At one dinner table, two families sat side by side with completely different plans for gratuities

At one dinner table, two families sat side by side with completely different plans for gratuities. One had called guest services before they even boarded to prepay the daily service charge in full. The other quietly removed it from their onboard account, planning to hand cash straight to their room steward at the end of the week. 💛 Both are completely allowed on every major cruise line, and neither family was wrong. The prepay approach means the amount is locked in early and the whole crew, from dining staff to cabin stewards, gets paid steadily throughout the cruise. The cash approach feels more personal to some, especially when one steward remembered a child's stuffed animal every single night or brought extra towels without being asked. Crew members we have talked to say they appreciate both, the guaranteed income and the direct thank you. Which way feels more fair to you, prepaying the standard charge or handing over cash yourself at the end? #CruiseGratuities #CruiseTips #CruiseCrew #CruiseDebate #CruiseLife