Why I Removed My Cruise Tips | The Complete (Updated) Guide To NCL Tipping
Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.
Creator's Key Takeaways
For the first time ever, I actually had to take off the tips for my trip, for the cruise.
The onboard service charge is not a mandatory charge. It is generally considered to be how you tip the crew.
Stop letting these multi-billion dollar cruise industries make you feel bad about tipping.
There's one secret thing that you can do for crew members that is does not involve money, that means more to them than anything else.
Creator's Tips & Advice
🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:
Questions This Creator Answers
Topics Covered
Port Highlights
Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.
About our Bacon Score methodologyYouTube Video Description↓
Tipping on Norwegian Cruise Line: Everything You Need to KnowAre you confused about tipping on your next NCL cruise? From onboard service charges to specialty dining gratuities, the costs can add up fast. In this video, we break down the three main categories of tipping on Norwegian Cruise Line and share our personal experiences—including where we went wrong on our first trip and how we changed our strategy on the NCL Bliss.Whether you are sailing out of San Diego or heading to the Caribbean, we help you navigate the "tips about tips" so you can stop stressing and start enjoying your vacation. In This Video: The 3 Categories of Tipping: We explain the difference between Onboard Service Charges, cash tips, and à la carte gratuities.Onboard Service Charges Explained: Did you know the daily service charge (usually $20-$25 per person, per day) is technically optional?. We discuss why we no longer recommend prepaying these fees.Specialty Dining & Drinks: How the 20% automatic gratuity works when you purchase meals or drinks outside of your "More at Sea" credits.Removing Gratuities: We share a candid story about why we had to remove tips on a recent cruise due to unresolved room issues and how it affected our experience.The "Secret" Way to Reward Crew: Forget the cash—we reveal the two most powerful ways to help a crew member’s career: the Hero Card and the Letter to the Captain. Key Takeaways: No Obligation: If you prepay your service charges, you are technically cleared and do not have to tip extra at bars or restaurants.Better Connections: We found that deeply rewarding specific staff members who go above and beyond led to a much better experience than handing out small tips to everyone.Check Your Statement: Always review your stateroom bill on day two or three to avoid surprises at the end of the cruise.Are you a Norwegian Cruise Line expert or a first-time cruiser? Let us know your tipping strategy in the comments! We respond to every single one.Join the Sail Away Community:Subscribe for more cruise tips and NCL ship reviews.Follow us on Facebook to chat directly with Ashley and connect with our growing community.See us on a cruise? Come say hello! We love hearing your travel stories.#NCL #NorwegianCruiseLine #CruiseTips #NCLBliss #CruiseTipping #TravelHacks #TheSailAway