Princess raises cruise gratuity rates. How much you'll pay.

Another major cruise line is raising its gratuity rates.

Princess Cruises began rolling out a higher Crew Appreciation charge on March 8, the company told USA TODAY. Guests staying in suites will now pay $20 per person, per day, according to the company’s website, up from $19, while the charge for those in Mini Suites, Cabanas and the line’s Reserve Collection increased from $18 to $19.

Guests in all other staterooms will pay $18, up from $17. The changes apply to guests who do not hold Princess Premier or Princess Plus packages, which include Crew Appreciation.

Those charges are automatically added to passengers’ onboard accounts but can be adjusted up or down prior to disembarkation. Princess also raised its service charges for food and beverage purchases from 18% to 20% for guests "who do not hold a Princess Premier, Princess Plus, or other beverage packages," the cruise line added.

"These changes help us keep pace with rising operational costs while ensuring we continue recognizing the exceptional service our crew provide worldwide," Princess said in an emailed statement. "We distribute 100% of collected gratuities directly back to our crew in support of their dedication and hard work. We remain committed to delivering outstanding value and memorable vacations for our guests."

Carnival raises gratuity rates, beverage package price

Princess is not the only cruise line to do so in recent weeks. Carnival Cruise Line said in February that it planned to raise daily gratuity rates and prices for one of its drink packages on April 2.

Cruise companies commonly hike those fees in response to "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 [email protected].