Man spends nearly $600 alone on tips during Royal Caribbean trip. Then he finds an envelope waiting on the last night: ‘where that goes?’

Automatic gratuities can add to a vacation’s cost before travelers decide whether to leave additional tips. One Royal Caribbean passenger recently took to TikTok after calculating that he had paid nearly $600 in gratuities during a five-night cruise, only to find an envelope waiting in his cabin on the final night. The passenger, who posts under the account All Cruising & Travel (@allcruising), shared his experience in a TikTok video that had received nearly 300,000 views as of publication.

“Do you know what makes me laugh? Especially on Royal Caribbean,” he said at the start of the video, before explaining that he does not normally sail with other cruise lines and said his Royal Caribbean trip included a daily gratuity charge that he described as $19 per person. He said those charges totaled about $400 during his trip.

The passenger also purchased a drink package and said the gratuities attached to that purchase added another $160 to his bill. “So on a five-night cruise,” he said, “I have paid near enough $600 in tips. Right.”

According to the video, an envelope appeared in his cabin.

After spotting the envelope, He interpreted it as a request for additional tips. “On the last night, they leave you an envelope. They want more tips,” he said. He repeated his calculation and then held up the envelope while continuing his commentary. “More than the $600 tips. $600 tips. I’ve just paid more,” he said.

Then he addressed the envelope directly. “So see that? You know where that goes?” After a brief pause, he answered his own question. “No. Royal Caribbean? No.”

One comment clarified, “Ex crew here – please don’t pay the auto tip. We never ever see it. Please just give us cash for those who look after you. Thanks.”

Royal Caribbean charges $18.50 per guest in daily automatic gratuities for most staterooms and $21 for suites. The company says it pools the money to compensate crew members. It also adds an 18% gratuity to beverage packages and other qualifying purchases.

Guests can adjust their automatic gratuities through Guest Relations before disembarkation and may leave additional tips. But one Massachusetts woman reported she declined the automatic gratuity and alleged Royal Caribbean called and asked her why.

The cruise passenger’s frustration comes amid broader concerns about tipping culture in the United States. A 2025 Bankrate survey found that 63% of Americans held at least one negative view about tipping, while 41% said tipping culture had gotten out of control. The same share said businesses should pay employees better rather than relying so heavily on customer tips, and 38% said pre-entered tip screens annoyed them.

Separately, a 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that 72% of U.S. adults believed tipping was expected in more places than it had been five years earlier. The survey also found that 72% opposed automatic service charges or tips added to customers’ bills.