Tipping Extension Host

[JerryInIL]

We are on a 3 night post cruise extension.  Viking suggests $3 per day per person tip for local guides, but this seems totally unapplicable for a 3+ day full time guide who escorts us from the ship all the way to the airport.  For great service, I’m thinking at least $10 per day, per person ($60 for a $4,000 extension). What would you suggest?

[Squawkman]

11 minutes ago, JerryInIL said:

We are on a 3 night post cruise extension.  Viking suggests $3 per day per person tip for local guides, but this seems totally unapplicable for a 3+ day full time guide who escorts us from the ship all the way to the airport.  For great service, I’m thinking at least $10 per day, per person ($60 for a $4,000 extension). What would you suggest?

Totally agree. We did the Tuscany extension in 2019. I forget how much we tipped - probably was about $60. We all met and decided on how much each of us would contribute. Our guide had an assistant-in-training and we gave her something as well.

[CDNPolar]

Agree and we are not doing our first Viking Extension until next March, but I was thinking that depending on the value of the Viking Host, we would likely pass a gratuity.

[Laurie17]

Have been on a couple of Viking extensions and 10 per day per person is about what we tipped if it was a fully guided extension.  Adjust accordingly depending on how involved your host was in your daily activities 

[kctwinmommy]

Yes, agreed... I think we did at least 50 for our host on our extension.

[KBs mum]

11 hours ago, JerryInIL said:

We are on a 3 night post cruise extension.  Viking suggests $3 per day per person tip for local guides, but this seems totally unapplicable for a 3+ day full time guide who escorts us from the ship all the way to the airport.  For great service, I’m thinking at least $10 per day, per person ($60 for a $4,000 extension). What would you suggest?

Did they just do their job to a good standard? If so no tip is required.

If they went above and beyond a tip should be offered. It's a thank you gesture, not a payment, so $10 pp in local currency will be fine, handed over with thanks, and mention them by name on the feedback form. 

Viking gives a suggested amount should you wish to tip, they do not say you have to tip. Outside the US tips are usually a coin in the jar on the counter, 'keep the change' or round up the bill to the next 5 or 10. 

There are no circumstances where you should feel you have to tip, or feel you need to tip more than the cost of a couple of beers

 

[longterm]

We did a 4-day extension in Athens; the Viking on-site rep was extremely helpful.

 

We bought so much on our cruise that we decided to buy a cheap suitcase that we could pack with dirty clothes, then put our treasures in our carryon. 

The rep found a local suitcase shop that sold cheap suitcases, and arranged a driver to take us there, wait while I bought a suitcase, and then return me to the hotel. I would never have found the little shop without her help.

We gave her a nice tip when leaving for the airport.

[Hockeyump]

& that's exactly when a tip is deserved.

[DrKoob]

On 5/21/2024 at 1:42 PM, JerryInIL said:

We are on a 3 night post cruise extension.  Viking suggests $3 per day per person tip for local guides, but this seems totally unapplicable for a 3+ day full time guide who escorts us from the ship all the way to the airport.  For great service, I’m thinking at least $10 per day, per person ($60 for a $4,000 extension). What would you suggest?

That's about what we did. We actually did a little more because ours in Budapest last December went way above and beyond for us. We were looking for a dinner recommendation where they served incredible goulash and she said she knew just the place. I asked for the name and she just wrote down an address and said, be here at 6:30 tonight. She set up the reservation, we were greeted warmly and by name and it was my birthday and she had made sure to tell them. Outstanding. I think we gave her $100.

[Goosebear Mum]

20 hours ago, DrKoob said:

She set up the reservation, we were greeted warmly and by name and it was my birthday and she had made sure to tell them. Outstanding. I think we gave her $100.

 

$100 to just book a table, where she prob got a backhander anyway??? wow, no wonder US people have a name for tipping (and not polite)

 

 

[DrKoob]

6 minutes ago, Goosebear Mum said:

 

$100 to just book a table, where she prob got a backhander anyway??? wow, no wonder US people have a name for tipping (and not polite)

 

 

That was only a very small part of everything she did for us. That was just one example. These people make about 10% of what I do even in retirement. I figure I am just spreading the wealth. 

[Goosebear Mum]

1 hour ago, DrKoob said:

I figure I am just spreading the wealth. 

 

Throwing money around is seen in many cultures as uncouth

[DrKoob]

Just now, Goosebear Mum said:

 

Throwing money around is seen in many cultures as uncouth

Uncouth? I prefer the word generous. Which means the opposite would be stingy, cheap, small, uncharitable, miserly, tightfisted, parsimonious, tight, closefisted, hoggish or grasping.

 

I don't know about you Brits but when we are in a foreign country where the average person makes less in a year than I make in a month and they are doing things for me that are above and beyond, I like to reward them. It soothes some of the guilt of being more prosperous than 90% of the world. 

 

I should point out that I NEVER tip anyone from any cruise line or extension without writing a heartfelt thank you note, enclosing said monies and giving it to them and telling them to please open it later. I am not doing this to publically make myself look good. No one knows about it other than myself, my wife and the person I give it to, who only finds out what is in it after I am gone. 

 

So yeah, maybe I am uncouth.

[Goosebear Mum]

No, we are polite and TIP as appropriate, we are not uncouth, we don’t bribe, throw money at people, brag/show off ‘our wealth’, etc, etc. The US tipping culture is out of hand

 

Go to some countries, and the US tipping culture has created a sea of locals and in some cases professional criminals, assuming tourists will throw money at them.  

 

Edit, p.s uncouth - lacking good manners

Edited May 23 by Goosebear Mum

[duquephart]

32 minutes ago, DrKoob said:

Uncouth? I prefer the word generous. Which means the opposite would be stingy, cheap, small, uncharitable, miserly, tightfisted, parsimonious, tight, closefisted, hoggish or grasping.

 

I don't know about you Brits but when we are in a foreign country where the average person makes less in a year than I make in a month and they are doing things for me that are above and beyond, I like to reward them. It soothes some of the guilt of being more prosperous than 90% of the world. 

 

I should point out that I NEVER tip anyone from any cruise line or extension without writing a heartfelt thank you note, enclosing said monies and giving it to them and telling them to please open it later. I am not doing this to publically make myself look good. No one knows about it other than myself, my wife and the person I give it to, who only finds out what is in it after I am gone. 

 

So yeah, maybe I am uncouth.

 

Are you "uncouth" in countries/cultures where tipping is considered an insult?

[DrKoob]

Really? Which countries consider it an insult? I would think that would vary by the person but I have never known someone supporting a family to be insulted to earn a little more for going above and beyond. If they are insulted by tipping maybe then can consider it a gift. 

 

BTW: We don't tip in European restaurants, but if you think I am handing my bag over to a guy at the dock without a 5-pound note in my hand, you are wrong. That's how bags get left at the pier. And if I am going to "insult" the person running our extension by tipping them, why aren't the Europeans who work on board "insulted" by the tips I give them? 

[KBs mum]

4 hours ago, DrKoob said:

Really? Which countries consider it an insult? I would think that would vary by the person but I have never known someone supporting a family to be insulted to earn a little more for going above and beyond. If they are insulted by tipping maybe then can consider it a gift. 

 

BTW: We don't tip in European restaurants, but if you think I am handing my bag over to a guy at the dock without a 5-pound note in my hand, you are wrong. That's how bags get left at the pier. And if I am going to "insult" the person running our extension by tipping them, why aren't the Europeans who work on board "insulted" by the tips I give them? 

A small tip of up to 10% in restaurants is one of the few situations where tipping in Europe can be considered normal. 

Please listen when people who live somewhere tell you something. 

Tipping luggage handlers isn't usual, but the more foreigners throw money around the more it is expected

[KBs mum]

6 hours ago, DrKoob said:

Uncouth? I prefer the word generous. Which means the opposite would be stingy, cheap, small, uncharitable, miserly, tightfisted, parsimonious, tight, closefisted, hoggish or grasping.

 

I don't know about you Brits but when we are in a foreign country where the average person makes less in a year than I make in a month and they are doing things for me that are above and beyond, I like to reward them. It soothes some of the guilt of being more prosperous than 90% of the world. 

 

I should point out that I NEVER tip anyone from any cruise line or extension without writing a heartfelt thank you note, enclosing said monies and giving it to them and telling them to please open it later. I am not doing this to publically make myself look good. No one knows about it other than myself, my wife and the person I give it to, who only finds out what is in it after I am gone. 

 

So yeah, maybe I am uncouth.

Assuming someone needs charity purely because of their nationality is something worse than uncouth

[CurlerRob]

5 hours ago, DrKoob said:

 Which countries consider it an insult?

 

Japan is one example.

 

A sincere "Arigato gozaimasu" accompanied by an awkward Western bow is fully sufficient and will be hugely appreciated.

 

For our private guides on a recent cruise, we purchased small gifts of Canadiana in advance and wrapped them. Our guides were thrilled and commented on our excellent manners. (Not something I often hear!). 🍺🥌

[DrKoob]

34 minutes ago, CurlerRob said:

 

Japan is one example.

 

A sincere "Arigato gozaimasu" accompanied by an awkward Western bow is fully sufficient and will be hugely appreciated.

 

For our private guides on a recent cruise, we purchased small gifts of Canadiana in advance and wrapped them. Our guides were thrilled and commented on our excellent manners. (Not something I often hear!). 🍺🥌

So do you do that on the ship as well? Cancel the pre-paid gratuities and just thank them? Why are they different than guides?

[DrKoob]

40 minutes ago, KBs mum said:

Assuming someone needs charity purely because of their nationality is something worse than uncouth

I didn't say because of their nationality I said because I know that the average worker in their country makes less in a year than I make in a month. Knowing that guides don't make (on a world average) more than the average pay of the country they are working in, And it's not charity if they are working for it. I am just deciding how much that work is worth to me. Usually more than what they are being paid by the cruise line.

[DrKoob]

1 hour ago, KBs mum said:

Tipping luggage handlers isn't usual, but the more foreigners throw money around the more it is expected

So I shouldn't tip anyone in Europe because it will make them think that you should tip them as well? 

[CurlerRob]

3 minutes ago, DrKoob said:

So do you do that on the ship as well? Cancel the pre-paid gratuities and just thank them? Why are they different than guides?

 

No, I do not. The tipping culture on a ship is totally different. I try to respect and adapt to the culture that I'm visiting.

 

You asked "which countries consider it an insult". I answered, with an example of a culturally acceptable way to show appreciation when tipping was not appropriate. You may want to give it some thought before your March/25 cruise. 🍺🥌

[DrKoob]

1 minute ago, CurlerRob said:

 

No, I do not. The tipping culture on a ship is totally different. I try to respect and adapt to the culture that I'm visiting.

 

You asked "which countries consider it an insult". I answered, with an example of a culturally acceptable way to show appreciation when tipping was not appropriate. You may want to give it some thought before your March/25 cruise. 🍺🥌

Cancelled that one. But I will keep it in mind. 

 

You know if it was my choice I would buy them a small gift to show my appreciation but I don't have time the time to shop nor do I have a clue what they need so money, delivered with a thank you note, anonymously seems the best way to go. 

Edited May 24 by DrKoob

[duquephart]

5 hours ago, KBs mum said:

A small tip of up to 10% in restaurants is one of the few situations where tipping in Europe can be considered normal. 

Please listen when people who live somewhere tell you something. 

Tipping luggage handlers isn't usual, but the more foreigners throw money around the more it is expected

 

Limited experience/small sample size but I have noted tip lines turning up on hand held devices in places they were previously absent - Scandanavia, the Baltic & Iceland come to mind. I do not believe this phenomena is due to the locals suddenly changing their habits.