Virgin Voyages gratuities changed significantly on October 7, 2025 — and the update caught a lot of sailors off guard. The line went from including gratuities in the fare to breaking them out as a separate charge for all new bookings. The total cost of a voyage didn’t necessarily “go up,” but the way it’s displayed and paid is fundamentally different. If you booked before October 7 your gratuities are still included. If you’re booking now, you need to understand the new system. This guide covers exactly how Virgin Voyages gratuities work under the new model, what you’ll pay, when to prepay versus pay onboard, and what tipping culture actually looks like on the ship.
virgin voyages gratuities is exactly what this guide covers — the new daily service charge, how it’s billed, and what (if anything) you should tip beyond it.
Before the update, Virgin Voyages bundled gratuities into the cruise fare. The price you saw was the price you paid, with crew gratuities built in. No separate line item, no additional charge, no tipping expected onboard. It was one of the brand’s biggest selling points and a major reason many sailors chose Virgin over traditional cruise lines.
As of October 7, 2025, Virgin Voyages separated gratuities from the fare for new bookings under the VoyageFair Choices fare structure. Gratuities now appear as a distinct line item that you either prepay before sailing or have added to your onboard account. Virgin positioned this as part of a more airline-style pricing model (Base/Essential/Premium) and said tipping onboard remains neither expected nor required. [oai_citation:1‡VV Insider](https://vvinsider.com/virgin-voyages-voyagefair-choices-gratuities-qa/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
The gratuity policy that applies to your voyage depends on when you booked — not when you sail.
If your booking was made before the cutoff date, gratuities remain included under the legacy structure. You generally won’t see the new daily service charge posted the way it is on newer bookings, and there’s no “pressure to tip” culture onboard.
For newer bookings, Virgin Voyages gratuities are separated from the fare and charged per sailor per night at the following rates:
These rates apply across cabin types and fare tiers (Base / Lock-It-In / Essential / Premium, and RockStar). If you don’t prepay, the daily charge posts to your onboard account automatically. [oai_citation:2‡VV Insider](https://vvinsider.com/virgin-voyages-voyagefair-choices-gratuities-qa/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Can you remove or reduce it? Some cruise lines allow adjustments onboard via Guest Services/Sailor Services. If you’re unhappy, you can ask Sailor Services what your options are — but you should expect the default stance to be “this is part of the voyage cost,” not an optional tip jar.
The math is straightforward. Here’s what the gratuity charge looks like for common voyage lengths, assuming you prepay at the $20 rate:
4-night sailing, 2 sailors: $20 × 2 × 4 = $160 total
7-night sailing, 2 sailors: $20 × 2 × 7 = $280 total
7-night sailing, solo sailor: $20 × 1 × 7 = $140 total
14-night transatlantic, 2 sailors: $20 × 2 × 14 = $560 total
If you wait and pay onboard at $22 per night instead of prepaying at $20, that same 7-night voyage for two costs $308 instead of $280 — an extra $28 for no added benefit. On a 14-night transatlantic crossing, the difference jumps to $56. [oai_citation:3‡VV Insider](https://vvinsider.com/virgin-voyages-voyagefair-choices-gratuities-qa/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
If you’re paying out of pocket, yes — prepaying is the cheaper rate. It saves $2 per person per night and keeps your onboard folio cleaner so you’re not watching a daily charge stack up.
If you’re booking during Wave Season and stacking promotions, prepaying gratuities at booking also makes your all-in cost easier to understand from day one.
Often, yes — but only in the scenario where gratuities are posted to your onboard folio (the $22/night version). Since Sailor Loot applies automatically to eligible onboard charges, it can be a practical way to burn down Loot that would otherwise expire.
Important trade-off: if you prepay gratuities, that’s charged before you sail (not to your onboard folio), so Sailor Loot won’t be touching it. If your goal is “don’t waste Loot,” letting gratuities post onboard can be a strategic choice even at the higher nightly rate. Do the math based on your Loot balance and what you’d otherwise spend it on (spa, Shore Things, shopping, etc.).
Virgin’s vibe is still “no pressure to tip.” Even with the new daily service charge, Virgin has said tipping onboard remains neither expected nor required. [oai_citation:4‡VV Insider](https://vvinsider.com/virgin-voyages-voyagefair-choices-gratuities-qa/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
If you do want to tip extra for exceptional service, here’s what actually matters:
Cash is the simplest way. If you want to hand someone something directly (bartender, cabin attendant, spa therapist), bring a few small bills. USD is the onboard currency.
Bars & dining. There’s no need to tip extra for standard service. If someone truly goes above and beyond, a small cash tip is appreciated — but it’s not expected.
Spa. Spa is where extra tipping is most common across cruising. If your treatment is excellent, some sailors choose to leave a little cash for the therapist.
Cabin attendant. Some sailors leave a small end-of-voyage thank-you. Totally optional.
At $20 per person per night (prepaid), Virgin Voyages’ rate is broadly in the same ballpark as other major lines’ daily service charges. You can check current Virgin Voyages pricing to see how gratuities appear alongside fare tiers. The big difference is that Virgin used to bake it into the fare — so the “change” feels bigger than it is because it’s now itemized.
For bookings made before October 7, 2025 (legacy structure), gratuities were included in the fare. For bookings made on or after that date (VoyageFair Choices), gratuities are a separate daily service charge of $20 per sailor per night if prepaid or $22 per night if posted onboard.
For VoyageFair Choices bookings, the daily service charge is $20 per sailor per night if prepaid before sailing or $22 per sailor per night if posted onboard.
If you want to dispute or adjust onboard charges, your route is Sailor Services onboard. Expect the default position to be that the daily service charge is part of the voyage cost, not an optional tip — but if you have a real service issue, talk to them early instead of waiting until the last day.
No — and Virgin has said tipping onboard is neither expected nor required. Some sailors still bring a small amount of cash for optional “above and beyond” tips, but it’s not expected. [oai_citation:5‡VV Insider](https://vvinsider.com/virgin-voyages-voyagefair-choices-gratuities-qa/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Virgin Voyages gratuities changed in October 2025 in a way that affects newer bookings: you’ll often see a daily service charge that’s $20/night if prepaid or $22/night if posted onboard. If you’re paying out of pocket, prepay and save. If you have a big Sailor Loot balance you’re trying not to waste, letting gratuities post onboard can be a strategic choice even at the higher nightly rate. And the vibe onboard still isn’t a “tipping culture” mess — Virgin’s stance is that tipping isn’t expected or required, and anything beyond the daily service charge is purely optional. [oai_citation:6‡VV Insider](https://vvinsider.com/virgin-voyages-voyagefair-choices-gratuities-qa/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
