck 4 ocean-view cabins behind the lifeboats
Partial or full view of lifeboats instead of the sea
Anyone paying for a sea view
Deck 4 forward verandahs
Solid steel railings block the view when seated; more wind
Balcony sitters, sun lovers
Deck 5 indented verandahs
Balconies about 4.5 ft deep instead of 5.5 ft
Couples who want two loungers out
Deck 8 cabins under the Lido pools
Early-morning chair dragging and foot traffic overhead
Light sleepers
Cabins above or below the Mainstage theatre
Bass and applause during evening shows
Early sleepers
Deck 1 cabins under the Lower Promenade venues
Bars, casino and late-night foot traffic above
Light sleepers
Forward cabins on Decks 8, 10 and 11
Most pitching motion in rough water
Anyone prone to seasickness
Cabins beside lift lobbies
Corridor chatter at all hours
Light sleepers
Obstructed-view ocean-view cabins on Deck 4
Deck 4, the Upper Promenade, sits just above the lifeboats that hang along the Promenade Deck. Many ocean-view cabins here look down onto the boats, and Holland America prices them accordingly: categories HH and H are sold as fully obstructed and category G as partially obstructed. If you only use the cabin to sleep, they can be a good-value way to get a window. If you want to watch the scenery from bed, pick a higher deck or a verandah. The amount of view varies from one cabin to the next, so look for photos of the specific cabin number.
Forward verandahs with steel railings
At the front of Deck 4, some verandah categories (VH and VE in particular) have solid steel panels instead of the usual glass. Standing up, you can see over them; sitting down, you mostly see painted metal. These forward balconies also catch more wind when the ship is moving. They are often discounted, which suits some cruisers, but they are worth avoiding if lazy balcony time is the point of your trip.
Shallower balconies on Deck 5
Standard Nieuw Amsterdam verandahs are roughly 5.5 ft deep, but on Deck 5 the ship’s hull steps in and some balconies are about 4.5 ft. That foot makes a difference if you want to stretch out on a lounger. Deck 6 directly above has the regular depth with the same benefit of cabins above and below.
Balcony depth and railings vary from cabin to cabin on Nieuw Amsterdam. Photo: Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels
Noise hot spots on Nieuw Amsterdam
Most noise complaints on Signature-class ships come from what is above or below the cabin rather than what is next door. The pattern is simple: public rooms above you are louder than public rooms below you, and anything involving deck chairs, trolleys or a band is the main culprit.
Deck 8, beneath the Lido Deck
Deck 9 is the Lido Deck, with the covered Lido Pool, the Sea View Pool aft, and the Lido Market. Deck 8 cabins directly beneath these areas, roughly the midship and aft sections, are the ones most often mentioned for early-morning scraping as crew set out loungers and clean the deck. If you are sensitive to this, book Decks 5 to 7 instead.
Above and below the Mainstage and Lower Promenade
The Mainstage theatre sits forward on the Lower Promenade and Promenade decks, and the casino, bars and music venues are on the Lower Promenade (Deck 2). That puts some Deck 1 cabins beneath late-night entertainment and some forward Deck 4 cabins above the theatre. Bass travels through steel, so early sleepers should look further aft.
Lift lobbies and connecting cabins
Nieuw Amsterdam has lift banks forward, midship and aft. Being close to one is convenient, but cabins right next to the lobby hear doors, chatter and room-service trolleys. Two or three doors away is the sweet spot. Connecting cabins, which share an internal door with the neighbouring room, also let more sound through, so skip them unless you are travelling as a group and want the connection.
Cabins to avoid if you get seasick
Nieuw Amsterdam is a stable ship in most conditions, but some of her itineraries, including the Gulf of Alaska crossing and the 2027-28 South America and Antarctica season with Drake Passage and Cape Horn sea days, can be lively. Motion is felt most at the bow and on the highest decks. If you are prone to seasickness, avoid the forward cabins on Decks 8, 10 and 11 and choose a midship cabin on Deck 1, 4 or 5. A low-deck interior midship is often the steadiest and cheapest option on the whole ship.
Best cabins on Nieuw Amsterdam
With the trouble spots out of the way, here is where to look for each type of traveller. For a broader view of how this ship compares with the rest of the fleet, see our guide to Holland America ships ranked by real customer reviews.
Midship verandahs on Deck 6. Standard balcony depth, cabins above and below, and an easy walk to both the Lido and the dining room. This is the all-round best choice for most couples.
Aft-facing cabins for wake views. The aft cabins on Decks 4 to 8 look over the ship’s wake, which is a lovely sight in Alaska. Be aware that many stern balconies on the Signature class are not especially deep, and some Deck 8 aft cabins sit near the stern structure and the Sea View Pool area above. Compare balcony sizes on the plan before you pay the premium.
Signature Suites. Floor-to-ceiling windows, a balcony around 6.5 ft deep and a marble bathroom with a whirlpool tub, for a modest step up from a verandah.
Neptune Suites. Most are on Deck 7, close to the Neptune Lounge with its concierge, and include perks such as laundry and priority boarding. Sizes vary by cabin number, so check the square footage of the specific suite.
Pinnacle Suites. The two top suites on Deck 7 offer a separate bedroom, living and dining areas, a pantry and a large balcony. They are the only true multi-room suites on board.
Low midship interiors. For the best value and the least motion, a midship interior on Deck 1 or 4, away from the lifts, is hard to beat.
Spa cabins: worth it?
Spa staterooms (grades such as IQ, CQ, VQ and SQ) are located close to the Greenhouse Spa and come with extras like a yoga mat and upgraded bathroom amenities. They are the same size as the standard equivalents and do not include access to the thermal suite, which is sold separately. Book one only if you will use the spa daily; otherwise the premium is better spent on a higher deck or a suite. Note that the VQ verandahs on the Observation Deck have small, narrow balconies.
Accessible and family cabins
Nieuw Amsterdam has around 36 accessible staterooms across several categories, including suites, with roll-in showers, fold-down seats and grab bars. Not every one is fully wheelchair accessible, and some are listed as ambulatory, so confirm the exact features with Holland America before booking. Families will find many cabins that sleep three or four on a sofa bed or pull-down berth, and connecting rooms are available if you want two cabins side by side.
Checking what sits above and below a cabin is the simplest way to avoid surprises. Photo: Bluehouseskis on Pexels
How to choose a good cabin on Nieuw Amsterdam
Check above and below. Open the deck plans for the decks above and below your cabin. Cabins in both directions are ideal.
Look up the category code. Obstructed and restricted categories are clearly coded, so you can rule them out instantly.
Mind the itinerary. On an Alaska cruise the side of the ship matters less on round trips, but on one-way Glacier Discovery sailings the scenery is often on one side. Ask your travel adviser which side faces land on your route.
Watch for renumbering. If you are booking for late 2028 or beyond, check whether your sailing falls after a planned refurbishment, as cabin numbers and categories may change.
Compare sister ships. If you like the newer Pinnacle class, our guide to Nieuw Statendam cabins to avoid covers a ship with a similar Holland America feel but different trouble spots, and our Oosterdam cabins to avoid guide covers the slightly smaller Vista class.
Planning a cruise on a smaller Vista-class ship instead? See our guide to Noordam cabins to avoid and the best rooms to book.
If you lean towards Holland America, check whether the Holland America Have It All package makes sense for how you drink and explore before comparing total costs.
FAQs
What is the best deck for a verandah cabin on Nieuw Amsterdam?
Decks 5, 6 and 7 midship are the safest choice, because they have cabins above and below rather than public rooms. Deck 6 is a favourite as it avoids the shallower indented balconies on Deck 5 and sits well clear of the pool deck.
Which Nieuw Amsterdam cabins have obstructed views?
The main obstructed cabins are ocean-view staterooms on Deck 4 (Upper Promenade) that look out over the lifeboats. Categories HH and H are sold as fully obstructed and G as partially obstructed, and some forward Deck 4 verandahs have solid steel railings instead of glass.
Are Deck 8 cabins on Nieuw Amsterdam noisy?
Deck 8 cabins sit directly beneath the Lido Deck, so those under the pools and Lido area can pick up early-morning noise from deck chairs, cleaning and foot traffic. Cabins at the far forward or aft ends of Deck 8 are less exposed, but check what is overhead on the deck plan.
Where should I book on Nieuw Amsterdam if I get seasick?
Choose a cabin midship on a low passenger deck, such as Deck 1, 4 or 5. Motion is felt least in the middle of the ship and closest to the waterline, and most at the bow and on the highest decks.
How big is Nieuw Amsterdam?
Nieuw Amsterdam is a Signature-class ship of about 86,000 gross tons that entered service in 2010. It has 1,061 staterooms and carries around 2,100 guests at double occupancy.
If you’re booking a cruise with Cunard, it’s important to know how onboard tipping works. Daily gratuities are automatically added to each guest’s account, along with extra charges on drinks and spa treatments – and the costs can add up fast.
This info isn’t always easy to find, so I’ve put together a quick guide to help you understand exactly what you’ll pay. That way, there are no surprises when your final bill arrives!
Cunard’s Gratuities Explained
Gratuities (also known as tips) are service charges that are added to your onboard account when sailing with Cunard. When guests pay gratuities, it enables the service staff, including waiters and stateroom stewards, to be rewarded for the work they do, in addition to their wages.
Gratuities are the same price for all four of Cunard’s ships – Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Anne. However, there is a difference in price depending on your accommodation category. This is outlined in more detail below.
There are two types of gratuities on Cunard cruises:
Gratuities for hotel and dining services – Calculated daily
Gratuities for drinks and spa services – Calculated per purchase
It’s worth noting that casino staff do not receive any automatic gratuities, as not all passengers use their services. The tips are shared amongst the hotel, restaurant, bar and salon staff, including those who work behind the scenes.
Every dollar of the gratuity charges goes directly to the crew in these areas and there is no administrative fee.
Gratuities are typically paid off at the end of your cruise, the night before you disembark. You can check your onboard spend using the Cunard free WiFi to log in to your account.
Daily Cost Of Gratuities On Cunard
In 2025, Cunard’s daily gratuities are $16 per person, per night for guests staying in Britannia Staterooms and $18 per person, per night for guests staying in Grill Suites. The charge is the same for adults and children.
On Cunard cruise ships, all bar, wine and salon services have an additional 15% charge for each purchase made. This is in addition to the daily gratuities.
If you buy a Cunard drinks package, you don’t have to pay the 15% gratuity – it’s included in the price of the package.
The gratuities on Cunard are pretty reasonable, and as fellow travel blogger Karen said in her review of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, the gratuities are “the lowest in the industry”.
Cunard’s Gratuities Are Compulsory
On a Cunard cruise, the gratuities added to each drink and spa service are compulsory. The daily gratuities for hotel and dining services are recommended but can be removed.You can also tip above and beyond the recommended amounts if you wish.
Cunard gratuities for bar, wine and spa services are added to your onboard account automatically along with each purchase. The hotel and dining service charge will appear on your onboard account as a daily charge.
Removing Gratuities On A Cunard Cruise
On a Cunard cruise, you can opt to remove or adjust the daily gratuities (hotel and dining service charge). This can be done at the Guest Services desk once you’re on board the ship.
While some people like to remove daily gratuities and instead tip cash to certain crew members, this isn’t recommended. As well as waiters and staterooms stewards, there are many crew members who offer support behind the scenes, working in the kitchens, laundry rooms and other areas.
If you remove gratuities from your onboard account, the people who work hard that you may never see will lose out financially.
If you have had a bad experience with the service on your cruise and wish to remove the gratuities, you should speak to the staff at Guest Services, who will be able to remove them from your account.
Prepaying Gratuities On Cunard
You cannot prepay for your Cunard gratuities before your cruise. However, you can pre-purchase onboard spending money, which can be used against your hotel and dining service charges, as well as bar, wine and salon service charges.
Log onto your My Cunard account to manage your cruise before you sail.
Tipping Extra On A Cunard Cruise
Whether to tip extra on top of the standard gratuities on your Cunard cruise is entirely down to personal preference. If you feel there is a member of the crew who has gone above and beyond what is expected to make your time on board memorable, you are welcome to reward them individually for doing so.
Each Cunard stateroom has its own steward assigned to it – usually, you will see them making up rooms up and down the ship throughout your sailing. The same steward will make up your stateroom and will likely introduce themselves on your first day of embarkation.
Many people tip their cabin stewards personally, leaving money in an envelope for them in their room on the morning of disembarkation or tipping them personally on their last day. The guest services desk will supply envelopes to those who ask for them.
Other members of staff you will see around the ship on a regular basis include your dining team. When visiting the main dining room, in particular, you will notice the same faces sitting and serving you. Many people will also be assigned an area or specific table throughout the cruise, so you will see familiar faces as the cruise continues.
These are also members of staff who people like to personally tip due to them being seen regularly and shown to make their cruise experience special.
Cunard Cruises With Free Gratuities
For those sailing on Cunard world cruises, promotions are sometimes available, which include complimentary hotel and dining service charges. Look out for these, as they can save you a lot of money.
In some promotions, Cunard offers free onboard spending money. You can use this free spending money to pay for some or all of the gratuities incurred on your cruise, depending on the amount of free credit and the gratuity charge.
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Final Thoughts
People often have differing opinions towards paying gratuities. While paying tips comes naturally to Americans, Brits and Australians aren’t used to paying a lot for tips. And the daily gratuities on a cruise can certainly add up to a hefty sum.
Some cruisers like to tip on their own terms and will remove all gratuities to award individual members of staff. Others remove them to save on costs as soon as they step aboard. However, most people will be glad to pay the daily gratuity charge to ensure that every member of staff is rewarded fairly for their hard work.
It’s important to know which you prefer, so you can factor in the cost before you set sail and know where your onboard account will end up at the end of your sailing.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Disney’s private island is pure paradise – think soft white sand, crystal-clear water, and surprise visits from your favourite characters. But if you want to make the most of your day, there are a few things you need to know first…
I’ve rounded up 34 insider tips that’ll help you skip the queues, save money, and unlock hidden gems on the island. Trust me – you’ll thank yourself later!
1. The Only Way To Get To Castaway Cay Is By Cruise Ship
Castaway Cay is a Disney private island. It’s not technically owned by the cruise line, but it is leased exclusively to Disney for the long term, so for now, it’s a Disney island. The only way to visit Castaway Cay is to take a Disney cruise. Not all Disney cruise itineraries call at Castaway Cay, so look out for one that does if you have your heart set on visiting this paradise island.
Castaway Cay is located in the Bahamas, near Great Abaco Island. It’s 73 miles north of Nassau and 248 miles east of Port Canaveral, Florida.
2. Entrance To Castaway Cay Is Included In Your Cruise Fare
Many people wonder how much it costs to visit Disney Castaway Cay. The truth is that admission to the island doesn’t cost anything extra. Once you’ve paid for your cruise, you can visit Castaway Cay at no additional cost and there are lots of included attractions to enjoy on the island.
However, if you want to take part in an excursion on the island, such as a snorkelling trip, a glass bottom boat ride or a walking tour, then you can do those for an extra cost.
Meals and ice cream are free on Castaway Cay for Disney cruise guests. A buffet-style lunch is served between 11.30 am and 2 pm, so you can help yourself to barbecue food like burgers, hot dogs, ribs, salad, fruit and cookies.
Places you can grab food include Cookie’s BBQ, Cookies Too BBQ and Serenity Bay BBQ. They all serve pretty much the same dishes, but be sure to arrive before 2 pm. After that, your only option to eat on Castaway Cay will be to grab snacks from the bar.
4. There Once Was a Pirate Ship At Castaway Cay
The Flying Dutchman ghost ship from the movie Pirate of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest was displayed at Castaway Cay between June 2006 and November 2010. This movie prop was a spectacular sight to behold until it was removed due to its deterioration.
While the pirate ship was certainly impressive, with its intricate details, it was only meant to be a movie prop and not to withstand the weather for years on end. So, in 2012, the Flying Dutchman was taken to another location on Castaway Cay, where it was dismantled.
5. Some Disney Cast Members Live On Castaway Cay
Around 100 Disney Cast Members live on Castaway Cay all year round, while more commute by boat from the nearby island of Abaco. Cast Members who live on the island include landscapers and maintenance workers.
The people who live on Castaway Cay live in prefabricated dormitory-style houses. They have their own crew beach, a football pitch, a gym and an indoor recreation area.
6. The Water At Castaway Cay Is Warm All Year Round
The sea temperature at Castaway Cay ranges from 70°F (21°C) in January to 88°F (31°C) in July and August. Even in the winter, the sea is warm enough to swim and in the height of summer, the shallow waters will feel very warm indeed.
I visited in July and the sea was a little too warm to provide much respite from the sweltering heat. In this situation, the best option is to get wet and then relax in the shade!
7. You Can’t Stay Overnight On The Island
It’s not possible to stay overnight on Castaway Cay. Your ship will dock at the island at around 9 am and leave at around 4 pm. So the longest you can stay on the island is around seven hours.
Listen out for the ship’s horn in the afternoon. That will signal the last tram back to the dock. If you miss that, you’d better run back to the ship quickly to avoid being stranded on the island!
If one day just isn’t enough for you, there are some cruises that call at Castaway Cay twice. So, look out for those activities for maximum island time.
8. You Don’t Need To Take Towels With You
As you get off the ship at Castaway Cay, you’ll be handed towels to use on the island. The towels are large beach towels, so they’re big enough to lie on. You’re welcome to take two per person, so you have one to sit on and one to dry off with.
If you forget to grab towels as you leave the ship, don’t worry. There are towel stations across the island where you can collect some or exchange your wet ones for dry ones.
When you head back to the ship, there will be a bin to throw your used towels in. Nobody checks to make sure that you returned your towels, but it’s polite to do so and not leave them on the island.
9. 95% of Castaway Cay Is Wild
Castaway Cay is 1,000 acres in size, but only 55 acres of the island are developed. Although the island is 3.1 miles long and 2.2 miles wide, 95% of the island is untouched. It’s mostly made up of lush, natural forests.
10. You Can Run A 5K Race On Castaway Cay
Each morning, there’s a 5K race on Castaway Cay. It’s free to enter and all participants receive a medal. You don’t need to run to enter; you can walk if you prefer. As well as seeing some interesting parts of the island that most people miss, if you take part in the Castaway Cay 5K, you’re guaranteed to be one of the first people off the ship in the morning.
You can register for the Castaway Cay 5K by signing up on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app or at guest services once on board. It is weather permitting, though, so there’s a chance that it may be cancelled if the weather is bad.
11. You Can Snorkel For Free At Castaway Cay
When looking at Castaway Cay excursions, you’ll see several options for snorkelling for an additional fee. However, you can snorkel for free at Castaway Cay if you bring your own snorkelling gear.
The Snorkelling Lagoon has two snorkelling trails – one for beginners and one for more experienced snorkelers. You can rent snorkels, masks and flippers if you don’t have your own. But life vests are complimentary for everyone and really help you to float, so I’d recommend that you grab one.
12. There Are Sharks At Castaway Cay
Castaway Cay has shark nets around the family beach and snorkelling area, but none at the adults’ beach, Serenity Bay. If you swim at Serenity Bay, you may sometimes see sharks up to six feet in length. You don’t need to worry, though, because the sharks at Castaway Cay are nurse sharks that are harmless to humans.
You can swim with nurse sharks without any problems. They will only bite if you step on them or otherwise provoke them. While they do have thousands of teeth, nobody has ever died from a bite from a nurse shark, and any injuries have been minor and very rare. There are no reports of shark attacks at Castaway Cay.
Other dangerous creatures to be on the lookout for include jellyfish, barracuda, sea lice, stingrays, sea urchins, anemones and fire coral. There are also lots of harmless and pretty sea creatures like starfish and all kinds of pretty tropical fish.
13. It’s Almost Impossible To Get A Cabana
Castaway Cay cabanas cost between $399 and $949 to rent for the day. But despite the large price tag, they are always in demand and so it can be virtually impossible to reserve one, unless you’re a Concierge or Platinum guest. This is because there are only 24 cabanas on Castaway Cay and thousands of guests on the ship.
During my visit, I was lucky enough to snag a Castaway Cay cabana in the Serenity Bay area. Check out my guide to Castaway Cay cabanas for details of how to get your hands on one and what to expect when you do.
To reserve a Castaway Cay cabana, you’ll want to book it on the Port Adventures section of the Disney Cruise Line website as soon as bookings open. Guests staying in Concierge-level staterooms and suites can book 125 days ahead and guests with Platinum Castaway Club Member status can book 120 days ahead.
After that, guests with Gold or Silver Castaway Club Member status can book cabanas 90 days before the cruise sets sail. If you’ve never cruised with Disney before, you’re very unlikely to be able to book a cabana. But, people do cancel sometimes, so if you keep checking online every day, then you might get lucky.
Failing that, you can check with guest services as soon as you board the ship, in case anyone with a cabana has cancelled their cruise at the very last minute. This is rare, but it does happen sometimes.
14. You’ve Probably Been Pronouncing Castaway Cay Wrong
Castaway Cay is actually pronounced as ‘key’. The word ‘cay’ comes from the Spanish word ‘cayo’, which means ‘key’ – a small, low island. Although the correct way to pronounce Cay is ‘key’, many people do pronounce it as ‘kay’ and it’s okay to do so if you wish.
15. You Can Get Married On The Beach
Wedding ceremonies at Castaway Cay are available with up to 100 guests. The price starts at $4,500 for 16 guests, with extra guests costing $20 each. As well as a morning ceremony on the beach with live music, you’ll enjoy an intimate celebration back on the ship afterwards.
Despite being owned by Disney, there are no rides on Disney’s private island in the Bahamas. Popular activities in this idyllic location include snorkelling, cycling, relaxing on the beach, basketball, ping pong and dance parties. There are waterslides for kids at the Pelican Plunge area, but no rides as such.
The waterslides are great, though. The one on the left is really fast, but I preferred the slide on the right, which is much more relaxing. The landing area is too deep to stand, but don’t worry if you’re not a strong swimmer, life jackets are available for you to use.
17. There’s Limited WiFi But Plenty Of Phone Signal
Many areas of Castaway Cay don’t have wifi, but you can access it in some of the bars, particularly the ones closest to the ship. However, the island does have a cell tower so you can use your mobile phone data. Roaming charges are the same as anywhere else in the Bahamas.
It’s something of a hidden gem, but Castaway Cay has a 40-foot-high observation tower where you can enjoy stunning views over the island. To get there, take the tram to Serenity Bay, then follow the cycle path to it. You’ll also pass it if you do the Castaway Cay 5K, so be sure to take a few minutes to stop to climb it.
19. Book A Room On The Starboard Side For The Best Views
Disney cruise ships typically back into the port when they dock at Castaway Cay, so if you choose a room with a balcony on the starboard side of the ship, you’ll have great views of the island from your stateroom.
We watched the early-morning arrival into Castaway Cay from our balcony on the starboard side of the Disney Wish.
20. Eat Breakfast In The Buffet For Morning Island Views
While Disney Cruise Line’s Dining Room breakfasts are incredible, I would advise eating in the buffet on the morning of your day ashore at Castaway Cay. Not only is this much quicker, so you’ll have more time to explore the island, but you’ll also enjoy the best views of the island.
Most ships have an outdoor area at the back of the buffet. Head here and you can enjoy spectacular views of Castaway Cay while you eat.
21. Those With Special Diets Should Pre-Order Their Food
If you’re vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or have another dietary requirement, then pre-ordering your food is a must. You can do this with your waiter in the main dining room on the evening before your visit.
There is a choice of vegan options, including the Impossible burger and plant-based chicken tenders. You can also get fries, which aren’t available to everyone else.
Pre-ordered food will be delivered to Cookies BBQ, so you’ll need to head there to collect it, rather than to Cookies Too or the Serenity Bay BBQ. When you arrive, there’s a special counter to the left of the buffet. Let them know when you. arrive and they’ll cook the food especially for you.
If you haven’t pre-ordered, then the special options may still be available, but you might have a long wait if the crew need to head back to the ship to collect the ingredients!
Parents who want to enjoy some relaxing time in the adults-only area can drop their kids off at Scuttle’s Cove, Castaway Cay’s kids’ club. Here, youngsters will enjoy all kinds of activities such as scavenger hunts, volleyball and sandcastle competitions.
At Monstro Point, kids can become palaeontologists for the day and dig for fossils and dinosaur bones in the sand. If you prefer to stay with your children, you can do, and enjoy the dinosaur dig as a family.
23. There Are Plenty Of Loungers For Everyone
You never need to worry about getting a sunbed on Castaway Cay, as there are thousands of them across the various beaches. Sun loungers and umbrellas are all available free of charge and there’s no shortage, no matter how busy the ship is.
24. You Can Enjoy All Kinds Of Games
It’s truly impossible to be bored on Castaway Cay. When you’ve had enough of the beach, head to the shaded games area where you can play all kinds of games, including ping pong, table football, basketball shooting, pool, and giant versions of Connect Four, chess and checkers.
25. There’s A Pier Where You Can Jump Into The Sea
Located off the shore of the family beach, there’s a structure that older kids and teenagers will love. It has ropes to swing from and platforms where you can throw yourself into the sea. It’s closed at low tide, though, so you’ll want to time your visit well to take advantage of the fun that this platform offers.
26. Castaway Cay Has Lots Of Lifeguards
Disney Cruise Line always puts safety as its number one priority, so on Castaway Cay, there are so many lifeguards that you’d never be able to count them all. Many of the lifeguard stations are located very far out to sea, so you can be sure that you’re safe, even if you go for a swim in the ocean.
27. You Can Hire Bikes On The Island
Castaway Cay is pretty big, and so one of the best ways to explore is on a bicycle. You can follow the 5K race route, or just use your bike to get from A to B instead of the tram. Bike hire is free for cabana guests, but for everyone else, it costs $13 per hour.
There are lots of different sizes of bikes and helmets to choose from. There are adult bikes with child seats on the back, and small kids’ bikes for those as young as five. So the whole family can cycle together, no matter the age of your kids.
28. Spring-A-Leak Is A Great Place To Cool Off
Kids too hot? Then don’t miss the Spring-A-Leak water play area. It has jets of water that shoot up from the ground – the perfect place for kids of all ages to run around while cooling down. Tots in swim diapers are allowed, so even the youngest of babies can cool down in the shade in this fun, family area.
29. Soft Drinks Are Free On Castaway Cay
If you order a drink from any of the bars on Castaway Cay you’ll be charged. However, you can enjoy soft drinks and iced water for free at any of the three barbecue areas, even when the food service is closed.
The free drinks include water, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, Minute Maid Lemonade, Blue Powerade, Ginger Ale and Vitamin Water. Paper cups are provided, but I recommend bringing your own refillable drinks bottle so you can stay hydrated on the move.
You can also refill your water bottle at water fountains that are located outside of most of the restrooms. There are also stations where you can help yourself to lemon-infused ice water at most of the bars, so you really don’t need to waste money by ordering bottled water.
30. You Can Save With A Getaway Package
If you want to try a little bit of everything, you can book the Castaway Cay Getaway Package for discounted rentals. It includes all-day rental of snorkel gear and floats for the ocean, as well as one hour of bike rental.
It’s a good way to enjoy lots of experiences while keeping costs down.
31. You Can Snorkel With Stingrays
For the best snorkelling experience on Castaway Cay, head over to Castaway Ray’s stingray adventure. This activity costs $56 for adults and $45 for kids, but you’ll get to see stingrays up close and even touch these friendly creatures.
Snorkels, masks and lifejackets are provided and you’re given a training session on how to interact with these friendly creatures without upsetting them.
32. Ice Cream Is Free On Castaway Cay
On Castaway Cay, you can enjoy free ice cream from self-service machines that are located at the three barbecue buffet areas. It’s available all day long and comes with a choice of different flavours.
33. Mickey And Minnie Love To Visit Castaway Cay
If you’re lucky, you may spot Disney characters Mickey and Minnie during your visit to Castaway Cay. The delightful duo wear special beachwear when they step off the ship and visit the island.
34. There Are Rare Sea Lice Occurrences Around Castaway Cay
This isn’t the most pleasant one to talk about, but some people have reported being stung by sea lice while on Castaway Cay in the past. It’s very rare, and most people say that they’ve visited countless times without any problems, but it’s good to be aware just in case.
Sea lice aren’t actually lice, but they do give some nasty stings if you get caught by them in the water. It’s treatable with lotion, which you should be able to buy in the stores, or use the freshwater showers to rinse the area.
Again, you don’t need to worry about it, but on the rare chance you are stung, then you can at least deal with it while on the island.
To Conclude
Castaway Cay is such a wonderful private island that’s loved by everyone, whether you want to relax on the adults-only beach with a cocktail, snorkel in the sea or do something more energetic like go cycling or running.
I hope that this guide has helped you to plan your trip, but if you have anything else to add, please do so in the comments below.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
