A Fake Press Release Claimed Royal Caribbean Tips Could No Longer Be Removed

Royal Caribbean says its gratuity rates have not changed, after two separate pieces of misinformation spread among cruisers. The line’s gratuities FAQ briefly listed a 20 percent automatic gratuity on beverages, beverage packages, specialty dining, room service and minibar purchases. Royal Caribbean called that a mistake and corrected the page.

Separately, a fake press release circulated on social media claiming that daily gratuity charges could no longer be removed or adjusted onboard for sailings on or after October 19, 2026. Cruise Hive identified it as bogus because it used the Royal Caribbean International logo, which the line retired in September 2024, and because the real FAQ contradicts its claims.

The corrected numbers: 18 percent on beverages, beverage packages and specialty dining, per the line’s statement, and 20 percent on spa and salon services. The corrected FAQ says the beverage and dining gratuities can be adjusted or removed at the guest’s discretion, and daily gratuities on a SeaPass account can be modified or removed at Guest Relations before the morning of disembarkation.

The episode is a reminder to check the line’s own site before acting on a screenshot or a social post. If a charge looks wrong on your onboard account, Guest Relations is the place to raise it. The article did not state a corrected rate for room service and minibar purchases.

Sources: Cruise Hive