Are gratuities included in the cruise fare?

No, gratuities are not included in the cruise fare. Holland America Cruise Line maintains a policy of allowing guests to determine the gratuity amount based on their satisfaction with the service received. To ensure convenience, a suggested gratuity is automatically assessed to guests' on-board accounts. This suggested amount varies depending on the stateroom category and is applied on a daily basis. However, if guests wish to modify or remove the automatic gratuity charge, they may do so by visiting the front desk during their cruise. Holland America Cruise Line guarantees that 100% of the gratuity amount goes to the crew members who provide excellent service during the voyage. Guests have the flexibility to reward exceptional service directly to the staff members they interact with, should they prefer.