Bartenders are a special case. Many lines automatically include 15 percent for service in the bar bill, meaning you needn't tip.

Passengers traditionally leave tips in envelopes on the last night of the cruise. You will be provided with envelopes in which to place your tips and give them to the appropriate people, unless the cruise you are on does Automatic Tipping.

Automatic tipping is becoming increasingly popular among Cruise Lines. When automatic tipping is used, tips are automatically applied to your cruise bill based on the ship's tipping guidelines.

You always have the option to adjust the tips that have been applied to your bill.
To adjust tips that have been automatically applied, visit the Purser's Desk. You can tell them how to adjust the tips for you, or you can request envelopes to take care of the tips yourself and have them removed from your bill.

Different Cruise Lines and Ships have different policies on tipping, but you can use the following as a guideline.

• Carnival: Has an automatic gratuity program (which it calls a "reverse gratuity program") on 10 of its 16 ships, with a daily charge of $9.75. In alternate dining rooms (outside the main one), the reservation fee includes a tip. Bar bills include a 15 percent gratuity.
  
  
• Costa: On Caribbean cruises, the suggestion is $3 each for steward and waiter, $1.50 assistant waiter, $1 headwaiter. On European cruises, the amounts are $1.50 steward, $2.50 waiter, $2.50 "assistant waiter team," 50 cents for maitre d' and "headwaiter team." Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity.
  
  
• Cunard: Automatic gratuity program charges $7 on Caronia and $11 to $13 on the Queen Elizabeth 2, depending on cabin category. Bar bills include a 15 percent gratuity.
  
  
• Crystal: The line suggests $4 each for stewardess and waiter in the main dining room; $2.50 assistant waiter, $4 for butler (penthouse only); an additional $6 per meal for alternate restaurants. Passengers can tip in advance when they book the cruise. Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity.
  
  
• Disney: Based by length of cruise; on average per day, about $3.60 for steward, $3.70 server, $2.70 assistant server, 90 cents head server. You can tip in advance. Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity.
  
  
• Holland America:. Automatic gratuity program charges $10 per day
  
  
• Norwegian: for ages 13 and older, $5 for children 3 to 12, no charge younger than 3. Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity.
  
  
• Princess: Automatic gratuity program fleetwide charges $10 per day. Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity. Radisson Seven Seas: No tipping is expected.
  
  
• Royal Caribbean: $3.50 each for waiter and steward, $2 assistant waiter, 75 cents headwaiter. Passengers can tip automatically by asking at guest relations (purser) when they board. Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity.
  
  
• Seabourn: "Tipping is neither required nor expected: If the guest wants to give a tip they are welcomed to do so.
  
  
  Silversea: "No gratuities are required or expected" on this luxury line, Passengers can tip if they want to.
  
  
• Windstar: The line advertises a "tipping not required" policy on its Internet site. Passengers can tip if they want to.