Who, What, When, How of Tipping on DCL



SO I am confused about excursion tipping. We are doing a non- DCL one that will be 740 for us (5 adults, 1 child, 1 infant) and 15% of that is over $100! Or do I give say $5-10 per person (its the train and bus white pass tour -- no dog sledding). The other is only 4 of us for 340 but I am thinking will have more involvement from staff (dog sledding).

I've been researching it again, and this is about the most thorough suggestion I've found (from http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=132)
Shore Excursions
Tour operators in port are usually independent of the cruise line. For a half-day shore excursion, give the guide $2, or $4 to $5 for a full-day excursion -- consider giving a bit more if there was especially personalized service. And don't forget the driver -- give drivers $1 for half-day excursions, $2 for full-day ones.

This looks like per person. For your group that seems like $10-$15 for a half day tour guide and $20-$35 for a full day tour guide. For the driver, $5-$10.

Anyone with an opinion? :)
 
Well I must say you Americans are great tippers, and when I go on holiday I would struggle to tip anything to what a lot of Americans do

I'v worked in the Hilton in glasgow Scotland in food and beverage and some nights I would get nothing. As where in USA it is expected. I wish my job was like that

But fair play to u all. It's nice to be nice
From what I understood when I traveled in Europe, waitstaff and hotel workers are paid a little more decently than Americans in the same positions. I've worked as a waitress and on the West Coast, we got paid minimum wage (about $6 per hour at the time) and we were taxed not only on the amount we made for that wage, but on an assumed 8% tip on every hour we worked. Most weeks my paycheck was just enough to cover my gas for the week, once my taxes were deducted. Where I live now, waitresses are paid a "tipped workers minimum wage" which is $2.75 per hour. They don't tax on an assumed amount of tips, but you're still expected to declare them so you can be taxed accordingly. So essentially, Americans tip well (comparatively) because the tipped worker is basically really only making whatever you tip them. It is a shame that the tipped workers on a cruise ship aren't paid better, but if they were, your cruise fare would be higher. It is expected that you tip the amounts suggested here (unless your service is extremely poor) because they work far harder than the base wage they are paid. We don't tip well to be nice. We tip well because to not do so would be to screw the people working so hard to make our vacation nice out of a decent wage.
Just trying to help you out so you don't inadvertently insult a tipped worker if you travel in America or on an American owned cruise line. Hopefully this doesn't sound rude.
 
From what I understood when I traveled in Europe, waitstaff and hotel workers are paid a little more decently than Americans in the same positions. I've worked as a waitress and on the West Coast, we got paid minimum wage (about $6 per hour at the time) and we were taxed not only on the amount we made for that wage, but on an assumed 8% tip on every hour we worked. Most weeks my paycheck was just enough to cover my gas for the week, once my taxes were deducted. Where I live now, waitresses are paid a "tipped workers minimum wage" which is $2.75 per hour. They don't tax on an assumed amount of tips, but you're still expected to declare them so you can be taxed accordingly. So essentially, Americans tip well (comparatively) because the tipped worker is basically really only making whatever you tip them. It is a shame that the tipped workers on a cruise ship aren't paid better, but if they were, your cruise fare would be higher. It is expected that you tip the amounts suggested here (unless your service is extremely poor) because they work far harder than the base wage they are paid. We don't tip well to be nice. We tip well because to not do so would be to screw the people working so hard to make our vacation nice out of a decent wage.
Just trying to help you out so you don't inadvertently insult a tipped worker if you travel in America or on an American owned cruise line. Hopefully this doesn't sound rude.


No it doesn't, and if that's the case well I have learnt something new

As I must be honest I thought wages would be ok ish and I always thought that all the tips people get, they must rolling in it lol

I feel from what u said if we don't tip then it will screw people up, but companies should be giving staff enough to work on with out making guests needing to pay there wages basically

I remember once in America I never tipped as the service was very slow and poor. And when I never tipped she got a bit nasty about it

That's the only thing that gets to me a bit, a tip here is normally given when a service has gone that extra mile, as where when I have been in America, it's just expected regardless

God the amount I spent on tips on my cruise and park stay in Feb I would of had enough to of done a break away to Spain or something lol
 


Just to clarify for how I put this on page 1: is there no auto-gratuity but it's okay to tip or will they not accept tips (as in the children's clubs)?
There is no tipping. No line for it on the slip and no note about it being included.
 
No it doesn't, and if that's the case well I have learnt something new

As I must be honest I thought wages would be ok ish and I always thought that all the tips people get, they must rolling in it lol

I feel from what u said if we don't tip then it will screw people up, but companies should be giving staff enough to work on with out making guests needing to pay there wages basically

I remember once in America I never tipped as the service was very slow and poor. And when I never tipped she got a bit nasty about it

That's the only thing that gets to me a bit, a tip here is normally given when a service has gone that extra mile, as where when I have been in America, it's just expected regardless

God the amount I spent on tips on my cruise and park stay in Feb I would of had enough to of done a break away to Spain or something lol
I completely understand your frustration. Because I know tipped workers rely on their tips, I usually tip decently regardless. However, there have definitely been times when I have been so disgusted by the lack of service that I have not tipped. It's an acknowledged and customary part of any service that is tipped here...but it's not required, so if the service really sucks, it is okay to let them know with your wallet.
For what it's worth, I don't know a single tipped worker here who wouldn't prefer to be paid a decent wage, and just be tipped for excellent service. For whatever reason, that's just the way it's done here. But I definitely understand your frustration.
 
I completely understand your frustration. Because I know tipped workers rely on their tips, I usually tip decently regardless. However, there have definitely been times when I have been so disgusted by the lack of service that I have not tipped. It's an acknowledged and customary part of any service that is tipped here...but it's not required, so if the service really sucks, it is okay to let them know with your wallet.
For what it's worth, I don't know a single tipped worker here who wouldn't prefer to be paid a decent wage, and just be tipped for excellent service. For whatever reason, that's just the way it's done here. But I definitely understand your frustration.

My only issue with stiffing the server is the problem is not always their fault. Sometimes the kitchen screws things up and the server is the one who figures it out and makes it right before it even gets to your table. And sometimes that makes it take longer. A friend and I were out to eat one time and the food seemed to be taking forever. My friend got impatient and asked for the manager. Well, we found out that the kitchen had completely messed up my friend's order and our server caught it but that meant the entire plate had to be remade (it was an allergy issue). In that case, the delay was due to the server but was NOT her fault - it was the fault of the kitchen who ignored the special notes (we saw a printout of everything that was sent to the kitchen and the allergy was CLEARLY noted and highlighted, so we know the server did her part). Had the manager not been summoned, we would never have known and assumed that the server messed up somehow.

Obviously sometimes it is the server's fault. If the server is obviously avoiding your table in favor of another, there's a problem. But...

Before I ever left no tip, I'd ask for the manager and speak with him/her about the problems I was having so that there is a chance for them to make it right. They won't know if no one tells them - a lack of tip does not automatically signal an issue with service...sometimes they just assume the person was cheap or doesn't get the tipping culture.

Similarly on a ship, PLEASE give the crew member a chance to make it right. Talk to the head server or dining room manager if it's food-related. Talk with Guest Services who will likely put you in touch with (or at least get them on the problem) the deck manager for your stateroom if it's a stateroom host issue. The crew does NOT want you to be unhappy, but they can't fix what they don't know is wrong.

As an aside - if you preemptively remove the gratuities, be prepared for your servers and your stateroom host to ask what they can do to improve your service. They DO get a list of who has removed tips - or at least their supervisors do, and they are then instructed to find out what the problem is and fix it.
 
I am rather high maintenance and I will complain if things aren't the way I want them. But we always tip anyway. Sometimes they will offer to remake something, if necessary. I say something because if I don't, they won't know something was wrong. What good is it to smile and say it's fine and then write a nasty review on a website?

It would have to be a colossal f-up to not leave a tip. That's just rude.
 
There is no tipping. No line for it on the slip and no note about it being included.

Thank you, TestingH20 :) I really would not have expected that.

Going back to the excursions: do y'all tip differently based on your party size, or do you tend to tip a fixed amount per excursion? Or perhaps by some different measure?
 
Thank you, TestingH20 :) I really would not have expected that.

Going back to the excursions: do y'all tip differently based on your party size, or do you tend to tip a fixed amount per excursion? Or perhaps by some different measure?
Tips for excursions vary. Depends on what the excursion involves and how many people are involved with getting it done.

For a 1/2 day (bus) escorted tour we typically tips $5.00 each (2 of us) to the driver/guide. Full day excursion could be $10.00. But, if the guide was responsible for the group getting from A to B during the off the bus portion and keeping track of all aspects of getting the group from A to B, the tip would be more.

If the bus is only a transportation from the ship to a location for us to do something on our own, the driver usually doesn't get a tip. Unless he/she did something besides drive the bus.

Airplane/helicopter excursions, or kayaking, snorkeling = more tips based on who did what (and how much)
 
Tips for excursions vary. Depends on what the excursion involves and how many people are involved with getting it done.

For a 1/2 day (bus) escorted tour we typically tips $5.00 each (2 of us) to the driver/guide. Full day excursion could be $10.00. But, if the guide was responsible for the group getting from A to B during the off the bus portion and keeping track of all aspects of getting the group from A to B, the tip would be more.

If the bus is only a transportation from the ship to a location for us to do something on our own, the driver usually doesn't get a tip. Unless he/she did something besides drive the bus.

Airplane/helicopter excursions, or kayaking, snorkeling = more tips based on who did what (and how much)

Would you multiple those amounts for a larger group? I'm curious how groups of 4, 6 or more handle the same situations.
 
Would you multiple those amounts for a larger group? I'm curious how groups of 4, 6 or more handle the same situations.
Maybe. Depends on what, if any, services the guide and/or driver supplied. And how well they did the job.

We didn't tip on one excursion once in Puerto Vallarta. The guide barely spoke English (or had the worst accent and not understandable English), and basically sat, face forward in her seat on the bus, reading from a pre-printed script in a low, monotone voice. Didn't entertain questions, and really didn't know what to do at the various stops we made.
 
Maybe. Depends on what, if any, services the guide and/or driver supplied. And how well they did the job.

We didn't tip on one excursion once in Puerto Vallarta. The guide barely spoke English (or had the worst accent and not understandable English), and basically sat, face forward in her seat on the bus, reading from a pre-printed script in a low, monotone voice. Didn't entertain questions, and really didn't know what to do at the various stops we made.

On the one hand, I wish there was a simple formula one could use to know the "right" amount to tip for an excursion. On the *other hand, I am less likely to look stingy/ out of the norm if no one else has a set amount to tip, either. :D
 
On the one hand, I wish there was a simple formula one could use to know the "right" amount to tip for an excursion. On the *other hand, I am less likely to look stingy/ out of the norm if no one else has a set amount to tip, either. :D
My personal opinion - tip are personal. If you feel like a service is worth an extra cost, do so. If not, don't. Tips are really a personal choice. I don't think they should be expected, or determined by others what they should be.

What I deem to be worth a $20 tip, may be worth $50 to someone else, and that's fine.
 
Thanks for the tips on tipping for excursions! Very helpful. I guess since there are several of us we will just multiply...Definitely less than 15%! (cant seem to find where I read that before!).
 
Thanks for the tips on tipping for excursions! Very helpful. I guess since there are several of us we will just multiply...Definitely less than 15%! (cant seem to find where I read that before!).
I think some people recommend a percentage of the excursion cost as the tip amount. Others have a flat amount. And others just tip as they see fit (or not).
 
My only issue with stiffing the server is the problem is not always their fault. Sometimes the kitchen screws things up and the server is the one who figures it out and makes it right before it even gets to your table. And sometimes that makes it take longer. A friend and I were out to eat one time and the food seemed to be taking forever. My friend got impatient and asked for the manager. Well, we found out that the kitchen had completely messed up my friend's order and our server caught it but that meant the entire plate had to be remade (it was an allergy issue). In that case, the delay was due to the server but was NOT her fault - it was the fault of the kitchen who ignored the special notes (we saw a printout of everything that was sent to the kitchen and the allergy was CLEARLY noted and highlighted, so we know the server did her part). Had the manager not been summoned, we would never have known and assumed that the server messed up somehow.

Obviously sometimes it is the server's fault. If the server is obviously avoiding your table in favor of another, there's a problem. But...

Before I ever left no tip, I'd ask for the manager and speak with him/her about the problems I was having so that there is a chance for them to make it right. They won't know if no one tells them - a lack of tip does not automatically signal an issue with service...sometimes they just assume the person was cheap or doesn't get the tipping culture.

Similarly on a ship, PLEASE give the crew member a chance to make it right. Talk to the head server or dining room manager if it's food-related. Talk with Guest Services who will likely put you in touch with (or at least get them on the problem) the deck manager for your stateroom if it's a stateroom host issue. The crew does NOT want you to be unhappy, but they can't fix what they don't know is wrong.

As an aside - if you preemptively remove the gratuities, be prepared for your servers and your stateroom host to ask what they can do to improve your service. They DO get a list of who has removed tips - or at least their supervisors do, and they are then instructed to find out what the problem is and fix it.
To be clear, I've never not tipped a cruise worker...because I haven't taken my first cruise yet. I'm talking about in normal restaurants. And I never don't tip due to slow service. I usually don't even withhold a tip for sloppy service, especially if it is our first time at a restaurant, because I figure that everyone deserves a second chance and maybe they will be better when they realize how well we tip. If there is a problem with the food or the speed of the service, we may speak to a manager to let them know. But if a server is repeatedly rude and treats us like we are a huge inconvenience AND is slow on top of that, I won't tip. Even I have my limits.
 

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