Celebrity Cruises has increased its automatic daily gratuities for all guests, with the new rates taking effect immediately on July 29, 2026.
The cruise line informed booked guests of the change, explaining that the daily service charges help support the crew members who contribute to the onboard experience.
The updated gratuity rates are:
Inside, Oceanview, and Veranda staterooms: $19.50 per person, per day (previously $18.00)
Concierge Class and AquaClass staterooms: $20.50 per person, per day (previously $19.00)
The Retreat suites: $24.50 per person, per day (previously $23.00)
The increase represents a $1.50 per person, per day adjustment across all cabin categories.
In its message to guests, Celebrity said the gratuities are shared among dining, bar and culinary teams, stateroom attendants, and many other crew members who help deliver the onboard experience.
Like most major cruise lines, Celebrity automatically applies a daily gratuity to guests' onboard accounts unless it has been prepaid before sailing. The charge is separate from gratuities that are automatically added to beverages, spa treatments, and certain other onboard purchases.
Because the new rates became effective the same day they were announced, guests who had not already prepaid their gratuities may no longer have the opportunity to lock in the previous pricing. Those who prepaid before July 29 are generally expected to keep the original rates.
The move follows a similar increase by Holland America Line, which raised its daily gratuities in June to $18.00 per person for standard staterooms and $20.00 for suites.
Celebrity's sister brand, Royal Caribbean International, has not announced any changes to its gratuity policy. Royal Caribbean's current daily gratuities remain at $18.50 per person for standard staterooms and $20.50 for suites, rates that have been in place since October 2024.
While gratuity policies are determined separately by each cruise line, changes at one brand within Royal Caribbean Group have often been followed by similar adjustments at other brands, making Celebrity's latest increase one that many cruise passengers will be watching closely.
