Posts in category: Cruise Tips

Ever heard the phrase, “Don’t ask, don’t get”? As long as you aren’t rude or too demanding, it’s absolutely something you can take advantage of on a cruise.

There are a whole host of freebies, little perks or just useful touches that you can get if you speak to the Guest Services team, and most cruisers don’t know about most of them!

But if you’re fully prepared with this list, you’ll know all the little tricks and bonuses that you can use to just make your cruise that extra bit smoother, or even more special.

1. Sea Sickness Medication

Feeling a bit green around the gills? Guest Services often provides free seasickness tablets. They’re usually basic over-the-counter options, but they can save your cruise if you’re feeling queasy.

If you know that you’re likely to suffer from sickness during the cruise, I wouldn’t rely on the freebies from Guest Services. They aren’t guaranteed, and even if they have them, they could run out.

Whether you’re charged or not really depends as well. Sometimes I’ve been charged, and sometimes not. And that’s all on the same ship!

However if you’re caught off-guard by those sickness feelings, definitely check in with Guest Services before heading to the pharmacy ashore.

Read more: My Top Tips To Prevent Seasickness When Cruising

2. Replacement Cruise Cards

Lost your key card somewhere between the pool and the buffet? No problem. Just pop down to Guest Services, and they’ll print you a fresh one – no charge, no judgment.

There might be a little judgement if it keeps happening though – so you might want to consider some accessories such as a lanyard to help keep your card safe.

I have lost many cruise cards over the years. I just try not to do it more than once per cruise!

3. Daily News Digests

Missing your daily news fix? Some cruise lines offer complimentary news sheets summarising major world events – a great way to stay informed while you’re off the grid.

Not everyone does this and it’s a little more of a traditional thing – modern cruise lines probably want to push you towards buying a WiFi package.

Still, worth asking if you like to stay up to date.

4. Stationery

Planning to leave a little thank-you note for your cabin steward? Need an envelope to store your onboard receipts? Guest Services can sort you out with free pens, paper and envelopes.

Don’t expect reams and reams of the stuff, but you should have no problem getting a little that you need.

5. Maps of the Ship

Getting lost on a massive floating city is easy, especially on your first few days. Grab a free paper map from Guest Services, and you’ll be navigating like a pro in no time.

Again, though, many cruise lines are moving away from printed materials, and so you might be directed to download the cruise line’s app instead which may give you access to maps.

6. Phone Chargers

Forgot your phone charger at home? Or is your charging cable doing that annoying thing where it’s only working when your phone is balanced at an impossible angle?

Don’t panic. Some ships have spare phone chargers you can borrow from Guest Services.

You won’t be surprised to learn that charging cables are one of the more forgotten items onboard, so it’s easy for cruise lines to build up a stockpile.

Just remember to return it once you get your own. It’s not fair to keep it, and you’re helping the next person who forgets theirs.

7. Plug Adaptors

I recently took a cruise on National Geograhic Endurance – a small ship with only 71 cabins. As it was a press trip, all of the guests were UK journalists and travel agents.

The ship had no UK sockets at all, but luckily they had a stock of 30 international adaptors to lend out. That wasn’t enough though, the stockpile quickly ran out as over half the guests forgot to bring any sort of adaptor with them!

So if you forget your adaptors, don’t worry. Most ships have a mix of US, European and British sockets, as well as USB and USBC ports on the more modern ships. But if that’s not enough, just head to guest services and they will lend you one.

7. Help Setting Up Internet

Struggling to get your device connected to the ship’s WiFi? While there’s usually a dedicated internet desk, Guest Services can often help troubleshoot basic connection issues.

The apps are pretty straightforward and I’ve never found it to be too confusing. Still, good to know that the service is there if you need it.

Read more: Cruise Ship WiFi is Expensive: How to Stay Connected for Less

8. Earplugs

Whether it’s your noisy neighbours or the hum of the ship itself, sometimes you just need a bit of quiet.

Some ships even offer free earplugs at Guest Services – just ask. Worst thing is they’ll say no and direct you to the onboard shop to buy your own.

However if the noise is excessive and unreasonable, they’re going to want to help you to avoid a complaint.

Read more: 16 Things Pro Cruisers Pack That You Won’t Have Thought Of

9. Extra Towels, Pillows, or Blankets

Need an extra pillow or a couple of extra towels?

While your cabin steward is usually the go-to, Guest Services can also arrange for extra blankets, towels, or pillows if you’re feeling chilly or just want to be extra cosy.

This is extra helpful on larger ships where you may barely even see your cabin steward, so Guest Services could become your main point of contact for these requests.

10. Special Occasion Decorations

Got a birthday or anniversary? Let Guest Services know, and you might score a free card, a small gift, or even a surprise decoration in your cabin.

I would say this is less likely than many others on this list though, as most of the major cruise lines now offer celebration packages that you can buy.

This are often quite expensive – but Guest Services will still want to push you towards buying one rather than giving you something for free.

11. Mailing Postcards

Want to send a postcard straight from the ship? Drop it off at Guest Services, and they’ll make sure it’s sent out for you. Handy!

You will need to make sure it already as a stamp, though. They’re helpful but they aren’t going to pay for things they don’t need to.

12. Borrowing a Fan

Some cabins can get a bit warm, and if you’re someone who needs a bit of airflow to sleep, you can sometimes borrow a fan from Guest Services – if they have them available.

I’d ask quickly because if they do have them, they won’t have many. First come, first served.

13. Emergency Laundry Help

Got a serious stain or a wardrobe malfunction just before formal night? Guest Services can sometimes help with emergency laundry or even basic repairs (like giving you a safety pin).

Don’t turn up at the desk with a bag of laundry though. That’s what the onboard laundry services are for. This is purely for emergencies.

Read more: How To Do Laundry on Cruise Ships: The Ultimate Guide

14. Luggage Repairs

Busted zipper? Broken wheel? Believe it or not, some ships can even help you get your luggage repaired, thanks to their onboard maintenance teams.

You’ll need to drop it off and wait because you won’t be their top priority – they’ll be fixing ship-wide issues first. However, a free fix that takes a couple of days is better than no fix at all.

15. Hypoallergenic Pillows

If you’ve got allergies, you don’t have to suffer.

Guest Services can help you swap out your pillow for a hypoallergenic option – just ask.

Some suites on cruise ships come with full pillow menus to choose from, but if you’ve an allergy then you should be able to get swapped regardless of your cabin choice.

16. Printing Important Documents

Need to print out an excursion ticket, a boarding pass, or some other important document? Guest Services can often print a few pages for you, no charge.

As with everything on this list, don’t push your luck. A few pages is fine – an essay, probably not.

17. A Bible

You’ll find a Bible in the drawer of the bedside table in most hotels, but the same can’t be said for cruise ships.

Cruise ships are often cautious about anything that could be interpreted as controversial or sensitive, especially since they dock in various countries with different laws and cultures.

However, if you want to read the Bible and haven’t brought your own, just head to guest services. Even if the ship doesn’t have a library, they should have a spare copy of the Bible that they can lend you.

18. Sports Equipment

Most cruise ships have facilities like sports courts for basketball, football, tennis or pickleball. But what if you get there and there’s no equipment?

That’s actually pretty common, and all you have to do is go to guest services and ask.

While there will be organised sports at certain times, the rest of the time you’re free to start your own games. Just ask at the guest services desk and they will give all the balls or bats you need.

18. A Dramatic Show!

A bit of a cheeky one to end on, but if you’re the kind of person who likes to people watch, and you find entitled cruisers to be entertaining, then the Guest Services desk is a great spot to catch some drama!

I don’t see entitled people on every cruise, but I’ve definitely seen a few people get demand-y and shouty before, and it’s quite embarrassing for them.

I would obviously rather that the Guest Services team didn’t have to handle those people, but they’re very good at taking it in their stride.

So yes, if you like a bit of gossip and find rude people getting flustered to be a bit entertaining, grab a drink and a seat near Guest Services. It won’t be long before you’re front row to some drama.

Read more: Overheard: The Worst Complaints At Guest Services On A Cruise

Final Thoughts

Guest Services is more than just the place to complain about your noisy neighbour or check your bill.

It’s a treasure trove of useful (and free) goodies that can make your cruise even better. Don’t be afraid to swing by and ask – you never know what you might get for free.

The golden rule though is to not expect anything. These are all freebies you might be able to get.

The worst cruisers are those who think they are entitled to a load of extras, and then demand them.

Don’t be one of those.

Related Posts

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.

Read more about me

The biggest mistakes that cruisers make (and not just the newbies) are often related to tipping. It’s an absolute minefield!

Get tipping wrong, and you could find yourself embarrassed, overcharged or unintentionally rude to someone. None of those are ideal when you’re trying to enjoy your cruise!

And yet some of these errors are surprisingly common…

1. Assuming Gratuities Are Included

One of the biggest mistakes new cruisers make is assuming that gratuities are already included in the fare.

In reality, most mainstream cruise lines add gratuities as an additional fee, which means they’re tacked onto your bill at the end of your trip. You can pre-pay them when you book, but if you don’t, they’ll be added to your onboard account along with your onboard purchases.

Even after paying your automatic gratuities, many cruisers (particularly those from the United States) like to tip extra in cash. This may be $5 to the porter who handles your bags at the cruise terminal, $5 to the person who delivers your room service, or even $100 to the person who has cleaned your room all week.

To facilitate this, some cruise lines like Disney will leave you envelopes to add cash to and tip particular crew members extra on top of the auto gratuities.

Not every cruise line charges gratuities separately though.

Cruise lines that include gratuities in the fare that you pay include:

• P&O Cruises
• Marella Cruises
• Virgin Voyages
• Seabourn
• Silversea
• Scenic Ocean Cruises
• Emerald Cruises
• Azamara
• MSC Cruises (on European sailings)

And then there are the cruise lines which include gratuities if you pay a certain fare, such as Princess Cruises with the Plus or Premier fares.

Sometimes, people ask me if gratuities are mandatory or if they can remove them. While technically you can remove gratuities, I defintley wouldn’t recommend that. You can read more about that later in this article, or here: Can You Refuse To Pay Gratuities On A Cruise?

2. Only Bringing Large Bills

While you won’t need cash for most onboard expenses, you will need small bills if you wish to tipping people. They also come in handy if you want to buy small items ashore.

Bringing nothing but $50 notes might leave you in an awkward spot when you want to show your appreciation without handing over a fortune.

Imagine trying to tip a bartender with a crisp £50 – you might get great service all cruise, but your wallet won’t thank you!

Make sure you head to the bank or bureau de change before you head for the port, and grab yourself some smaller bills.

3. Forgetting to Tip the Porter at Embarkation

Porters work hard lugging your suitcases on board, often in all kinds of weather. A small tip – think $1-2 per bag – is a simple way to show your appreciation.

This isn’t the norm in the UK or Europe, as port workers receive a decent wage. But if your cruise departs from the United States, you can expect that porters rely on tips to survive.

When I got on a transatlantic cruise in Southampton, I noticed that all of the Americans were tipping the porters, while the British people weren’t. I bet the British porters love it when they load up the ships full of Americans!

Forgetting tips can leave you feeling like a bit of a scrooge before you’ve even stepped onboard. Yes, your bags will likely make it to your cabin either way, but a little kindness goes a long way.

4. Removing Automatic Gratuities Without Good Reason

Sure, you can ask Guest Services to remove the automatic gratuities from your account, but this is strongly discouraged.

Those tips go towards the hardworking crew members who make your cruise experience enjoyable.

If you’ve had an issue with service, it’s always better to speak with a manager first – cancelling gratuities because your drink took an extra minute is a bit like burning down the house because you found a spider.

And it is hugely unfair on a lot of the behind-the-scenes crew who also rely on those tips.

Read more: Can You Refuse To Pay Gratuities On A Cruise?

5. Tipping in the Wrong Currency

If you’re cruising in Europe, tipping your tour guide in US dollars isn’t particularly helpful – although some many not mind, as long as it’s paper money, not coins.

Still, it’s always best to check the local currency for your destinations and have some on hand.

Most Caribbean destinations are happy with US dollars, but this isn’t true everywhere.

In some countries like Turkey, which use the Turkish Lira, most of the shops and taxis will accept Euros. However, they’ll give you a really poor exchange rate, so it’s not advised to do this.

6. Skipping Tips for Shore Excursion Guides

Even if your shore excursion is booked through the cruise line, it’s customary to tip your guide separately if they’ve provided an excellent experience.

These guides often work hard to give you a memorable day – a little recognition goes a long way.

Think of them as your adventure sidekicks – and every great sidekick deserves a thank you.

I often like to take ‘free’ walking tours in cities. While these are advertised as being free, they’re not, as you’re expected to pay what you feel the tour is worth at the end. The guides have to pay a fee to the company, usually around $5 per person. Anything after that is theirs to keep. So if you only pay $5, they’re effectively working for free, which isn’t fair.

7. Saving All Your Tips for the Last Day

It’s a classic mistake – waiting until the last day to hand out tips.

Not only does this make it feel like a financial punch all at once, but you also miss the chance to show appreciation to a standout bartender or cabin steward throughout your cruise.

Plus, a little generosity early on can sometimes make for even better service.

You’re missing out if you wait – maybe spreading out the tipping love could just swing you a little special treatment during the cruise (though don’t expect it!)

8. Over-Tipping Because You’re Unaware of Service Charges

Some onboard purchases, like spa treatments or drinks, already include a service charge.

Tipping extra on top of this is unnecessary unless you’ve received exceptional service. And yet some people do, because it can be a little bit confusing.

So it’s worth checking the costs whenever you pay for something on the ship – do your research before you sail on whether your drinks include the tip already. If you’re already paying 18% on top of the menu price for each drink, you may feel that’s more than enough.

Again, there’s no harm in tipping extra if you want to – and the occasional small tip with a bartender could help you get served even quicker the next time you visit.

Just make sure you aren’t overpaying unnecessarily.

9. Assuming Prepaid Gratuities Mean You Don’t Have to Tip Extra

Prepaying your gratuities means you’ve covered the basics – but it doesn’t mean you can’t show a little extra appreciation to crew members who go above and beyond.

A small personal tip to your cabin steward or favourite bartender can make a big difference. And what might not seem like much to you, could be what makes their day.

Bring a little extra with you if you can, and reward the good service you get. Trust me, they’ll know whether you’ve already prepaid too, so your extra tips will be appreciated even more.

Read more: Should You Prepay Gratuities On A Cruise? Pros & Cons

10. Feeling Obligated to Tip Room Service

Room service on many cruise lines already has a service charge included, so you’re not required to leave an extra tip. It can feel awkward, since you would always expect to tip a delivery, but it might be something you’ve already paid.

Of course, if you receive exceptional service – like a quick late-night delivery – a couple of pounds or dollars as a thank you won’t go amiss.

After all, there’s something magical about a late night snack in bed on a cruise. And if they’ve gone out of their way to make it happen for you, it might be nice to say a special thanks.

11. Forgetting About Your Cabin Steward

Your cabin steward is the unsung hero of your cruise, keeping your room clean and tidy (amd potentially handling quite a few extra tasks for you too…)

A small additional tip is always appreciated and can be a great way to thank them for their hard work.

And like I say, maybe don’t wait until the end of your cruise – a bit of a thank-you every now and then can make sure any requests you have take priority.

Trust me, you’ll miss them when you get home and have to make your own bed again.

12. Tipping Everyone for Everything

With so many crew members working hard to make your cruise amazing, it can be easy to feel like you need to tip everyone for everything.

But remember, many services already include a gratuity, and you don’t need to double-tip unless you want to.

Generosity is great, but let’s keep it within budget. You don’t have to drain your bank account just for tipping’s sake.

13. Using Tips To Jump The Queue

Sometimes, when the bars are busy, you may see someone come to the bar and slide a dollar bill onto the table, in the hope of getting served first.

While that may work, it’s very annoying to everyone else who has been waiting patiently in line. It can feel as though you’re paying to jump the queue.

There’s nothing wrong with the tradition of tipping in cash for each drink. But if you do it, perhaps wait until after you’ve been served? Or if you do get served first, perhaps thank to your previous cash tips, then the polite thing to do would be to point the bartender towards the person you know has been waiting longer than you.

Final Thoughts

Cruise tipping doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can enjoy your holiday without awkward moments or unexpected charges.

After all, cruising should be all about relaxing, not worrying about who you’ve forgotten to tip.

To make it easy on yourself, just double-check a few things before you go – are gratuities already covered, do your onboard purchases have an automatic service charge, and pack some smaller banknotes.

You can then tip as you want to, without feeling pressured to go over the top.

Related Posts

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.

Read more about me