Tipping on Shore Excursions

[Mr. Boston]

I have arranged several, private, half-day shore excursions for an upcoming cruise. As this will be my first experience with private tours I was wondering what tipping guidelines are, if any. I appreciate your guidance on this matter.

[carlmm]

Were will you sail?

In the Carribeanan mostly American standards apply.

In Europe tipping is uncommon.

Middle East is another ballgame and Asia totally different again ...

[Keith1010]

Everyone has different views of this. We normally tip but in the end our tip will be based on various factors including the enjoyment of the tour and the quality of the tour guide along with the total cost of the tour. There is no right or wrong here.

 

Keith

[Krazy Kruizers]

We use the same reasoning as Keith1010 does no matter where we are.

[Mr. Boston]

Thanks for your responses so far. I am actually looking for amount guidelines. When you say that American standards apply are you referring to the percentages that you tip restaurant workers? As I don't have much shore excursion experience I don't know what the general guidelines for amounts are. Thanks.

[reallyitsmema]

I think it really depends on the length of time the excursion was and the service that was provided. For example, we just did a catamaran and snorkle excursion in St. Thomas. It was about 4 hours long and cost about $150 for three of us. We enjoyed the excursion but felt there were too many people on the catamaran to enjoy a guided snorkle tour (75 people with one guide in water). Before we got off, the four person crew gave us a long song and dance about how they needed tips and lived for tips and stood at exit to catamaran with a huge jug. We didn't contribute since the begging really turned us off.

 

We did a half day excursion in St. Maarten called land and sea. It was a bus tour with an excellent driver who described everything we went by. We then had a semi-submersible boat tour of a reef where we sat below decks (air conditioned) on benches with large windows on either side to see the reef and fish, it was great. Then it was back on the bus to Marigot for an hour of shopping. Stopped for a scenic picture stop and then back to ship. Driver passed surveys to fill out on way back. When we got off bus, there was a basket on dash that said tips, driver was at bottom of stairs collection surveys not cash. We did drop a $10 in his basket since he was excellent and never once mentioned tips.

 

It is really what you feel comfortable with. On both excursions we saw people drop in as little as $1 and as much as $20.

[Wiseone24]

I did an island tour in St. Thomas and gave the driver $5 at the end for just me. I think it was a fair amount but of course it is discretionary based on the tour itself, the level of service and what your pocketbook allows.

[Mr. Boston]

Thanks for your input everyone. Your help gives me some good tipping guidelines. :)

[Keith1010]

By the way, enjoy the exursions and the cruise. And in the end, just do what you think makes sense based on the quality of the excursion, how well you enjoyed the tour guide. There is no right or wrong here.

 

Keith

[taschr]

I have arranged several, private, half-day shore excursions for an upcoming cruise. As this will be my first experience with private tours I was wondering what tipping guidelines are, if any. I appreciate your guidance on this matter.

We are taking several costly tours on a Baltic capitals cruise this summer. The 2 day tour in St. Pete runs about $300pp. We figure the top tip would be about 10%,which would give the tour guide (16 people) $320 (2/3) and the driver $160 (1/3) for 2 days' work. Plus I'm sure they are already salaried. Don't know what the average Russian makes these days (those not involved in organized crime), but I'm sure with a 10% tip they 2 people escorting our small group will be making more than the average Russian on the street.

[Colorado Kat]

I tip, but base it on the quality of the tour, and how helpful the guide is. 10% is my rough amount if I like the guide.

[Keith1010]

We are taking several costly tours on a Baltic capitals cruise this summer. The 2 day tour in St. Pete runs about $300pp. We figure the top tip would be about 10%,which would give the tour guide (16 people) $320 (2/3) and the driver $160 (1/3) for 2 days' work. Plus I'm sure they are already salaried. Don't know what the average Russian makes these days (those not involved in organized crime), but I'm sure with a 10% tip they 2 people escorting our small group will be making more than the average Russian on the street.

 

This sounds like a nice tip.

 

Be prepared to make adjustments based on the quality of the tour guide and the driver.

 

Keith

[believer33323]

Curious, It used to be that you would tip the employees of an establishment but NOT the Owner. Does this still apply or do they all take advantage of tipping?

[Keith1010]

Curious, It used to be that you would tip the employees of an establishment but NOT the Owner. Does this still apply or do they all take advantage of tipping?

 

I don't think there is a right or wrong on this. In the end we base our tip on how much we enjoyed the tour, how good the tour guide was (owner or not owner) and just the overall quality and the value of the tour.

 

Keith

[cruisingberger]

For us it is about $10 unless the tour was really bad or really good, then we tip abit less or a bit more. ( $5-$20)

Have fun!

[cruzin w chris]

without a doubt use your own judgement based on your tour guide. did he or she show you a good time, were they informative, did they help people when needed, etc.