What to Expect on a Cruise: Tipping Crewmembers on a Cruise - Cruise Critic Generally, a typical tip for a driver is $1-2 per person. However, as and when an excursion guide warrants a tip, then it's done, discreetly. If they do a good job, are on time, considerate, deliver what they promise, and try to help people, I would go with 20%. Tips for the Room Steward or Stewardess. We went to complain at Maui Dive and they have a strict no refunds policy. When in doubt, just ask. You might want to find out if there's a tourism office at or near the port, so you can pick up a map and get information. You can find it at the links below. The factory itself is lovely. So in reality, every contract is different depending on the country you have booked in. Bring some cash (we find $50 or so usually suffices) and a credit card. Are You Thinking About Going on a Cruise With Your Family? For good, I would give $5 and $2 for the bus driver, unless the bus route was a challenge, then $5 for bus driver. Iao Valley, Botanical Garden & Lavender Farm. A shore excursion could be a sightseeing bus tour, a guided visit to a museum or historic site, an athletic activity (like a hike, bike ride or snorkel outing), a day at the beach or a cooking or dance class. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Bring some antibiotic ointment and bandages. A Guide for Tipping on a Cruise for Each Cruise Line We recommend bringing your driver's license as a form of ID instead. Disney Cruise Line Port Excursions - Discounts & Tips There are three basic ways to pay tips on a cruise vacation. By Patricia Doherty Published. Tipping on a cruise ship: Everything you need to know Some cruise lines, such as Viking and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, include the cost of basic shore excursions in their cruise fares. Check here before booking an award fare. We have done that cruise and didn't find the need to tip on shore excursions. I believe they receive a small stipend and rely on tips for most of their compensation. It would be nice if others reciprocated, as although the comment in the previous post was not directed at me, I still find it insulting. #1 Posted February 19, 2010 How much do you tip your tour guides? 1 year ago. Sometimes you also need an expert guide, such as in Pompeii, to know what you're seeing. We provide a tip for exceptional service, not for sitting in her bus for 6 hours. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. There is no real upper limit as exclusive tours could cost thousands of dollars. Information on Tipping and Gratuities - Viking River Cruises I've worked on a cruise ship for six years, so I've seen a fair share of passengers make mistakes. The tours can be booked onboard at your ship's excursions desk or online before you depart on your trip. Log in. A 5 Euro bill comes in handy. Planning a cruise? Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. Best Beach for the Dedicated Beach Bum: Luquillo Beach (near El Yunque) is a real locals' haunt; there, you'll find long stretches of sand, water sports equipment rentals and a great line of food stands, offering classic Puerto Rican beach food. said: On 11/18/2018 at 10:42 PM, KruiserKat said: On 11/16/2018 at 7:14 PM, CILCIANRQTS said: 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Q&A with James Rodriguez, President & CEO of Atlas Ocean Voyages, Q&A: Cruise Insurance with Steve Dasseos of the TripInsuranceStore.com - Summer Session '23. Royal Caribbean ships have been sailing mostly at full capacity. The capital city of Puerto Rico is a destination full of history and rich culture, and thanks to the compact nature of the island, San Juan is a great base for exploring its major sights. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114727965', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise in ages so can't remember how many crew are even on the boat. If, however, you offer a restaurant tip directly to an Italian server and they decline, you should offer again. Recommendations for an easy snorkel outing? Shore excursions may be sold by your cruise line and organized with a partner provider. Tipping for Travelers: Who, When, and How Much - TripSavvy We all understandthat Americans are used to tipping culture and Europeans and Canadians are not. Not even sure why I do on a Viking cruise. Viking will give you coins for your Euro bills onboard but will not exchange currencies. I chose to tip in Europe recently but only because the person went above and beyond. Rounding up at best for taxis. Looking at Princess Cruises' shore excursions in Grand Cayman, a 2.5-hour stingray swim costs $60 per person, a 5-hour scenic island drive costs $80, and a 4-hour, two-tank scuba dive costs $170. A few singles for small favors in markets or other shore side venues. To travel on a cruise that clearly expects gratuities and then not pay them is simply ill-bred. Sometimes, it is a more effective way to handle things (because there are official consequence). (Luckily, the locals are used to this and usually have a few robes on-hand to loan visitors.) One suggestion is to simply round-up the charge, and say that no change is required. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-112661280', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Hawaii and no, there was never a time I didn't tip the crew. That's not an "ax", it's just the truth. So far I haven't had a guide so terrible that I didn't tip at all. I use many factors to decide whether to take a ship's tour, an independent excursion or just explore on my own in port. Among them are repositioning cruises, when vessels change "regions" for the season and . Ignore them, and you could end up hurting yourself or someone else, without even realizing you were doing anything wrong in the first place. Related: What you can do if your cruise cancels port calls? Sometimes these tour groups also are smaller than the large cruise ship tours which can carry 30 to 60 people in a bus so you will spend less time waiting for everyone. Shore excursions to the nearby El Yunque National Forest or Casa Bacardi are other great options. Decide whether you want a drink package, a WiFi . Cruise gratuities are divided among your cruise cabin steward, waiters and other crew members who work as support behind the scenes. We pushed back and they said we are going and no refunds. Enchanted with cruising from my first voyage in the Bahamas on the SS Emerald Seas to Alaskas Inside Passage. How Does Tipping Work on a Disney Cruise? Your Guide to Gratuities Tips on Ships: Everything You Need to Know About Cruise Gratuities How much is standard tip on snorkeling excursions? In other articles, weve explored different gratuity topics, such as whom to tip on the ship and when not to tip. Image source: Daniel Kline/TheStreet. Tipping for Beach Service If you are going to the beach on a cruise excursion, you should plan to have small bills for tips as well. No, you shouldn't bring your passport, unless your tour requires it. What are some good guide and hiking books? Need further assistance? The average suggestions for cruise tips amount to between $12 and $16 per passenger, per daywhich for a standard seven-night cruise comes to between $84 and $112 extra per person, or $336 to $448 extra for a family of four. We went out once on (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The downside to booking tours in advance is that some cruise lines require that you pay for the tours in full, rather than putting them on your final cruise bill. Yes. For instance, in St. Thomas, the shops are a stone's throw from the ship, but beaches are a cab ride away. Kind of like when I tell people about illegal rentals, bad restaurants, bike trips, driving the back side, etc. You wont have to worry about them not mentioning itthey live on tips, Never had a captain not make an announcement and offer the opportunity, Usually there is some type of container in your direct path as you leave the boat to drop in your tip, This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Full Guide to Cruise Ship Gratuities for 2021 (Amounts, Etiquette, and If they think the guide or driver or worth a certain dollar amount, let them reach into their own pockets. Read specifics about tipping on the major cruise lines HERE. The Ultimate Guide to Cruise Gratuities - Life Well Cruised We get it: You paid for your shore excursion and want to get the most out of the experience. Personally, I find that organized tours are best when the excursion is an activity I can't do on my own (such as kayaking, zip lining or a winery tour); when long distances are involved where I don't want to bother with public transportation or renting a car on a one-day visit; or when the culture is foreign enough that independent exploration would be tricky. The secret to a wonderful day ashore is to plan ahead. From Alaskan cruises to trail hikes in Moab, Utah, these are some of the best solo trips in the US. I don't tip 20% of the overall cost though as a good portion is not related to personal service. You'll be away from the ship for several hours during your excursion, so the last thing you want is to be without sunscreen or sunglasses on some private island miles away from any convenience stores. help me pick between these 4 Maui condos please - I'm stuck! I go often on Hula Girl and I pay for the food service ala carte. Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Tipping Around the World Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. San Juan Cruise Tips, Activities, and Overview. 51 reviews. When and How Much to Tip on a Cruise - AFAR Opt, instead, for a ship-arranged tour to the souk or ancient Carthage. Recommendations for an easy snorkel trip? It's rude to keep your fellow cruisers waiting, and it's not fair to your guide, whose job is to make sure all passengers arrive back to the ship safely and on time. However, if all you want to do is walk around town, shop or visit the beach, it could be much cheaper and less time-consuming to get a map and do it on your own. The cost and maintenance of the boat, Docking fees etc. However, in Stockholm, our guide went through the motions - provided a short 5 min history and facts then sat down for the hour drive to the city. Nebr.cruiser. On 11/14/2018 at 3:28 PM, Ready to Sail! If it's not your native tongue, go the extra mile and learn a few common words or phrases, such as "Hello," "Thank you" and "One round of shots, please! No. Tip non-guide drivers roughly $2 per person in your party. Cruise Gratuities - Guide to Tipping on a Cruise Ship There is a history to many of the comments being made on this thread. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. 18% is also added on for beverages and spa and salon services. If the guide was over the top excellent, I would give $10-15 for a couple. If youve requested or received exceptional service at restaurants or on a tour (time intensive, detail oriented, special arrangements, and so forth), an extra 10% is acceptable (but still not expected.). The recommended amount is $10 to $20 per passenger for every day of your cruise. Viking suggests in Europe a 2 Euro trip per person to your excursion guide and 1 Euro per person to your bus driver. I find that the more I cruise, the less I take ship-sponsored shore excursions because they don't offer exactly what I want. If you don't care to do any specialty tours, you might be able to get all your port activities for free. Where do I find information about ocean safety? The answer banks on your budget, as well as your inclinations. However, if you're a novice traveler, you might want to book ship tours exclusively because it's the simplest, easiest and most convenient option. Bottom line, tipping is a personal matter and I for one wish it would remain one on this forum. Guidebooks and Travel Websites: Browse online destination guides, or pick up some guidebooks on the destinations you're planning to visit. Odd-duck itineraries don't always sell well, leading to last minute deals. I also consider our bill as part the total over head as that is the cost of doing business, Based on the attentiveness and quality of the crew I usually leave $10.00 per person in our party, So $50 usually and were pretty independent and dont need a lot of assistance from the crew. It always pays to read the fine print before booking any shore excursion, either through the cruise line or independently. When automatically charged to either your Sign and Sail account or to your invoice prior to boarding, the gratuity amount is at a recommended value of $12.95 per day, per person in stateroom. How to avoid getting sick on a cruise - The Points Guy Tipping during a European river cruise - Rick Steves Travel Forum Highlights vs. In-Depth: Some shore tours -- such as day-long trips from Tunis to the marketplace, museum and ancient Carthage -- pack many activities into one trip. With few exceptions, you are free to walk off the cruise ship and do your own thing. I tip more for all day excursions vs a few hours excursion. Another thing I want to make clear is that the only people privy to our cruise contract are Viking and us as we always book direct, make assumptions if you must, but that doesnt portray you too well. Heading back to the port, she never said anything until we reached the port. Golf clubs are available for rent. Travel Tips The Ultimate Country-by-country Guide to Tipping in Europe Here's how much to tip in Europe, from hotels and restaurants to taxis and tour guides. The Ultimate Country-by-country Guide to Tipping in Europe - Travel Tipping on a shore excursions - Ask a Cruise Question - Cruise Critic Because it's a rainforest, it will probably, well, rain during your visit -- so pack a slicker. Discuss this topic at our Cruise Boards >, Free daily cruise updates to your inbox >, Subscribe for daily cruise news on YouTube >, It's time to check today's cruise deals right here >, Search Suspended for Guest Overboard Carnival Cruise Ship, Celebrity Cruises Guests Notified of Tax Change Due to One Port, Holland America Begins Onboard Credit Offer for Select Passengers, Barbie Embarks on Summer Sailings Aboard Two P&O Ships. Tipping for shore excursions - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums Related: Avoid these mistakes when booking cruise shore excursions. I tip between $5 and $10 on boat excursions depending on length and how much contact between myself and the crew (did they serve me lunch, etc. Pena, located in front of El Capitolio (the capitol building), is a local gem in more ways than one: it's super close to the city and offers a delightful array of seaglass. Tipping land portion Princess Cruise - Cruises Forum This fee ranges anywhere from $12.50 to upward of $20 per person, per day, depending on the cruise line -- usually on the higher end if you're staying in a suite. You'll find information on the best excursions, as well as suggestions for restaurants, beaches and must-see attractions. Looking for grass huts & advice! My question, Parsley Cruises, is why you need to make your point repeatedly, in repeated discussions. 12 Things Not to Do on Cruise Shore Excursions - Cruise Critic Best Beach for a Half-Day Visit: The beaches that run in front of Isla Verde's luxury hotels (about a 20-minute cab ride) are the best for short visits; ask the cabbie to drop you off at the Ritz-Carlton or the El San Juan. What does everyone recommend? Your post is offensive. It's five o'clock somewhere, but you're still swigging back tequila sunrises at the all-inclusive resort while your ship sails off into the sunset. Some countries in this region of the planet simply have no tipping culture. The industry standard for tipping the room steward is $3.50 per person per day, given on the last day of the cruise. I canvassed TPG's cruise team and we agreed that we give roughly $5 to $10 per person for half-day tours and $10 to $20 per person for full-day excursions, adjusted for service and quality. If you plan to book shore excursions through your cruise line, you have a couple of options of how to book them. The Viking website and the cruise documents will tell you the suggested amounts. I just wanted to be sure it isn't covered by Viking. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. How much to tip excursion guides? - Alaska - Cruise Critic Professional freelance writer and published indie author. Got a question about gratuity and tips? A 5 Euro bill comes in handy. But lessso now that credit cards are used. What a total mess. Your Favorite Luau Show and Dinner in Maui? For private tours, say you are spending $80 pp for a full day private tour. A Complete Guide to Tipping in Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands Especially when it is such a ridiculously small amount of money. If the tour takes place over lunchtime, check to see if a meal is included or if you have time to pick up something to eat. Past diners rave about the sangria and the ceviche. Being a tour guide is not an easy job, we look for a service which is not judgemental, not political, not chauvinistic, is informative, entertaining, doesnt completely bore us, and is mindful of the fact that some of the passengers need to get back to the ship, and that the passengers are not necessarily all the same nationality. Baggage handlers work for the port and not the cruise ship, so you should tip $1 to $2 per bag or $4 to $5 per party. 14 Best Shore Excursion Packing Tips | Carnival Cruise Line How Much to Tip Cruise Kids' Club Counselors. So, in addition to your smartphone and digital camera, don't neglect to bring your all-terrain action camera, selfie stick, or a waterproof camera bag. Obviously I haven't done a snorkel (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The Bike and Brew tour might sound great until you realize only adults are able to participate; ditto for a family looking to participate in a day tour, only to discover that kids under the age of 4 can't participate. We just do not reward poor service, and we find brash behaviour distasteful. On our recent VO cruise, we didn't feel the need to tip our guides. ", Related: First-Timers' Guide to Shore Excursions. Be sure to note the fitness level required and don't try to take on more than you're able to do. In most cases, you don't need to book a shore excursion in order to explore a port of call. It means you're out the money in advance and it can be difficult to use onboard credit to cover the cost of excursions booked online. A 3-hour gold panning activity and salmon bake costs $100, while a 2.25-hour tour to take a helicopter ride to the top of the glacier, where you can walk around on the ice for half an hour, costs $360. In the main dining room, buffet, specialty restaurants, and other dining venues, your tip is included in the automatic gratuities. Undoubtedly you'll want to take selfies, snapshots, and videos during your cruise vacation. You may find exactly what you're looking for on our FAQs page. Norwegian Cruise Line P&O Cruises P&O Cruises Australia Princess Cruises Royal Caribbean International Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Ecstasy (Photo: Cruise Critic) Carnival cruise. Do You Need a Passport to Go On a Cruise? Some can accommodate passengers with mobility issues or other disabilities. Can I Still Snorkel Ahihi-Kinau Area Reserve? Most shore tour prep can be done before your cruise. However, I do tip staff directly. For a half-day shore excursion, give the guide $2, or $4 to $5 for a full-day excursion. If people dont have all the relevant facts, they shouldnt comment. You should not assume that the tour guide shares tips with the driver. Enough said. Some take up all your time in port, while others are just a few hours of an all-day visit. 18 helpful votes. For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter. Insider recommends waking up with Morning . Or come from a country where wages are fair and not reliant on tips. Embrace Repositioning Cruises. A shore excursion is a group tour or activity aimed at cruise travelers who can only spend a limited time in each port they're visiting on their itinerary. The tips you put on your ships charge are shared among all crew members. From meeting puffins to swimming with sharks, here are 12 amazing animal experiences and wildlife encounters that are perfect for your next adventure.
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