Entrance fees included on O shore ex. ?

[Bowie MeMe]

Are all entrance fees included in the O shore ex.? I assume that a nominal (5 euro etc)gift/tip for the guide on 1/2 day tour is about right?

What I am asking is the standard tip for a group tour in the $100pp range? Do you need to tip the driver also (usually do when I see the road conditions that they bend those big busses around -- truly I wouldn't try some of those manuevers with a bicycle:o)?

[LHT28]

It should tell you in the description if entrance fee are extra.

[Friscorays]

Tipping is a personal matter. I personally generally tip both the driver and the tour guide. Giving specific numbers puts one at risk of becoming embroiled in a heated internet discussion with one camp calling you a cheap so and so and the other camp calling you an easy mark (so I won't give you a percent although a google search on tipping etiquette should yield some guidelines).

 

I would assume that any entrance fees as part of an Oceania tour will be included in the fee but as LHT28 says, check the fine print to be sure.

[lcand1923]

The shore excursion description will let you know if entry fees are included. Most people tip the guide and the driver. The amount is up to you.

[Bowie MeMe]

Thanks. I did not want to start a tipping war that is for sure.:eek: My confusion is of the "drivers can not act as guides genre" and I am wondering if the guides on the ship's excursions can actually do the tours and commentary in the historical sights then get back on bus with you and on to next site. Do the guides get picked up at the entrance of each attraction to explain that part then turn you back to the "bus guide"?

[LHT28]

Thanks. I did not want to start a tipping war that is for sure.:eek: My confusion is of the "drivers can not act as guides genre" and I am wondering if the guides on the ship's excursions can actually do the tours and commentary in the historical sights then get back on bus with you and on to next site. Do the guides get picked up at the entrance of each attraction to explain that part then turn you back to the "bus guide"?

 

It depends on the tour & the historical site

We have always had the guide from the bus do the tour with us.

But I know some sites require you to hire local guide at the site

Maybe list the site/tour you are interested in and someone may be able to help

 

Lyn

[lcand1923]

We always take ship-sponsored shore excursions. On most of the O tours, you have a guide and a driver. The driver drives. The guide does the tour. HOWEVER, if you are going to a site that requires a local guide due to city/site/union requirements (I'm thinking here of the laws in Italy regarding guides), the O guide on the bus steps back and you are passed to a local guide.

 

Here is an example. We took the O tour to Siena and San Gimigano (sp?). When we left the ship, we got on a bus with a driver and guide and an O escort. (O sometimes places someone from the ship with their tour groups. This person carries a sign and watches to make certain no one gets lost.) The O guide delivered a bit of local history on the way to Siena. The driver did not speak. The O guide passed us to a local guide in Siena. The O guide and driver disappeared. The O escort stayed with the group. After the tour, the local guide passed the group to the O guide who led us back to the bus. This activity was repeated at San Gimigano.

 

We tipped the local guides, the O guide and the O driver. We did not tip the O escort.

[Bowie MeMe]

Coming up in Sept. Istanbul to Athens on the Nautica. Lots of stops in Greece (Rhodes/Delos/Mykonos/Santorini/Corfu) + Kusadasi and Dubrovnik. Last year on a Constellation TA I became friends with a lady who later told me she was the florist. She does a tour just about every day as they are "encouraged to volunteer". The crew member does a detailed report of what the cruiser is experiencing -- she showed me the form that was 12 pages long. It was fun to "have imput". On the last formal night there was a beautiful table arrangement from GFF (Girl Friend Forever). Her reports keep the quality in shore excursions IMHO.

[Bruin Steve]

A few notes on ship-sponsored shore excursions from a veteran cruiser on 7 different lines:

 

First, one needs to realize that virtually all shore excursions are pretty much identical on EVERY cruise line. The cruise lines do not, themselves, provide shore excursions. They contract, in each port, with local companies. Since the ships need companies that 1) can handle the large amount of business, 2) are reputable and dependable, 3) cary requisite levels of insurance and 4) can present a quality product...ie nice vehicles, understandable English speaking tour guides, good knowledge, etc....and since most ports have a limited number of companies that can supply all of this, the cruise lines all gravitate to those companies.

 

The only real difference you will see is in how they connect with the ship--the cruise line/ship provide the "lollipop" signs, the ID stickers, the ticketing mechanisms, etc.

 

That said, read the small print on any cruise line tour brochure--the fact that it is contracted out is very well represented.

 

Therefore, the tours Oceania offers in a particular port will largely be the same tours Celebrity offers...or Princess offers...or HAL offers...

 

The only other differences one will find is that the contracting tour company may alter the tour to fit into the time window available for the particular ship visit. Also, the selection of tours on Oceania for a particular port may be smaller--due to the fewer number of passengers...It is easier to have 20 options when you have 2,500 passengers than when you have only 680...You can't offer a lot of tours with only a handful of people on each...

 

Next, realize that one of the selling points of most ship's tours, the way they have developed over the years, is that they are "all-inclusive"...They include the entrance fees...if they are "full day" tours, they usually include lunch...The cruise lines sell these on the basis of "convenience"...You take them so you don't have to worry about a thing--not arranging the tour, not figuring out restaurants, not dealing with local currency or ticket lines. The local operators can often arrange "group tickets" at a discounted price with many attractions...and don't have to wait in ticket lines...

 

Of course, this is the "rule", but there are exceptions, so, definitely read the shorex description carefully.

 

As to tipping, I long ago read that the "standard" for tipping on a shore excursion was $5 per couple on a short tour of 4 hours or less...$10 on a longer excursion--over 4 hours...and to give around $2 to $3 to the bus driver as well...Of course, in the old days, when "euros" started, the exchange rate was about 1:1, so euros vs. dollars didn't matter...Now, some feel compelled to give in euros--so the tipping cost is about 33% higher--because you are still looking at "round numbers"...

 

But, here's the real kicker: Know what the "standard" is...then ignore it...If your guide is really good...if he/she goes out of the way to help you...if you think the tour was outstanding...if the bus driver does more than take you to a site and back to the ship, go ahead and give them a little more...Remember, these folks likely have nowhere near the income you have...a couple of extra dollars means a whole lot more to them than it does to you...If you go on 10 excursions during a 14 night cruise and spread around an extra fifty bucks to various tour guides and drivers, is it that big a deal? After all, you are probably paying several thousand per person on the trip, this is hardly make or break for you...

 

On the other hand...it is sometimes appropriate to "stiff" the guide or driver...but, really, don't look for little excuses--like you weren't happy because you had trouble understanding her accent...or she didn't let you stay in the Monet wing of the Hermitage as long as you wanted (usually not their call anyway)...

 

The only guides I ever recall "stiffing" in my cruise life were:

1) A guide in Villefranche who told everyone we had 90 minutes of "free time" in Monaco and should meet at 2:00 pm at the Yellow Submarine by the Oceanographic Institute. We got there 1:45 and she was nowhere to be seen...waited until 2:15 and I finally convinced everyone else to follow me--I know my way around Monaco and knew where they park the buses...When we got to the bus, she was sitting on it...told me that it was just too hot to wait up top, so she decided just to go to the bus (underground parking)...absolutely no remorse whatsoever...Yeah...no tip from me...

2) A guide in Gdansk, Poland who "lost" several people on my tour, including my wife...by announcing a "short" bathroom break, then immediately taking off two minutes later while most of the women were still on line at the small bathroom...without even giving a warning...I had to leave the tour after trying to get her to stop, got back to the bathroom and my wife was gone...looking for us...We spent the next couple of hours searching Gdansk for each other...then never found the tour again (the guide also refused to use the "lollipop" sign and none of the other guides from the same company had a cell phone number for her! We next saw her again back at the bus...Yup, no tip there...

[Bowie MeMe]

thanks Bruin. I do agree that almost all of the excursions for all of the cruise lines (Safari tours in Tansania too) are fairly standard and to my way of thinking pretty good. Some better than others of course but then even dedicated DIY know that what they arrange can vary. I have noticed the "Rick Steve's effect". Once they get known then they often become the front guy and pass business along to "family" or to another hotel or restaurant whatever and it is no longer the "unknown amazing and cheap place" that it became known for.

I so agree with you that a few extra dollars to a guide or to a driver sometimes becomes a wonderful act for you and for the recepients. I am a talker and when I get to know a guide or a cabin steward etc. you often find a remarkable person who is often taking care of many "back home". My world is richer for knowing for a little while these remarkable people. Even in tough times $5 is not a big deal -- but $5 can often go a long way "back home". Pay Forward. It is good for you!