Is that this what love is, Holland America?
The Seattle-based line plans to considerably hike its day by day service cost starting Feb. 14 — Valentine’s Day.
In a discover posted this week on its web site, Holland America mentioned it could increase the “crew appreciation” price it provides to prospects’ payments to a file $17 per particular person, per day for these staying in most cabins.
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That is a 6.25% improve from the present fee of $16 — practically twice the speed of inflation within the U.S. over the previous 12 months.
Holland America final raised its service cost fee nearly precisely a 12 months in the past, Feb. 1, 2023.
As a part of its announcement, Holland America additionally mentioned it could increase the automated service cost for passengers staying in suites to $19 per particular person, per day — an 8.6% improve from the earlier fee of $17.50.
The information of a service cost improve at Holland America comes simply two months after rival Royal Caribbean introduced an even heftier 12.5% improve of its service cost fee. Royal Caribbean at the moment fees $18 per day in service fees for passengers in most cabins — one of many highest charges within the cruise world.
With the rise at Holland America, a household of 4 in a typical cabin on one of many line’s ships pays practically $500 in automated gratuities on a seven-night cruise.
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That places Holland America forward of a number of of its key opponents on the subject of gratuity charges. Amongst different main traces, Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises and Princess Cruises add $16 per particular person, per day in service fees to passenger payments for many cabins.
Movie star Cruises provides $18 per particular person, per day and Norwegian Cruise Line provides $20 per particular person, per day in such gratuities to passenger payments.
Associated: TPG’s final information to cruise ship gratuity fees and tipping
The latest price hikes at Holland America and Royal Caribbean come amid a surge in value hikes at cruise traces for all kinds of issues, whilst they reduce on service in some instances.
Associated: The 9 most fun new cruise ships of 2024
A lot of the largest cruise traces, comparable to Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian, routinely add some form of service or gratuity price to passenger payments. Passengers typically have the selection to prepay the service charges when reserving or have them added to their invoice for onboard bills, paid on the finish of every crusing.
That mentioned, the whole variety of traces with a service price has been shrinking through the years. Many smaller and higher-end cruise operators have been folding these fees into their base fares.
Strains that now embrace gratuities of their fares embrace Azamara, Ponant Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Scenic Luxurious Cruises & Excursions, Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Membership, Silversea Cruises and Virgin Voyages.
For these traces that do have them, service and gratuity fees are touted as a handy various to the observe of money tipping on ships — one thing that was as soon as widespread.
The cruise traces with such fees sometimes improve their charges yearly or two.
Be aware that, in some instances, passengers who’re sad with the service they obtain on Holland America ships can modify the quantity of day by day gratuities posted to their accounts whereas on board by visiting the Visitor Providers desk.
Changes are solely allowed when gratuities are being charged to onboard accounts throughout sailings. Passengers who’ve pay as you go gratuities can’t modify the quantity they’ve paid whereas on board.
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