The Hidden Cost of Cruising: How Gratuities Work.

For the next few weeks, I am excited to offer an exclusive promotion from Celebrity Cruises: Pre-paid gratuities for my clients on cruises booked and deposited by April 20th, 2026. This offer applies to all room categories and destinations (excluding the Galapagos). Since this is such a valuable perk, I wanted to explain exactly what gratuities are and why they matter for your next vacation.

What are Gratuities?

Gratuities are a per-person, per-day service charge shared among the hardworking crew members on board. For many crew members, these "tips" make up a significant portion of their income. 

Sometimes these daily charges can be a bit of a surprise on your final bill. If on board you receive really terrible service, you can always ask the service desk to remove these from your bill. However, I have never experienced service that would warrant such an action. I don’t recommend removing your gratuities, the waitstaff and stateroom attendants on board are often some of my favorite people to interact with. Getting to know a stranger from another culture can be an unexpected boost to your vacation! 

A photo of my family and some of the friends we made while onboard the Celebrity Beyond.

How to Avoid the "Final Bill" Surprise You have a few options to handle these costs:

• The most popular is to pre-pay before your cruise. The standard amount is going to be about $15-25 per person per day. For a family of 4 that adds up to nearly $600 on a 7-night cruise! 

• Another option is to take advantage of our promotion from Celebrity Cruises. If you book with Assured Travel on or before April 20th, then you don’t have to worry about that extra cost, even for a family of 4. 

A Note of Thanks!

I also wanted to add my gratitude to you for your incredible support. I’m so excited to have the ability to offer these bonuses to my clients. It’s because of your loyalty and support that I’m able to secure these promotions from partners like Celebrity. 

Thank you, let's keep that trend going. Contact us to book your cruise today!