Ahoy there, Patricia!
Welcome back to planDisney! Being prepared and knowing where every dollar is headed is always a smart move, so let’s roll out the nautical map and make sure your gratuities plan is as smooth as a
ride on the AquaDuck.
Disney Cruise Line currently recommends gratuities of $16.00 per night, per Guest for non-Concierge staterooms. This amount includes children and helps recognize the incredible work of your stateroom host or hostess, along with your dining room server, assistant server, and head server. For Guests sailing in Concierge staterooms,
the recommended gratuity is currently $27.25 per night, per Guest. That amount covers the same dining team and stateroom host or hostess, plus your assistant stateroom host or hostess and the Concierge Lounge team. It’s truly a full ensemble cast working behind the scenes to keep the magic rolling.
I’m very much a know the budget before the adventure begins kind of cruiser, so I always choose to pre-pay our gratuities when we book. If you’ve already booked and want to do the same, just head into the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app, find your reservation, and select pre-paid gratuities under the “Next Steps” section. If you booked through a travel agent, you will want to reach out to them to add the pre-paid gratuities. If you decide not to pre-pay, no worries at all. The recommended gratuity amount will automatically be added to your stateroom’s onboard account once your cruise begins, letting you focus on enjoying the voyage instead of doing math at sea.
If you’d like to customize your gratuities,
Guest Services onboard is your go-to stop. They can adjust amounts to better match your experience. I also like to bring along a little extra cash in case someone goes above and beyond, which seems to happen often when we cruise with Disney. Toward the end of your sailing, your stateroom host or hostess will leave small envelopes in your room if you’d like to add an extra gratuity, though it’s completely optional. Since the recommended gratuities only cover your dedicated team, you can also pick up envelopes from Guest Services or tip directly for other Cast Members who made your cruise extra special, whether that’s a bartender or someone else who helped make a moment unforgettable.
I hope this helps as you
get everything lined up for your upcoming cruise. Having a plan in place makes embarkation day feel less like a checklist and more like the opening scene of an adventure. With gratuities handled, you’re free to enjoy the journey and let the magic take center stage.
Sea ya real soon as the adventure continues into a bright new year,
Dustin