Celebrity hikes cruise gratuity fees. See by how much

Celebrity Cruises guests may need to budget more for their next sailing.

The cruise line hiked its daily gratuity rates on July 29. Passengers in Inside, Oceanview and Veranda staterooms will now pay $19.50 per guest, per day, up from $18, while the rate for Concierge and AquaClass staterooms increased from $19 to $20.50, according to an email shared with guests and the cruise line's website.

Passengers staying in The Retreat, Celebrity's luxe ship-within-a-ship area, will pay $24.50, up from $23.

"We hear directly from guests that our crew are the ones who help make vacation memories unforgettable," Royal Caribbean Group, the cruise line's parent company, told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. "In keeping with industry standards, gratuities are shared and are a part of crew compensation, reflecting their exceptional work."

Those fees are automatically applied to passengers' onboard accounts, though they can be adjusted up or down before the morning of disembarkation, according to Celebrity's website . Guests can also opt to prepay gratuities.

"These gratuities are thoughtfully shared among our dining, bar and culinary teams, stateroom attendants, and the many crew members who help create the elevated experience you'll enjoy onboard," the cruise line said in the email to guests.

1 / 8

Eye-tracking study reveals the top 20 most stunning cruise ports

From ports decorated with centuries-old architecture to sunlit turquoise bays, a new eye-tracking study revealed the world's most beautiful cruise ports, with three Caribbean spots making the top 20.

The research, conducted by travel insurance experts at AllClear, used eye-tracking technology to measure which of the world's travel hotspots are the most impressive to arrive at by sea. They measured which cruise ports caught people's attention first, and held it the longest, revealing the world's most captivating coastal arrivals.

1. Valletta Cruise Port, Malta

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, our study's most beautiful cruise port is a masterpiece in harbour aesthetics. Its combination of golden limestone reflecting off the glistening water provides the ultimate, jaw-dropping arrival into this exciting Mediterranean city, and with the longest fixation time of any port in the study, Malta certainly earned its place as our number one. What cruisers will love: Walk into the historic town in just 15 minutes and explore St. John's Co-Cathedral with its Baroque artwork, or head to the Upper Barrakka Gardens for panoramic views of the harbour itself.

MSC, Carnival and Princess also raise gratuity rates

Celebrity isn't the only cruise line to make that kind of change in recent months. MSC Cruises raised its Hotel Service Charge for Alaska and Caribbean sailings in May, and Carnival Cruise Line previously said it planned to raise daily gratuity rates and prices for one of its drink packages in April.

Princess Cruises began rolling out a higher Crew Appreciation charge in March. Cruise companies routinely increase those fees based on "external influences" such as inflation or changing economic activity, according to Danny Genung, CEO of travel agency Harr Travel.

"You look at the cost of hotels and transportation, fuel and food and everything else, and I think it's really just a normal response," Genung previously told USA TODAY . "You know, compensating employees, offsetting costs that have increased."

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Celebrity hikes cruise gratuity fees. See by how much