A Massachusetts woman and TikTok creator known as juuuelz on the platform shared a video about skipping prepaid gratuities on a recent Royal Caribbean cruise booking. In the TikTok video, she described watching another creator’s post in which Royal Caribbean staff members were said to have reached out to explain that they do not receive extra pay from those prepaid gratuities.
Juuuuuelz said the staff claimed they simply receive the same salary. She said she decided not to select the prepaid gratuities when she booked her own cruise a couple of weeks earlier. She noted this was likely her 30th cruise and the first time she had chosen to skip the upfront option.
She explained that she has worked in the service industry since she was 18 years old. Tipping culture has always mattered to her. She said cruise staff “don’t make jack s–t on those cruises,” mentioning bartenders, waitstaff, room attendants, and others who would normally receive tips.
Royal Caribbean’s policy on prepaid gratuities and crew pay
Royal Caribbean asks guests to prepay gratuities. If a guest opts out, a daily service charge of $18.50 to $21 may still appear. According to other cruise customers on Reddit and the company’s own information, both charges can be removed only by canceling any prepaid amount before boarding and then requesting removal of the daily charge at the guest relations desk once on the ship. The company states that modifications cannot be made after the sailing ends.
Royal Caribbean says the gratuities collected are pooled and applied toward the compensation of onboard crew members. This includes dining, bar, and culinary staff, stateroom attendants, hotel services teams, and others who help with the cruise experience. The wording indicates the money goes toward workers’ pay rather than serving as extra income on top of a base salary.
Juuuuuelz said that after she booked the cruise without the prepaid gratuities, Royal Caribbean called her, and the call focused on the prepaid gratuities. In her video, she stated, “I literally hung up the phone.” She told the caller that the crew would still receive cash tips from her own pocket while she was on board.
She emphasized that she planned to tip in cash the people who served her, including bartenders, waitstaff, and those who cared for her room. Guests sometimes notice unexpected details during their sailings, such as one traveler who noticed something on a room service lid.
In the video she is shown speaking while lying on a blue and white striped lounge chair outdoors on a sunny day, wearing sunglasses and a black top. On-screen text noted that Royal Caribbean had called after she booked to discuss not selecting the prepaid gratuities.
Juuuuuelz’s video, which has drawn more than 20,000 views, centers on her decision and the phone call that followed. She presented her choice as based on the information she had seen about how the prepaid amounts are handled for crew members.
Other travelers have also raised concerns about cleanliness issues, including a passenger who found her makeup on a cabin towel. The company continues to describe the pooled gratuities as part of the compensation structure for the workers who provide service on board.
Viewers reacted in different ways to the post. Some showed clear care for the crew by urging cash tips only. One person wrote, “never pay gratuities… always pay cash tips! the cruise line uses it to supplement the payroll. I bring my cabin stewy gifts for each day plus a nice tip at end of cruise. tip waiters directly n bar servers etc.”
Another viewer recalled older practices and said, “They use to give you envelopes at the end of the cruise so YOu can give what you want to who you want.” A shorter reply simply noted, “No longer optional.”
A different comment took a stronger stance against the whole tipping system. The writer stated, “Tipping all the staff one by one in cash is not a vacation it’s an admin job. Average ship must have 1200 staff. If you need this problem to go away just stop paying tips altogether. The cruise lines can’t operate without staff, and will therefore have to pay them a real wage. Yes the price of your cruise will go up but don’t see it as an increase, just be happy knowing that the staff are paid correctly. God bless America and their obsession with tipping.”
Others expressed firm support for paying the set gratuities plus extra cash. One person shared, “Not paying gratitude is no longer optional thank goodness … for all those people who tried to get out of it! We not only pay the gratuities … we bring about $300 extra in cash, and on the last night we walk around and hand it out to our favorite people with a thank you note. kindness goes a long way.”
Published: Aug 20, 2026 12:48 pm