Cruise Budget Calculator vs Cruise Tip Calculator

Beyond the advertised fare, a 7-night Caribbean cruise for two typically adds $1,500-$2,500 in extras: $250-$350 in auto-gratuities, $500-$1,000 for drink packages, $200-$400 for Wi-Fi, $300-$600 for excursions, plus flights ($400-$1,200) and pre-cruise hotel ($150-$300). Budget 1.5-2× the headline fare for the all-in cost.

A drink package pays off if you'll order 5-7+ drinks per day (specialty coffees, soda, cocktails). At $60-$80/day, that's roughly $11/drink — about even with paying per drink. If you mostly drink water, coffee from the buffet, and 1-2 cocktails, skip it.

On most major lines (Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Princess, MSC), the daily auto-gratuity is automatically billed to your onboard account but technically optional — you can adjust or remove it at guest services. Disney and some MSC markets don't auto-charge gratuities. That said, the crew earns most of their income from gratuities, and removing them is generally considered poor form unless you've had genuinely awful service.

Auto-gratuity already covers your cabin steward (typically $5-$7/pp/day). Many guests add $20-$50 cash at the end of the cruise as a thank-you for exceptional service. Suites traditionally tip $50-$100 extra to the cabin steward.