Tipping & Gratuities
How tips and gratuities work on Virgin Voyages, including fare differences and when you may need to pay extra.
Virgin Voyages has always aimed to make cruising simple by removing the pressure to tip. Until October 7, 2025, gratuities are bundled into the voyage fare. From that date forward, gratuities are shown separately for transparency. The total cost of your vacation does not change, but you will now see the gratuity line item in a clearer way.
Booked Before October 7, 2025 – Legacy Fare
If your voyage was booked under the Legacy Fare, gratuities are already included in your fare. This covers all standard onboard services:
- Restaurant servers
- Bar staff
- Your cabin attendant
You will not see an extra service charge on your onboard account, and you never need to tip unless you wish to. Some people like to give a cash tip to Crew members who provided exceptional service, but this is optional and not expected.
Booked On or After October 7, 2025 – VoyageFair Choices
For new bookings made under VoyageFair Choices, gratuities will no longer be bundled into the fare. Instead, they must be added separately either before you sail or during your voyage. All cabin types and all VoyageFair Choices pay the same nightly amount:
- Pre-Purchase: $20 per Sailor per night if prepaid before sailing
- Onboard: $22 per Sailor per night if settled onboard
There is no opt-out of gratuities except in rare circumstances, the amount will be automatically added to your folio. If you want to remove these you will need to contact Sailor Services on board. This change does not impact Crew wages or onboard tipping policies, it is purely a matter of displaying charges more transparently.
Example: A 7-night voyage for two people priced at $3,500 before October 7th will instead show $3,220 plus $280 in gratuities ($20 × 2 × 7 nights).
Tipping Calculator
We are creating a simple gratuity calculator to help you estimate your costs based on voyage length and number of guests for both pre-purchase and onboard spend. This will be available on VV Insider soon.
Extra Tipping
The onboard policy remains unchanged. There is no expectation to tip at bars, restaurants, or in your cabin. If you choose to give more, here is how it works:
- Cash only — tips cannot be charged to your account or wearable band
- US dollars are best as it is in the on board currency.
- Local currency may be appreciated but keep in mind future itineraries and some crew can not get off the ship.
- Give tips directly to the Crew member, not to Sailor Services
Cash Tipping in this way is always optional and will not affect the level of service you receive.
The Best Way to Say Thanks
One of the most meaningful ways to show appreciation is by mentioning Crew members in your post-cruise survey. These comments are shared with Virgin Voyages leadership and can help Crew gain recognition and career opportunities.
What’s Not Included in Gratuities
While gratuities cover all standard onboard services, there are a few exceptions where cash tipping may still be expected:
- Bag porters at the terminal (usually $1–$2 per bag in US ports)
- External tour operators if you book excursions independently
- Local customs in international ports may vary, so check before arrival
Bottom Line
If you booked under the Legacy Fare, gratuities are included in your voyage price. If you book under VoyageFair Choices after October 7, gratuities must be either prepaid or paid onboard, but the total cost of your vacation remains the same. There is no need to bring cash for tipping unless you plan to give something extra to an individual Crew member.
For more about what’s included in your Virgin Voyages fare, see our guide: What Is Included on Virgin Voyages
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