Shore Excursions Tipping

[meneelyb]

How much should I tip our tour operators? Is it a percentage of the tour cost or a "set" amount?

[NeurosurgeryNP]

On our last cruise in January, we were not given any guidelines on tipping the excursion staff. We did give them about $5 - $10 tip per excursion. We didn't use a percentage, just a amout we though was appropriate for the service the provided.

[Pam in CA]

To me, it depends on the expense of the tour, the length of the tour and how many places we go in that time. I generally tip $5 for a half-day tour, $10 for a full-day tour. Some tours are quite inexpensive (let's say $25 for 1/2 day) in which case, I tip $2 - 3. I also often tip the driver, depending on how much driving he/she does and what the terrain is like. If they're doing mountain roads with a lot of switchbacks, I'll tip more than a straight, flat highway.

[lois1112]

I tip like Pam $5 or 10 depending on the length of the tour (I also tip the driver). If the staff has done something special for (such as take a picture etc) I will tip more depending on what was done. If a guide is bad- I do not tip

[BJS]

I've read somewhere that the recommended amount should you want to give a tip is: $1 pp for 1/2 day tour and $2/pp for full day tour plus $1 pp for the driver if it has been a long or difficult drive.

 

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[boaterette]

We tip 5 pp for half day trips and 10 pp for full day trips. We also tip the drivers. Just about everybody works for tips.

[cruisinbuddy]

I love the line they give you near the end of the some excursions, Wind and waves can tip the boat but only you can tip the crew. For me, I'm the same as the rest 5 - 10 maybe more if service really good. On a walking tour of old San Juan last year, I was the 1st person to tip the guide, and I heard a lot of people saying, "oh yeah, a tip".

[Are we there yet?]

Is it $5-$10 per person or per excursion?

 

I'm thinking per person.:confused: I don't want them to think I'm cheap!:D

[Jeffbhhs]

How much should I tip our tour operators? Is it a percentage of the tour cost or a "set" amount?

As for tipping I was on two excursions during my past cruise...One I did not tip because there was no real place to do so and it was not really a one on one experience. However on the second excursion the crew of the boat and the captain encouraged strongly that you would tip them claiming that they work for tips, which I did not believe. the guy suggested that we tipped about 20% of the ticket cost (which was $160) which would of been a $30 tip, I laughed at that. His reasoning was that you are getting a service just like at a restaurant... I really enjoyed the excursion so I tipped about $5pp but there was no chance I was leaving 20% for an already overpriced tour!!! lol I would say that the tipping is up to you, give what you feel comfortable giving, you already paid a lot for the excursion and unless they went out of their way to make it more special you must decide if they deserve the tip...

[BJS]

..... However on the second excursion the crew of the boat and the captain encouraged strongly that you would tip them claiming that they work for tips, which I did not believe....I would say that the tipping is up to you, give what you feel comfortable giving, you already paid a lot for the excursion and unless they went out of their way to make it more special you must decide if they deserve the tip...

 

I totaly agree with you. A good tour guide would never ask for a tip. My motto "ask and you shall not receive".

 

Is it $5-$10 per person or per excursion?

 

I'm thinking per person. I don't want them to think I'm cheap!

You should never feel that even if you decide not to tip that you are "cheap". We frequently are the only ones that do tip but we only do so if we feel they deserve the tip. Over 95% of the tours we have taken we have felt that they went "all out" to make it a wonderful tour and the more effort the greater the tip we give. We have had a couple of guides that have done nothing more than escort us to a spot, say a few words, and tell us to meet them again at a certain time. I do feel these people aren't even doing what I'm paying them to do so even if they feel I'm cheap - so what. Maybe next tour they will put some effort into it and give others the tour they deserve.

 

I'm not saying not to tip but you'll never see them again so what do you care what they think?

 

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[Are we there yet?]

I totaly agree with you. A good tour guide would never ask for a tip. My motto "ask and you shall not receive".

 

 

 

You should never feel that even if you decide not to tip that you are "cheap". We frequently are the only ones that do tip but we only do so if we feel they deserve the tip. Over 95% of the tours we have taken we have felt that they went "all out" to make it a wonderful tour and the more effort the greater the tip we give. We have had a couple of guides that have done nothing more than escort us to a spot, say a few words, and tell us to meet them again at a certain time. I do feel these people aren't even doing what I'm paying them to do so even if they feel I'm cheap - so what. Maybe next tour they will put some effort into it and give others the tour they deserve.

 

I'm not saying not to tip but you'll never see them again so what do you care what they think?

 

 

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Have you been to Las Vegas yet? Tip is everyones second name there! The Shuttle bus we took to and from the airport had a sign that said something like " tip is not included in fare, welcome to Vegas!" I spent more in tips there than anywhere else I've been! lol:D

 

 

I can see not tipping if all they do is drop me off to do my own thing, I agree with you there, but if they do deserve it I am of the mind that you are an ambassador for your country so I guess I don't want them to think that Canadians are cheap either.;)

[BJS]

 

Have you been to Las Vegas yet? Tip is everyones second name there! The Shuttle bus we took to and from the airport had a sign that said something like " tip is not included in fare, welcome to Vegas!" I spent more in tips there than anywhere else I've been! lol:D

 

Have been to Vegas many times - even married there.

 

The shuttle bus sign is just informational you can then decide what you want to do with that information. I find that different than a person asking you for the tip.

 

Not only in Vegas but everywhere - beauty shop, nail salon, retaurants, etc. -tips are people's second name but never have they come out and asked me for one.

 

Don't get me wrong - we do tip and do tip very well when it is warranted.:)

 

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[Jeffbhhs]

 

Have you been to Las Vegas yet? Tip is everyones second name there! The Shuttle bus we took to and from the airport had a sign that said something like " tip is not included in fare, welcome to Vegas!" I spent more in tips there than anywhere else I've been! lol:D

 

 

I can see not tipping if all they do is drop me off to do my own thing, I agree with you there, but if they do deserve it I am of the mind that you are an ambassador for your country so I guess I don't want them to think that Canadians are cheap either.;)

 

I understand what you mean about Las Vegas, but when you are on a cruise and you are already overpaying for an excursion and then being told that you should tip 20% of the ticket cost on top of that... I strongly disagree with that... I am usually a very good tipper, if there service warrants a tip. If the person did nothing above their average regular job then they already got paid from my ticket fare. If the person went above and made the experience better, even if that means just doing their regular job at an exceptional level then they deserve extra... I think the guides on my excursion that asked for 20% should of been ashamed of themselves considering I just spent $160.00pp to go on the excursion....

[Are we there yet?]

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The shuttle bus sign is just informational you can then decide what you want to do with that information. I find that different than a person asking you for the tip.

 

Not only in Vegas but everywhere - beauty shop, nail salon, retaurants, etc. -tips are people's second name but never have they come out and asked me for one.

 

Don't get me wrong - we do tip and do tip very well when it is warranted.:)

 

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No I don't think they came right out and asked either, it was just expected. I don't like the idea of them coming and asking for it outright though either......seems a bit nervy. Different customs maybe?

 

I understand what you mean about Las Vegas, but when you are on a cruise and you are already overpaying for an excursion and then being told that you should tip 20% of the ticket cost on top of that... I strongly disagree with that... I am usually a very good tipper, if there service warrants a tip. If the person did nothing above their average regular job then they already got paid from my ticket fare. If the person went above and made the experience better, even if that means just doing their regular job at an exceptional level then they deserve extra... I think the guides on my excursion that asked for 20% should of been ashamed of themselves considering I just spent $160.00pp to go on the excursion....

 

Well I agree that I don't think they should be telling YOU how much they should be tipped, but I have not been on a ship excursion yet so you will have to bear with me. Our first cruise we did everything on our own.

Now I don't mind paying $5-$10 pp if I think they deserve it, but if they "expect" $30 pp deserving or not, I would not go on that excursion.

 

 

So does anyone know who gets all the money we do pay for shore excursions? Is it the people that actually take us or is it a company that just hires these people? I suppose it depends on where you are? Just curious.

[Jeffbhhs]

No I don't think they came right out and asked either, it was just expected. I don't like the idea of them coming and asking for it outright though either......seems a bit nervy. Different customs maybe?

 

 

 

Well I agree that I don't think they should be telling YOU how much they should be tipped, but I have not been on a ship excursion yet so you will have to bear with me. Our first cruise we did everything on our own.

Now I don't mind paying $5-$10 pp if I think they deserve it, but if they "expect" $30 pp deserving or not, I would not go on that excursion.

 

 

So does anyone know who gets all the money we do pay for shore excursions? Is it the people that actually take us or is it a company that just hires these people? I suppose it depends on where you are? Just curious.

 

One way to find out almost exactly how much the cruise company gets would be to find out how much the excursion would cost directly from the company... I will usually Google the name of the tour and find the company that is taking you out, this way you get a lot of useful information and can see how much the cruise is raising the price... However; I usually prefer to book through the cruise line because you are guaranteed to get back on the ship on time, if you book on your own you don't get that guarantee.

 

I have gone on two excursions like I said earlier and I enjoyed both, but only one blatantly came right out and said this is what you "should" tip... I think we gave $5 or $10 each person cannot remember exactly what we gave, we were put in a VERY awkward position these guys actually held a tip jar in their hand when you walked off the boat, so if you didn't tip you would very cheap...

[Are we there yet?]

One way to find out almost exactly how much the cruise company gets would be to find out how much the excursion would cost directly from the company... I will usually Google the name of the tour and find the company that is taking you out, this way you get a lot of useful information and can see how much the cruise is raising the price... However; I usually prefer to book through the cruise line because you are guaranteed to get back on the ship on time, if you book on your own you don't get that guarantee.

 

I have gone on two excursions like I said earlier and I enjoyed both, but only one blatantly came right out and said this is what you "should" tip... I think we gave $5 or $10 each person cannot remember exactly what we gave, we were put in a VERY awkward position these guys actually held a tip jar in their hand when you walked off the boat, so if you didn't tip you would very cheap...

 

Thanks Jeffbhhs, I guess it only makes sense that the cruise line makes money from it as well. Especially if they will hold the boat for you. One reason we are taking ship excursions this time.

 

In a case like yours though where it was so blatant I think I could live with being labeled cheap after giving $10pp. I'm sorry you had to go through that and I am hoping it doesn't happen to us!:)

[BJS]

Thanks Jeffbhhs, I guess it only makes sense that the cruise line makes money from it as well. Especially if they will hold the boat for you. One reason we are taking ship excursions this time.

 

In a case like yours though where it was so blatant I think I could live with being labeled cheap after giving $10pp. I'm sorry you had to go through that and I am hoping it doesn't happen to us!:)

 

From our experience with many, many ship excursions we have only had that happen maybe 2 times at that was in the Caribbean. I'm sorry that anyone has to go through it. If they were there holding a tip jar I'd still just walk past it.

 

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[Are we there yet?]

From our experience with many, many ship excursions we have only had that happen maybe 2 times at that was in the Caribbean. I'm sorry that anyone has to go through it. If they were there holding a tip jar I'd still just walk past it.

 

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BJS, I see you have been to Tahiti, where tipping is not part of the culture from what I read, so I imagine we won't see that sort of behavior there. What about hawaii, did you think the shore excursions were done well there?

Our cruise goes to Hawaii after Tahiti and all our excursions are through Princess.