Norwegian Cruise Line lets passengers pre-pay service charges on ships

[mercedes]

Add Norwegian Cruise Line to the list of cruise companies letting passengers pre-pay gratuities.

The mass-market line quietly rolled out a new program last week that lets passengers pay its $12 per person, per day "service charge" before sailing in lieu of at the end of a cruise.

Several other lines including Carnival currently offer such an option -- popular with cruisers who like to pay everything in advance and avoid a big bill at the end of their vacation.

Norwegian Cruise Line raised its daily service charge to $12 in January, and it now has the highest levy of any big ship line. Carnival adds a $10 per person per day gratuity to passenger bills. Princess adds a $10.50 service charge ($11 for passengers in suites and mini-suites). Holland America adds $11; Celebrity, $11.50 ($12-$15 for passengers in premium cabins and suites).

Royal Caribbean doesn't automatically add gratuities to customer bills but instead suggests amounts for passengers to give to their room stewards and dining room waiters at the end of a cruise.

[DebbieandJerry]

Only a matter of time when all of the pre-paid will be raised. Jery says that he wishes he was the waiter to our tables when we go out. I am a very generous 20% tipper, especially if the waiter has supplied water, bread, drink refills without us having to ask for it. So, the $3.50/day per person for the waiter to me is almost an insult.