51 Hidden Fees on Cruises and How to Avoid Every Single One

12. The "Gratuity on Everything Else" Gotcha

You budgeted for the daily service charge, but did you notice the extra automatic gratuity (often 18-20%) added to nearly every individual purchase onboard? That specialty cocktail, fancy coffee, spa treatment, or even a bottle of water from the bar likely includes this extra percentage on top of the menu price. It’s not optional. *Savvy Tip: Factor this automatic percentage into the real cost when deciding on drinks or services. Mentally add ~20% to every bar or spa price listed to avoid end-of-cruise sticker shock from these accumulated tips.