Tipping Excursion operators

[jalewis2520]

This is our 1st cruise. Wondering for those of you who have booked excursions on your own, not through the ship, if you tip the operators/guides? Ex - whale watching, flight seeing or zip lining. Thanks for the advice.

[WalleyeLJ]

[quote name='jalewis2520']This is our 1st cruise. Wondering for those of you who have booked excursions on your own, not through the ship, if you tip the operators/guides? Ex - whale watching, flight seeing or zip lining. Thanks for the advice.[/quote]

Sadly, our last trip to Alaska we rarely saw people tip, and when they did it was often singles or the occasional five. We tipped $20-$100 for the two of us, depending on the trip, the experience and the service. For a standard 3-4 hour excursion, we usually did $20-$30. For 8+ hours, that's where we decided to give the more substantial tips. Kayaking the bergy bits and icebergs in Aialik Bay while hearing and watching the glacier calve while being tracked by silent harbor seals just seemed to warrent the tip of a lifetime for the trip of a lifetime:D. I'm sure that $10-$20 would be greatly appreciated on most any tour.

L.J.