Key Aspects:

• Removing gratuities is one of the most controversial topics among cruisers, but John Heald is asking if guests think the ability to remove gratuities should end.
• Poll results show a lot of support for not letting people remove gratuities from their accounts, but comments support individual flexibility.
• Many guests argue about whether it is a service fee or other charge instead of a gratuity if there is no option to remove or adjust the amount.

In recent years, the subject of tips and tipping has gotten brutally controversial: how much to tip, when to tip, whom to tip, even how to offer a tip.

Gratuities on cruise ships are no different, and one sure way to spark a firestorm on any social media page, forum, or message group is to ask about removing gratuities.

In a thought-provoking move, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, has asked exactly that.

Heald often has daily polls on his popular Facebook page, opening up a variety of questions and options to his more than 645,000 followers. These polls are often lighthearted, curious, or offering perspective on other guests’ questions or comments.

On Thursday, October 16, however, Heald’s poll has a more serious and strongly controversial note, with just two options.

“Removal. Please check the box that applies to you,” Heald asked.

The question concerns the automatic gratuities added to every cruise guest’s onboard account and whether or not travelers should continue to have the ability to remove that automatic charge if preferred.

The poll does follow a guest’s comment to Heald, as the “I AGREE” choice echoes that initial question.

“John. Talking to many cruisers and we all feel the same. Nobody should be allowed to remove the gratuities on board,” the option reads. “If they have had a problem with service, then they can complain when they get home and give a plausible reason why gratuity should be removed. But doing it on the ship should not be allowed.”

While it would be logistically impossible for the cruise line to reverse automatic charges after a sailing ends as the guest suggestions, the intention is clear: this guest believes no one should be able to remove automatic gratuities.

The second option is “I DO NOT AGREE” and indicates that guests should always have the option to adjust gratuities.

“It should be our right to remove gratuities if we wish to do so whether it be to give the same or more in cash or because we have had a concern,” the explanation reads.

In just a few hours, more than 7,300 votes have been cast. Of those, more than 4,700 (65%) believe gratuities should be required and unable to be removed. More than 2,500 (35%) think the decision should always be up to the traveler and the removal option should remain.

More than 800 comments have also been posted in response to the poll, showcasing a wide range of very firm convictions on the tipping debate.

First of all, no one disputes that the vast majority of Carnival crew members work hard to deliver fantastically fun cruise vacations for all guests.

What is disputed is whether the automatic gratuities are, in fact, gratuities or more closely resemble a resort fee or service charge.

For tax purposes, each of these designations has different implications both for the company and the employee.

Regardless, the result is the same for guests: a hefty charge they’re expected to pay after already paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for their cruise fare and other expenses.

At the moment, Carnival Cruise Line’s tips are $16 per person, per day in standard staterooms and $18 per person, per day in suites. Tips are assessed on all guests except children younger than 2 years old.

How Guests Really Feel

The two top voted comments have strong views opposite of what the vote results say.

“Honestly… I’m really tired of seeing this question. Gratuity should not be automatic, a gratuity is a tip and a tip should be earned,” one guest noted. “The tipping culture in the US has gotten out of control, and should never be mandatory.”

The guest goes on to say no one ought to be ridiculed for whoever they choose to tip. Overall, more than 115 other commenters agree with the post.

Another popular comment with more than 50 positive reactions compares cruise ship tipping to other service professions.

“Do you tip the dishwasher at a restaurant? Or the cook? Or the busboy? No? Then don’t prepay these tips. The workers are paid salary. They don’t see tips on their checks. Hand them cash if service was excellent,” the guest suggested.

Some guests also suggest that if Carnival wants to make gratuities mandatory and unable to be removed, the cruise line needs to provide better service.

It’s yet another controversial debate about whether or not Carnival Cruise Line’s service has slipped in recent years, from reductions in stateroom service to less expansive menus to inadequate responses to unruly guests.

All cruise lines have long maintained that the automatic gratuities are a convenience for guests, ensuring that the “correct” amount is distributed to various crew members. This includes behind-the-scenes individuals who might not otherwise receive an in-person tip.

Read Also: How Much Should You Tip Crew Members?

That policy itself adds to the controversy, as many guests wonder if crew members who do not interact directly with guests should be part of the tipping structure at all.

What do you think of the gratuity controversy? Share your thoughts on the Cruise Hive boards!

Key Aspects:

• Three Carnival Journeys cruises departing October 18, 2025 have had several high-level loyalty benefits removed due to the numbers of Diamond and Platinum guests onboard.
• The impacted ships are Carnival Dream from Galveston, Carnival Radiance from Long Beach, and Carnival Venezia from New York.
• It is not uncommon for Carnival to be unable to provide select benefits onboard very popular cruises, which has been a strong impetus for changing the loyalty program in the months to come.

Carnival Cruise Line has sent alerts to their most loyal guests booked on three upcoming sailings that several of the most coveted Diamond and Platinum benefits will not be available.

The impacted cruises are Carnival Dream, Carnival Radiance, and Carnival Venezia, all of which are departing on Saturday, October 18, for the affected sailings.

Carnival Dream is setting sail from Galveston for a 14-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary, while Carnival Radiance is sailing from Long Beach for a 14-night Hawaii cruise. Carnival Venezia‘s impacted sailing is a 12-night voyage from New York to the Southern Caribbean.

The same notification was sent to Diamond and Platinum guests on all three cruises, and the same benefits are being removed on all three ships.

“Due to the high number of Diamond and Platinum guests joining us on this voyage, we will not be able to provide the following benefits,” the notification explained.

The benefits no longer available are:

• Priority embarkation and debarkation at the homeport as well as all ports of call
• Early stateroom access for dropping off luggage
• Priority luggage delivery to individual staterooms
• Priority guest line at the Guest Services desk
• Priority phone assistance from Guest Services representatives
• Guaranteed main dining room seating requests for Diamond guests

The email does note that these benefits are often removed on any sailing where there are “a very large number” of Diamond and Platinum guests.

Other loyalty benefits, including VIFP logo gifts, ship-specific pins, priority spa reservations, and complimentary laundry services are still being offered.

Many experienced guests note that this is why it has become necessary for Carnival Cruise Line to change the VIFP loyalty program, since it is impossible to continue offering all benefits on all sailings.

Full details of the new Carnival Rewards program have not yet been released, but it has been hinted that new benefits and flexibility for guests to customize their loyalty experience will be part of the program.

How Many Loyal Carnival Guests Are Sailing?

The cruise line has not revealed exactly how many high-level loyalty guests are booked on Carnival Dream, Carnival Radiance, and Carnival Venezia, but it is likely there are hundreds, if not thousands, of very experienced cruisers on each sailing.

Carnival Journeys cruises, longer and more immersive sailings with more unique itineraries, are very popular with frequent cruisers. Because the itineraries are not offered as often, they tend to sell out quickly to travelers who have the budget and schedule to accommodate the longer cruises.

John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, is occasionally able to share how many loyal guests are onboard different sailings.

For example, Mardi Gras has just finished her very first dry dock update and is departing Barcelona for a 14-night westbound transatlantic cruise to Port Canaveral on Thursday, October 16.

Onboard are 1,953 Platinum guests and 1,035 Diamond guests. Together, this is 59% of the overall 5,106 guests onboard the completely sold-out ship.

Clearly, it would be impossible to offer priority benefits for this very special sailing. Most guests are understanding about those operational difficulties, as removing such benefits has become common for unique sailings.

Read Also: Which Cruise Lines Match Loyalty Programs?

Recently, Heald shared some guest numbers for “regular” cruises while he was visiting ships in Miami. For example, onboard Carnival Horizon’s 8-night Southern Caribbean sailing that departed October 11, there are 794 Platinum guests and 90 Diamond guests, a total of 21% of the 4,306 guests onboard.

In comparison, for the 3-night Carnival Conquest sailing that departed October 10, there were just 112 Platinum guests and only 20 Diamond guests onboard, together representing 4% of the 3,265 guests sailing.

Hopefully, future cruises under the new loyalty program will be able to offer exclusive benefits more consistently, giving all Carnival guests a great time to enjoy their vacations no matter what their loyalty level.

Key Aspects:

• Storage is always a concern in a cruise ship stateroom, and one Carnival guest is anxious if they will have enough hangers for a family of four.
• Brand ambassador John Heald shares a colorful description and tongue-in-cheek reasoning for the oft-maligned hangers in Carnival’s closets.
• Guests offer their solutions to the hanger quandary and how to ensure you have enough room in your closet for all your clothes-hanging needs.

Storage space can be tight in a cruise ship cabin, especially for clothing that must be hung to avoid wrinkles. But are there enough hangers available in a typical stateroom? One soon-to-be Carnival guest is concerned that they won’t be able to hang all the clothing for their family.

To decide if they should pack along some slim hangers in their luggage (where space is also tight), the guest contacted John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, to ask if it is possible to get extra hangers.

“Does anyone travel with their own hangars? I have been reading horror stories that there are never enough,” the guest explained. “This trip our teenage daughter and 10-year-old son will both be with us so my guess is closet space will be at a premium!”

By the guest’s language that their two children “will both be with us,” it is a fair guess that four guests may be in the same stateroom. They do not, however, identify what type of stateroom they will be in or how long the cruise will be, both of which can impact exactly how much closet space is necessary.

“I have some of those felt, skinny hangers and they weigh hardly anything. I thought maybe I would throw a dozen in. What do you think about this?” they asked Heald. “Can you arrange for my room to have extra hangers John?”

While this may not be the most “horrifying” cruise concern all guests have, Heald does have a humorously horrifying answer.

“I can tell you that sometimes there are not enough hangers in the closets because someone has stolen them on the previous cruise,” he explained.

Seriously? Stealing hangers? And these are the type that you can’t remove completely from the closet bar, so they’re of no use to someone at home.

“I kid you not, people do steal them and I have to ask myself … Why?” he continued.

“Our coat hangers are Satan’s work. They are designed to be useless, a headless slab of wood that you have to shove into the ring thing but can’t and then all your clothes fall off. This is our cunning plan though because you will get so fed up with these wooden wankers that, when your elegant night clothes do fall on the floor, you will have to send them for pressing, thus making revenue for Carnival.”

Okay, maybe Heald is exaggerating a bit, but experienced Carnival cruisers are probably nodding their heads, very familiar with just how frustrating the hangers can occasionally be.

Getting More Hangers on a Carnival Cruise

He does go on to ask if guests had enough hangers on their last cruise, and the answers range from “plenty” to “I asked for more” to “I brought some with me” with no one expressing any real hanger-related horror stories.

I have asked for extra hangers on a couple of longer Carnival sailings. This is typically when I might have more clothing with hanging needs, such as for multiple formal nights or visits to specialty restaurants where I prefer to dress a bit more elegantly.

Many guests also note that overpacking is a real concern (I’m guilty of that for sure!), which tends to use up valuable hanger real estate.

A good solution is for guests to bring along inexpensive hangers of their own. The super-thin wire kind you might get from a dry cleaner or the plastic ones from discount stores are perfect, just in case you need a few extra.

Even better? Save room in your luggage going home and leave those cheap hangers behind so they can be used by the next guests!