Tom Stieghorst

Special for USA TODAY

Princess Cruises has a Christmas gift coming for its servers and cabin attendants: higher gratuities.

Beginning Dec. 15, Princess will raise the suggested level of gratuities to $13.50 a day for passengers with interior, ocean view and balcony cabins. That’s a 4.2% increase.

Moreover, it is the second increase this year. Gratuities went up 13% to the current level of $12.95 on Jan. 1.

For guests in suites, Princess is for the first time making a distinction between those in mini-suites, who would pay $14.50 per day, and full suites, who would be assessed at $15.50 a day.

That increase for full suite guests is an 11% hike over the current rate of $13.95 and a 29% increase from the $12 rate that prevailed in 2015.

In a letter to passengers, Princess said it made the move “to ensure our guest service on board remains among the best in the cruise industry.”

Princess isn’t the first cruise line to double-dip on gratuities. Norwegian Cruise Line reset its rates last year in February and again in July.

Gratuities are automatically added to a passenger’s shipboard account, but those who want to tip more or less can adjust them. Princess also said booked passengers can pre-pay at the current rate through Nov. 15.

Tom Stieghorst covers cruises for Travel Weekly magazine.