Question on Tipping for Baltic Excursions

[rochmom4]

We are traveling in July for the 12 night Northern Europe/Baltic cruise and are trying to budget for the tips on port excursions. We were wondering if there is any standard amount for tipping if we have good service on our port excursions. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

No there isn't a standard amount its down to you on the service you feel provided, I would say tour guides in Russia should be considered for a tip and maybe the driver,

Tipping is a bit less common than the USA but still is a custom if you were eating then 10% would be a standard.

We did a private tour for two days in St Petersburg in 2010 with DCL and I tipped our guide who was with us about 12 hours first day and about 8 hours on the second, I also tipped our driver. the amounts were about 10% of the cost of my private tours, plus we took our guide to lunch in the Peterhoff, that actually cost nearly nothing it is very cheap.

Tip if you can in Euros, in Russia you can tip Rubles or Euros or $, in Tallinn and Helsinki Euros, Copenhagen Kroner or Euros and Sweden Swedish kroner or Euros, if you visit Germany its Euros, and UK pounds but we do not tip a lot here.

If you are going on DCL tours then if its say 55 on a coach a small amount pp is ok, there isn't a set amount but if as said the tour guide is very good something is appreciated.

We have private tours in each port as i think that will be better than DCL and will tip about 10% in each and something for the driver if we have one.

 

[rochmom4]

Thanks for your help

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Thanks for your help

Sorry I couldn't be more exact but unlike the USA tipping culture in Europe is a lot looser, and unclear, now tourist places do now see the opportunity of tipping and so we have had guides on buses openly say that tipping is appreciated and whilst a coach has two doors, two exits on the last disembarkation of the trip to the ship the front exit is the only one with the guide and driver there.

Now if you get a good guide giving you good detail in the Hermitage, then yes tip, if they just drive you to a place like Tivoli in Copenhagen then I wouldn't bother. A walking guide yes but if there is a large group then not a lot, say for a family E5.

I am having private tours in each port each day I aim to tip 10%.