GrJ Berkshire

These ATM's are not bank ones, and so will charge for withdrawals or maybe as well have a poor rate. Advice earlier only use London ATM's for sterling withdrawals.

Tipping at 20% or above is absurd.

In Britain tipping on top of a fixed pre-paid or agreed fee would not be expected except for something exceptional, you do not tip for just doing your job. All British drivers are fully paid a salary and do not rely on a tip to cover costs. Even in London in a black cab simply rounding up is enough. I used cabs yesterday where the fare was a whole pound amount and no tip was expected or offered.

The only time tips are found is where an American accent is heard , which creates an expectation of silly tipping. They see and hear you coming!!

These Uber fares seem high to me, then with exchange rates and cards taking a foreign currency cut as well. You would be better off using a 'proper' regulated cab. Or getting the hotel to book a reputable mini-cab firm. Uber has had its business model challenged over whether drivers are employed or not and lost in the UK courts, which is making it less competitive, already in Europe in Denmark uber has been banned.

London black cab drivers are keen for the same position here!!

What I was hinting at as this is cc , is whether you will have more than 23kg pp if you are cruising before or after the trip to Amsterdam, having originally Travelled from the USA , with many transatlantic flights allowing 2 bags each.

You will now find that many short flights with smaller aircraft, are much stricter on cabin baggage, many only allowing 5kg in the cabin.

In Europe now most debit cards are chip as well as contactless. This is the way that many people now get away with little cash, they work like an oyster card on the tube and are now used in many chains & large stores in lieu of cash. However I don't think US banks issue these.

You will see them in wide use in coffee shops, restaurants, many shops up to £30 a purchase.

Increasingly shops do not like cash, as banks continue to close and are rare outside town centres, digital technology now is replacing this as most in Europe are now using internet banking.

Wise to get a few Euros from an ATM's machine. It just depends if you have a contactless debit card , as this is the best for small items like a coffee, rather than a cc.

Having no currency is quite risky, and a few Euros will always keep for a subsequent visit to Europe.

Fly is the only easy way, as most Chunnel trains will require a change at Lille or Brussels.

The experience of the tunnel is similar to the underground between stations, very uninspiring .

Your main problem will be how much luggage airlines allow on a short hop. Last time flew Heathrow - schipol we were in the air 31 mins

Why if you have an agreed £100 fare prepaid , for this would you tip, unless the driver does something exceptional. In the UK people are paid a proper wage and it is not the norm for tipping. The only way they will expect a tip is an American accent which raises expectations of a tip.

Never been in an horizon suite, however on mariner can thoroughly recommend a PH C cabin, been in 902 next to master suite 3 cruises, quiet not on a long corridor, near the lifts. The suite is spacious, has a large shower not the dangerous over the bath step over. Super cabin would not look elsewhere on the mariner.

When you are in London you will see that anything goes, there really is no norm to work to, it's a very 60's 70's concept does not apply especially in London.

To go back to OP my only comment is white trousers are impractical as a tourist if you use public transport, sit on outdoor benches as they will show up dirt. But if they are dirty/torn/unkempt they are more likely to be in fashion at that time!!

More than likely a way to avoid tax. Check the exchange rate as I doubt this will favour you!!

Why would they accept Euros, those that do make it worth their while. We were in Dubrovnik twice last year and found only about 10/20% were taking them, mostly tourist shops and some no coins only notes.

It's the same as assuming that dollars are ok in London , they are not!! Equally in the states on the Canadian border the Canadian dollar is not accepted in Detroit, Buffalo, Seattle. However CCs are widely taken and a contactless debit card is now the way many places prefer. This could cause issues for many Americans, as I gather these are rare in the USA and not generally available from US banks.

Most under 35's now use these most of the time, to stop needing cash, especially coinage.

Have never tipped porters at the quay and were unaware of their existence as only transferred to the ship with a Regent included hotel to ship transfer on our 6 Regent cruises . Luggage was dealt with all the way from hotel to suite, never a problem, always there ahead of us in suite.

Only gravelled in PH suite so never used private party, and rarely dine in suite, only 1 dinner and half a dozen quick breakfasts prior to an early start excursion.

Have a salaried professional job, don't get bonus, I am paid my contracted amount , so this is where I am coming from re this topic.

Totally agree with UUnetbill , the tippers are just trying to buy influence.

I so dislike this hand out culture, it spoils it for everybody else and then tipping becomes expected, they do a great job without it and service standards are always very high on Regent.

Why perpetuate the master/servant concept behind tips, they only came in to the USA as a result of prohibition. On Regent the staff are paid well, its not the disgusting wages paid in US restaurants, which people use to justify tipping at the 20% level.

GENUINE QUESTION

I know this is cc and so most replies are from professional people who are not lacking the means to give a tip, if desired!!

How though do the poorer people in society cope in the USA, or do they never use restaurants, cabs, bars, etc as surely for many 15% or 20% on top of the price quoted , will price them out of using this service.

Surely that creates a two tier society, expecting tips like this will keep customers away, not a good business model. And servers will not have a job.

Totally agree with UUNetbill.

The whole tipping thing has got silly, in Britain now it is rare and the sooner it disappears the better. Why should we give to those that serve us to make up for poor wages, a charity hand out, it has its routes in servants and giving them what you think they are worth. Service charge at least is clear and not people giving a hand out to those who they think deserve it, or showing off wealth to curry favour.

If a restaurant says $10 that's you should pay not $11/12 because it was prompt or served with a smile. Equally if wine is $20 a bottle why pay $3 to have a cork removed and poured out, it is the only way to drink it!!

The fast food model of pay what you have not a bit more or less is surely the way forward in the 21st century, not back to the past.

I only round up for easy process, In the last year I have not tipped at all.

WHY?

Tips are included. This sets a precedent that gets back to the US excessive tip culture. In Europe now but especially the UK tipping is in decline, thankfully we may start to see the end of this, good riddance.

If you must use the crew fund, but the master/servant hand out culture is not to be encouraged!!

Arsenalboy said it all ,most US cities are far more dangerous than Europe even in the current situation. Murder stats in the US are far higher than terrorism in Europe recently, driving in South Africa is far more risky. Road accidents kill more people than terrorism , many places are much more at risk.

Chip cards without a pin will not be useable in most locations in Britain, the smaller units will require a chip/pin to work. Only at maybe a few larger hotels will the chip/signature route be available. As a Brit, can't remember the last time signed for a cc payments. However on a Dutch visit just 2 months back it was still a signature on the slip as well as pin in many places. In UK now a contactless bank debit card is very useful as a means of payment, as more and more people hardly carry cash.

Equally in the Euro zone most costs are whole Euro's and the small coins 1c,2c,5c,10c, etc are less and less used with rounding happening, only if you buy odd loose fruit in a market, supermarket are you likely to use. It's easy to end up with a pocket full of hard to shift small change in Euro zone.

Rounding up to the nearest pound is the norm, tipping is really on the way out with card payments, uber,etc, few young people carry cash and even in restaurants with mostly electronic payments, often top ends a service charge is included, but the fast food outlets, pubs you pay the menu price. Tipping is so last century. Good riddance.

Has to be Regent!!

Quality all the way, you pay up front but no tips, drinks extras to pay

Super line, you get what you pay for.

Many Europe based cruises, the ship retains your passport for port clearance at docking. Only in Russia is it needed with you, whether on your own, or a ship excursions.

Do not risk it, its not needed in Europe, all you can do is lose it, or have it stolen.

Leave on ship with the Purser or in your suite/cabin safe.

You have got to be joking about tipping in Gibraltar pounds. They are not legal currency in London, and would not be exchanged at many post offices.

If you try this to a cabbie expect a rude response.

Happy travelling

A tip in non UK currency is worse than no tip at all.

For many Regent passengers this is totally irrelevant. I have over 50 days on Regent, both Navigator and Mariner. Apart from where you have to walk through the casino area on the Navigator; do not use like most passengers. I will spend my money on another cruise, rather than waste it, on gambling. On the Navigator especially the space could be used much better as the piano bar and coffee connection are very cramped and into a corridor area. The casino where we saw it going to and from the theatre was very under utilized,, the shop small and the gambling machines with the exception of a couple of people who were always there very under used.

Surely today's events in Izmir mean that Kusadasi and Ephesus will be off the agenda for the foreseeable future.. Glad was able to visit 2 years ago, before this instability . Can't see cruise lines returning to Turkey in the near future. Sad!!