Alaska Cruise Gratuities Guide — How Much, When, and Who to Tip

Navigating the nuances of tipping can be tricky, and an Alaska cruise is no exception. From the crew who service your stateroom to the wilderness guides who lead you to glaciers, understanding who, when, and how much to tip ensures your appreciation is shown appropriately. This guide demystifies the process, breaking down everything you need to know about gratuities for your Alaskan adventure.

Onboard the Ship: Automatic Gratuities

Virtually all major cruise lines have streamlined the tipping process by automatically adding a daily gratuity or “service charge” to your onboard account. This practice eliminates the need for carrying cash to tip individual crew members daily.

How Much Are Automatic Gratuities?

As of 2026, you can expect these daily charges to range from $17 to $25 per person, per day, depending on the cruise line and your stateroom category. Guests in suites typically pay a higher rate, reflecting a greater level of personalized service.

Here’s a look at the approximate 2026 daily rates for popular Alaska cruise lines:

• Carnival Cruise Line: ~$17 for standard staterooms, ~$19 for suites.
• Celebrity Cruises: ~$18 for standard staterooms, ~$19 for Concierge/AquaClass, and ~$23 for The Retreat suites.
• Holland America Line: ~$17 for most cabins and ~$19 for suites.
• Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL): ~$20 for most staterooms and ~$25 for suites and The Haven.
• Princess Cruises: ~$17 to ~$19, though these are often included in their “Princess Plus” and “Princess Premier” packages.
• Royal Caribbean: ~$18.50 for non-suites and ~$21 for suites.
• Disney Cruise Line: Recommends $16 per guest, per night, and $27.25 for concierge guests.

Who Receives These Gratuities?

The collected amount is pooled and distributed among a wide range of crew members. This includes your cabin steward, the dining room waitstaff (server, assistant server, head waiter), and the many behind-the-scenes staff in the galleys and laundry who you may never see but who are integral to your cruise experience.

Can You Adjust Automatic Gratuities?

Technically, most cruise lines allow passengers to go to the Guest Services desk and adjust or remove these charges. However, this practice is strongly discouraged. Crew members’ wages are structured with the expectation of receiving these gratuities. Removing them directly impacts the earnings of the staff who have been serving you throughout your voyage. If you have a service issue, it’s always best to address it with management while onboard so they have a chance to resolve it.

Additional Onboard Tipping (Optional)

While the automatic system covers the primary service staff, many cruisers choose to provide additional cash tips for exceptional service.

• Cabin Steward: For a week-long cruise, an extra $20-$50 in cash handed directly to your steward at the end of the voyage is a common and much-appreciated gesture for outstanding service.
• Bar Staff: An 18-20% gratuity is almost always automatically added to your drink bill, whether you’re paying per drink or have a beverage package. Many travelers still hand the bartender $1-2 in cash for excellent or prompt service.
• Specialty Dining: Similar to the bar, an automatic gratuity is usually included in the cover charge or final bill. For a server who provided a truly memorable experience, an additional $10-$20 in cash is a generous way to show thanks.
• Room Service: Some lines add a gratuity automatically; if not, a few dollars in cash for the person delivering your order is customary.

Tipping on Shore Excursions

This is where you’ll need cash. Gratuities for tour guides and drivers are not included in your cruise fare or the price of the shore excursion. Tipping is a standard and expected practice in Alaska’s tourism industry.

• Tour Guides: The standard guideline is 15-20% of the tour cost, or a flat amount of $10-$20 per person for a half-day tour. For full-day or exceptional private tours, a larger tip is appropriate.
• Helicopter Pilots & Flightseeing: For high-cost excursions like helicopter tours to a glacier, tipping 15-20% can feel substantial. While opinions vary, a tip of $20-$30 per person is a common and appreciated amount for the pilot who often doubles as your guide.
• Whale Watching & Kayak Guides: For these popular tours, a tip of $10-$20 per person in cash is standard for a good experience.
• Fishing Charter Captains & Crew: For a half-day or full-day fishing trip, a tip of 15-20% of the charter cost is customary and should be given to the captain to be shared with the deckhand(s).

Understanding Gratuity-Related Packages

Prepaid Gratuities

Most cruise lines offer the option to prepay your daily gratuities before you sail.

• Benefit 1: Budgeting. Paying them upfront integrates the cost into your overall vacation budget, so you don’t have a large bill at the end.
• Benefit 2: Lock in the Rate. Cruise lines occasionally increase their daily gratuity rates. By prepaying, you lock in the rate that was in effect when you booked.

Promotional Packages (e.g., NCL’s “Free at Sea”)

Many lines, like Norwegian, offer promotional packages that include perks like a “free” beverage package. It’s crucial to read the fine print. While the package itself may be a perk, you are still required to pay the associated service charges, which are essentially the gratuities. For NCL, this is typically 20% of the retail value of the drink package, paid before you cruise.

Tipping in Alaskan Ports

When you’re off the ship and exploring Alaska’s charming port towns like Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, standard North American tipping customs apply. Plan to tip 15-20% in restaurants and for other personal services you receive. It’s also customary to tip baggage handlers at the pier $1-2 per bag.