Celebrity and Azamara Institute Auto-Tipping

Following the trend with the mainstream cruise lines, Azamara and Celebrity have announced a new gratuity policy, similar to that of most other lines. Effective for every sailing beginning on or after January 15, 2009, gratuities will be automatically applied to guests’ SeaPass account on a daily basis. This avoids the need for you to visit an ATM for cash prior to the end of the cruise, and averts any need to take time away from your vacation to calculate out the amounts due each staff member. (Of course, the policy does not apply to Celebrity Xpedition, where gratuities are already included in the fare.)

Below is the new gratuity structure:

Restaurant Service Per Person, Per Day
Waiter $3.65
Assistant Waiter $2.10
Dining Room Management $1.00

Stateroom Service
Butler (Suites Only) $3.50
Stateroom Service $3.50 ($4.00 for Concierge Class/Aqua Class)

Alternative Service
Other Service Personnel $1.25

The above amounts total $11.50 per person, per day for guests in staterooms; $12.00 per person, per day for
guests in Concierge Class or Aqua Class accommodations; and $15.00 per person, per day for guests in suites.

Do know that the amounts can be adjusted at the guest's request, and of course you may request the removal of the auto tips entirely.

Automatic tipping is a hot button for many cruisers, but I believe it is a convenience, and I'm in favor of it. I've never once had an instance onboard where I didn't feel that the crew deserved the base amounts, and often tip additionally in cash for those who have provided extraordinary service.

While cruisers from outside the US (and some even in North America) are accustomed to tips being included in basic prices in restaurants and other service venues (or think they should be), the fact is that American-based cruise lines base their crew salaries on the presumption of tips being given to the service personnel, and the crew rely on them. Yes, there is tip pooling, but the lines do allow those who are given extra tips, beyond the basic amount to keep the additional amounts. So there truly is no reason to remove the auto-tips and tip with cash, as the pooling still does occur.

Why would a crew member voluntarily turn over a cash tip to be pooled rather than just keep it? Because it reflects badly in their evaluation if their passengers are shown as not tipping. Having auto-tips removed, and a crew member not reporting tips given in cash, indicates to the line that the crew member may not be performing adequately, and may not consider that crew member for promotion, better assignments, etc. So feel free to auto-tip, and just reward those you wish with additional gratuity in cash as you have always done.