Why I’m STOPPING Automatic Cruise Tips (And What I’m Doing Instead)

Tipping on cruise ships has officially changed—and not necessarily for the better. After decades of cruising and spending nearly a year of my life on Royal Caribbean ships, my opinions on automatic daily gratuities have completely shifted. From the "grand old days" of cash envelopes to today’s skyrocketing daily fees (now hitting $18+ per person, per day), something feels off. In this video, I’m breaking down why I no longer trust big cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and NCL with my gratuity money, why corporate wording like "workers' compensation" raises red flags, and why I am officially choosing to remove automatic gratuities on my upcoming cruises to switch back to cash. Are cruise lines using our tips to subsidize base contracted salaries instead of giving crew members a true bonus for excellent service? I want to hear from you. Have you noticed these changes? Would you prefer cruise lines just roll tipping into the base cruise fare? Drop your thoughts, experiences, and agreements (or disagreements!) in the comments below. #CruiseTipping #RoyalCaribbean #CruiseVlog #TravelTips #CruiseLife #TippingCulture #DisneyCruiseLine