Cunard Gratuities
Calculator Explained
Work out exactly what you'll pay in hotel & dining service charges before you set sail - down to the last dollar
$17
Britannia / night
$19
Grill SUITES/ night
15%
BAR & SPA CHARGE
Published: 21st April 2026
Updated: 12th May 2026
Gratuities are one of those cruise costs that can catch you off guard if you haven't budgeted for them. On a two-week voyage for two, the service charges alone can top $500 before you've ordered a single cocktail. This guide and calculator make sure there are no surprises on your final bill.<
What are Cunard Gratuities?
Cunard officially calls them the Hotel & Dining Service Charge — and since May 2025 that is the terminology you'll see on your onboard account, replacing the older word "gratuities." The rebrand is about transparency: Cunard wants to be clear that these are automatic daily charges, not optional cash tips.
The charge is automatically added to your onboard account every night of your voyage and is settled (along with everything else) on the final evening before disembarkation. You can review your running total at any time using the Cunard app or by logging in via the complimentary Wi-Fi.
Who receives the money? According to Cunard's official policy, 100% of the hotel and dining service charge goes directly to crew — there is no administrative fee deducted by the company. It is shared across a wide range of staff including cabin stewards, restaurant waiters, kitchen teams, laundry staff and other behind-the-scenes crew who contribute to the White Star service experience.
It is worth noting that casino staff are excluded from the pooled gratuity system, because not all guests use the casino. If you enjoy the tables, a personal cash tip for dealers and staff is always appreciated.
Current Rates (May 2025 Onwards)
Rates apply to every guest on board — adults and children alike — and are the same across all four Cunard ships: Queen Mary 2, Queen Anne, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth.
- Inside, oceanview & balcony
- Britannia Club staterooms
- Adults and children same rate
- All four Cunard ships
- Princess Grill Suites
- Queens Grill Suites
- $2/night premium over Britannia
- All occupants incl. children
- All bar & wine orders ship-wide
- Mareel Wellness & Beauty Spa
- Compulsory on bar purchases
- Already included in drinks packages
💡 Drinks Packages: If you purchase a Cunard drinks package, the 15% bar gratuity is already baked into the package price — you won't see any additional service charge on individual drinks. For those who plan to drink regularly, this is one of the best ways to control your onboard spend.
Gratuities Calculator
Use the calculator below to estimate your total service charges before you sail. Enter your cabin type, voyage length, number of guests, and an optional estimate for bar spending to see a full cost breakdown.
Cunard Gratuities Calculator
Estimate your Hotel & Dining Service Charge before you sail · Figures in US dollars
Rates effective May 2025 · Always verify current rates at cunard.com · Bar figures are estimates only
Which Charges are Compulsary?
Not all Cunard service charges work the same way. The table below summarises what you can and can't adjust.
Which Charges Are Compulsory?
| Charge Type | Amount | Status | How to Adjust |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel & Dining Service Charge | $17 or $19 / person / night | Adjustable | Visit Guest Services onboard |
| Bar & Wine Service Charge | 15% per purchase | Compulsory | Cannot be removed |
| Spa & Salon Service Charge | 15% per treatment | Adjustable | Request at spa checkout |
| Room Service Tip | Optional amount on slip | Voluntary | Add to your order slip or leave blank |
| Promo / World Voyage Gratuities | Varies by booking | Pre-paid | Nothing to pay onboard |
| Casino Staff Tip | No automatic charge | Voluntary | Cash tip at your discretion |
Rates effective May 2026 for all departures · Applies equally to all guests across QM2, Queen Anne, Queen Victoria & Queen Elizabeth · Always verify current rates at cunard.com
A word on removing gratuities: You can remove or reduce the daily hotel & dining charge at Guest Services, and Cunard will do so without making a fuss. However, bear in mind that this removes recognition from behind-the-scenes crew — laundry staff, kitchen porters, and others who never appear at your table but work tirelessly to make your voyage seamless. If a specific service has fallen short, it's worth raising that directly with Guest Services rather than removing gratuities entirely.
How to Reduce Your Gratuities Bill
1. Use Onboard Credit to Cover Gratuities
If your booking included onboard credit (OBC) — whether through a promotion, a travel agent incentive, or a Cunard World Club benefit — you can use it to offset your hotel and dining service charges. Simply let Guest Services know, and they'll apply your OBC to cover the daily amounts as they accrue.
2. Book a Free Gratuities Promotion
Cunard periodically runs promotions where hotel and dining service charges are included in your fare. These deals appear most often on World Voyages and longer sailings, but do also surface on shorter itineraries during sale periods. They are particularly valuable for Grill Suite bookings, where the savings over a 100-night World Voyage can exceed $3,800 per couple.
3. Opt for a Drinks Package
If you plan to enjoy wine with dinner and cocktails before the show, Cunard's drinks packages bundle the 15% bar service charge into one upfront price. This won't affect your daily hotel charge, but it does eliminate the drip-drip of bar gratuities that can add up surprisingly fast over a two-week voyage.
4. Budget in Advance
The single most effective "saving" is simply knowing what to expect. Use the calculator above before you book, factor gratuities into your total voyage budget, and you'll arrive at Southampton without any last-night surprises on your final bill statement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Cunard gratuities the same in USD on UK bookings?
Can I prepay Cunard gratuities before my cruise?
Unlike some cruise lines, Cunard does not currently offer a pre-payment option for hotel and dining service charges. They are always added to your onboard account during the voyage and settled on your final night aboard. The only exception is if your booking fare already includes gratuities as part of a promotion.
Are children charged gratuities at the same rate as adults?
Yes. The hotel and dining service charge applies to all guests regardless of age, including infants and children. At $17 per child per night, this is worth factoring in carefully for family bookings — our calculator above accounts for children separately so you can see the full picture.
Are Cunard gratuities the same in USD on UK bookings?
Yes. Cunard operates a single currency onboard — US dollars — regardless of your country of residence or the currency you booked in. If your credit or debit card is in GBP, your bank will convert the final dollar amount at its prevailing exchange rate. Cunard also offers a currency conversion service onboard, though bank rates are usually more favourable.
Has Cunard changed the name from "gratuities" to something else?
Yes. From May 2025, Cunard formally rebranded these charges as the "Hotel and Dining Service Charge" across all communications and onboard account statements. The amounts are identical — only the terminology has changed, to be more transparent about the nature of the automatic daily charge. Bookings that had "Free Gratuities" promotions are unaffected; those covers are still applied under the new name.
Should I tip on top of the daily service charge?
The daily service charge is designed to cover all routine tipping, so there is no obligation or expectation to tip additionally. However, if a crew member — your room steward, a favourite waiter, or a butler in the Grills — has gone genuinely above and beyond, a personal cash tip is a warm way to acknowledge that. There is no set figure; anything from $5 to $20 at the end of the voyage is graciously received.
Do Cunard gratuities differ between ships?
No. The hotel and dining service charge rates are fleet-wide and identical across Queen Mary 2, Queen Anne, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. The only variable is your cabin category — Britannia or Grill — not which ship you are sailing on.
Accuracy & Updates: The rates shown in this article and calculator reflect Cunard's published hotel and dining service charges effective from May 2025. Gratuity rates are set by Cunard and may be subject to change without notice. Always verify current rates on the Cunard website or with your travel agent before sailing. Bar and spa service charges (15%) are applied per transaction and the estimated figures in the calculator are illustrative only.
