Tipping on Viking River Cruise

[oakvillian]

Can someone tell me please what is the appropriate amount to tip on a 15 day River Cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam.? Viking suggests 12 Euros per day for general staff and 2 Euros per day for Program Director. Is that just a suggestion or can you give more or less? Also can you tip directly your waiters and your cabin steward? Thanks

[sammiedawg]

We did the suggested tip which was paid when the bill was settled. I thought it was odd to be asked to pay a tip to the program director but we did. Viking did not take our credit card info until the night before we disembarked.

We thought the suggested tipping was on the high side, especially since the onboard currency is in euros. We had nice service but nothing exceptional, there were 50 crew members to 190 passengers.

You have the option to tip directly to the individual but I'd rather be anonymous through the tip pool.

[cruisinskier]

We did the suggested tip our last night via our credit card, but also tipped those we felt had treated us really well a little extra and did directly give it to them. And there were a few staff who had gone above & beyond for us during our week!

 

To answer your question, you can adjust the tipping to whatever you are comfortable with by visiting the front desk.

Enjoy your trip!

Jerry

Edited September 4, 2014 by cruisinskier

[ticonderoga]

Can you just put cash in an envelope or must you do it by credit card?

[H2Otstr]

Can you just put cash in an envelope or must you do it by credit card?

 

Yes, we always tip in cash. Dollars or Euros, or a combination of the two is acceptable.

[ticonderoga]

Thanks, I thought I had read somewhere that you can tip in dollars as well but I'm just seeing Euros mentioned in Viking literature these days. Anyhow, I just prefer to do it anonymously in an envelope, but for those people who went above and beyond, I hope it's not frowned upon to hand them something personally, is it?

Ti

[rjscott]

but for those people who went above and beyond, I hope it's not frowned upon to hand them something personally, is it?

Ti

 

No, it is not, and you will get a big smile and a very sincere 'thank you!' in return! :)

 

Becki

[HDS]

You will be expected to tip local guides and bus drivers on shore excursions which means having and replenishing a supply of 1 and 2 euro coins or small notes.