Tipping Question

[NSWP]

We (USA) usually tip 15-20% for restaurants

15% is standard for restaurants

20 - 25% for exceptional service

18-20% for groups (over 8) not optional it is usually added to the bill

We usually give the good tour guide $5 (so-so gets $2) and the driver $2

Hair dressers are 10%.

At self-service locations with a TIP jar, we usually drop the coins from our change into the jar.

But unlike a lot of countries, we do not pay our service industry employees a living wage and they are dependent upon their tips for survival.

I probably asked for and expected the above reply/education on 'tipping in North America.' Don't worry got my bullet proof vest on, LOL. I am not injured. Thied..are you ok my friend?

[Big Kev]

Many Aussies cant comprehend tipping if they have not travelled to USA, or on a truly International cruise ship.. Ship employees are rotating onto and off the ship at almost every port, as they sail the world, and are employed under conditions that are much less generous than on land in the USA. (Thats is why you dont see any Americans working the "tipped" jobs on international ships).

 

Ships that are permanently based in Australia, can now easily add the "service charges", tips or gratuities into the fare. Its obviously more difficult if the ship is constantly relocating countries, as do the crew.

 

It may help some of my Aussie neighbors to at least understand what the tipping system wages are in USA is, by looking at this link.. Remember, this is the legal stuff in the USA.. International ships are a law unto themselves..

 

http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm

 

Hope that helps.

 

Sue and Phil

[NSWP]

Many Aussies cant comprehend tipping if they have not travelled to USA, or on a truly International cruise ship.. Ship employees are rotating onto and off the ship at almost every port, as they sail the world, and are employed under conditions that are much less generous than on land in the USA. (Thats is why you dont see any Americans working the "tipped" jobs on international ships).

 

Ships that are permanently based in Australia, can now easily add the "service charges", tips or gratuities into the fare. Its obviously more difficult if the ship is constantly relocating countries, as do the crew.

 

It may help some of my Aussie neighbors to at least understand what the tipping system wages are in USA is, by looking at this link.. Remember, this is the legal stuff in the USA.. International ships are a law unto themselves..

 

http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm

 

Hope that helps.

 

Sue and Phil

BIG KEV, SUE and PHIL thanks mate, I was not getting too excited in my post, have been to the US of A. And will be there again in November and next May. Saving up for ye olde 'tips.' LOL.

 

Yes, service staff in hotels/restaurants in USA, get around $8 per hour. Depend on the tips to make up their wages. Cruise ship service staff, not an hourly rate, but still depend on the tips. Saying that, if the service is not to my expectations I would tell them so and tip/not tip appropriately. Such is life. Thank the stars we live in the best country on Earth.

 

But as you say for those Aussies who have not been to North America or cruised on the 'American ships', tipping expectation is an education and an eye opener, maybe even a shock to the system ! You have provided that in your link.

[Thornbird]

They seriously only get paid $2.13 an hour? That is insane! God I hope I never have to live in America!

[aussie57]

Thank the stars we live in the best country on Earth.

 

But as you say for those Aussies who have not been to North America or cruised on the 'American ships', tipping expectation is an education and an eye opener, maybe even a shock to the system !

 

Which is why it's good to see a thread about tipping which hasn't degenerated into abuse. There will always be virgin cruisers/travellers who haven't struck tipping before & it's nice to see it explained without Aussies just being blanketed as stingy etc :)

[NSWP]

Which is why it's good to see a thread about tipping which hasn't degenerated into abuse. There will always be virgin cruisers/travellers who haven't struck tipping before & it's nice to see it explained without Aussies just being blanketed as stingy etc :)

EXACTLY, try debating tipping on the Princess Section !

[donaldsc]

We will be cruising New Zealand and doing a land trip in Sydney late this year. We have a number of independent tours booked - a combination of both small group and private tours.

 

What is the proper tipping protocol for Australia and New Zealand for tour guides? We want to tip properly and not over or under tip.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

As hard as it is for an American to understand, do not tip. Nada. Nothing. Nichts. If you want, leave the loose change but that is all.

 

DON

[leggyliz]

Hi All

I'd just like to have my say on tipping. I generally tip my room steward and on the first cruise because we had the same waiters every night we chucked in about $20 each (4 of us). But I had an unpleasant experience on the Pacific Dawn 2 years ago when one of the casino waiters (being very dark fijian and a big bloke) was very friendly to me the whole cruise and told me I was beautiful etc. Well the second last night my account was frozen due to insufficient in my cruise account ( I had cash in my safe to put on) and I had ordered a drink off him when he told me I had no money left on my account. Well his whole demeanour and attitude changed and he was actually a bit aggressive :mad: cause he thought I had no more money thus being no tip for him!! Well because of his 'fake' being nice to me for tips I didnt tip him in the end anyway!! :(

Liz

[MMDown Under]

Hi All

Well his whole demeanour and attitude changed and he was actually a bit aggressive :mad: cause he thought I had no more money thus being no tip for him!! Well because of his 'fake' being nice to me for tips I didnt tip him in the end anyway!! :(

Liz

 

We should all the grateful that we live in a country, where people are genuinely nice to you as part of their job, not because they are expecting a tip for their services.

[icat2000]

You don't need to tip in New Zealand or Australia.

 

What I hate about the tipping concept is where does it begin and more importantly where does it end and who do you tip and what do you tip. Seems a never-ending list. Maybe if certain Western countries actually paid their staff a decent wage.

 

Last time I went to the US I couldn't get my head around the tipping and half the time forgot to tip :D Oopps.

[NSWP]

You don't need to tip in New Zealand or Australia.

 

What I hate about the tipping concept is where does it begin and more importantly where does it end and who do you tip and what do you tip. Seems a never-ending list. Maybe if certain Western countries actually paid their staff a decent wage.

 

Last time I went to the US I couldn't get my head around the tipping and half the time forgot to tip :D Oopps.

Yes, first time I went to the USA in 2007, I got several reminders by way of facial expressions and utterances re forgetting to tip, it just does not seem natural.

 

In 2007 I had a Cab driver chase me for a tip at Honolulu, I had a bar tender ignore me re further service at the Crown Plaza, Beverley Hills for not tipping him when buying my first Budweiser. I had a tour bus driver point out his tipping bucket at the front of a bus, mouthing the words..'Hey Aussie.' Yes, you get some wakeup calls if you 'forget' to hand out the $ in the 'Land of Tipping.'

[MMDown Under]

Yes, first time I went to the USA in 2007, I got several reminders by way of facial expressions and utterances re forgetting to tip, it just does not seem natural.

 

In 2007 I had a Cab driver chase me for a tip at Honolulu, I had a bar tender ignore me re further service at the Crown Plaza, Beverley Hills for not tipping him when buying my first Budweiser. I had a tour bus driver point out his tipping bucket at the front of a bus, mouthing the words..'Hey Aussie.' Yes, you get some wakeup calls if you 'forget' to hand out the $ in the 'Land of Tipping.'

 

Yes, you never forget those that let you know.

 

We tipped everywhere, at the recommended amounts, however the Sky Caps, on the footpath, at the airport had me confused.

 

Seems some, who worked for the airlines, you didn't tip, whilst some were independent contractors, who you tipped.

 

A loud "THANK YOU VERY MUCH" had me asking airport personnel whether I was meant to tip. The reply was "tipping is optional". However, I went back and tipped because I didn't want that to be the first time our luggage had ever gone astray!