The automatic tipping systems used by many cruise lines are "fair" and should be regarded as part of the holiday cost, it has been claimed.
With the cost of cruising having dropped considerably in recent years, having a few pounds per day added to your shipboard account for tips is unlikely to make a big difference.
Writing in the Telegraph, Gill Charlton noted that passengers who do not wish to have tip charges added to their bill can ask the Purser''s Office to reduce the amount or opt-out entirely.
"I feel that it is mean to opt out of an automatic gratuity scheme as it is a fair way of topping up wages of all the service staff," she added.
Cruise expert Jane Archer recently claimed that there has never been a better time to take a
cruise holiday, with cruise lines such as Ocean Village and Royal Caribbean offering some exceptional deals.
Royal Caribbean Cruises are available from only £299 per person
