Tipping on Shore Excursions

[floridatoucan]

i am having a hard time realizing that I really won't need to tip the staff on the cruise....but now probably a dumb question as to gratuities on the shore excursions. We have booked our shore excursions through RSSC and I would guess that those operators should be tipped as they are not RSSC employees. Is that correct? Does anyone tip on board for exceptional service?
Thanks! Less than a week to go!

[Iamboatman]

Tipping for the shore excursions is very appropriate.

As far as tipping for exceptional service, the "appropriate" thing to do is make a contribution to the crew welfare fund with a note of appreciation mentioning the person(s) of note. (That makes a big impression and assist for them.) Some people, however, tip the individual privately. The world will not end if you do one or the other, but individual tipping is counter to the concept of a "no tipping policy"; a subject which has been beaten to death.

[RuthlessBoss]

We always tip at the end of an excursion that we booked ourselves at port. It amazes me how many don't and just walk away. Being a good tour guide is not easy.

[piri]

Yes. As a foreigner, I just can't understand why my dear American friends have this obsession with tipping. I realise wages for service personnel in the U.S. are low and therefore need to be boosted to a meagre level by tips. This is not the case in a number of countries however where employees are paid a fair salary.
Today while browsing in a book store I spotted a title "Nickel and dimed", by Barbara Ehrenreich. I bought this in the hope it will help me understand why Americans feel the need to tip for everything thats done for them in most places they visit.
If Regent says tips are included surely thats what it means. It doesn't mean they are included only for basic, bare essential service and to get GOOD service one must surreptitiously hand over a $50 bill first. Is it naive to believe that Regent pays fair wages and its personnel takes pride in the service they offer rather than only performing well if tipped in advance.
On the other hand staff commendation and a donation to a staff fund at the cruise end sounds a nice idea.
Forgive my rambles. Cheers.

[Island Cruiser]

We do not tip on Regent ships (except for the Spa) because we wish to preserve the no tipping policy. Regent pays their personnel more to compensate for the absence of tipping and the company passes that cost on to us in for form of higher fares. But we do tip on shore excursions when tipping is warranted and that is most of the time.

[SnoBirdCruiser]

We tend to give a small thank you to certain crew members who went out of their way in making our cruise "perfect"We also will send a note to captain voting for them. At the end we will leave money at the reception for crew parties. After all a happy crew makes for a happy cruise.:) Pat and Ray

[SnoBirdCruiser]

OOOOOOOPS,forgot, we also tip our tour guide and a small token one to driver .However if the guide was the pits,so will the gratuity.

[marylizbeth]

As for tipping tour guides I would say yes, especially if they don't work for Regent. I usually get a sense of what is appropriate.

And I must admit I usually do tip the stewardess for our room especially if she has gone out of our way for us. I also usually wind up leaving her our bottles of liquor since we don't drink and aren't about to cart them home.

[JMARINER]

As for tipping tour guides I would say yes, especially if they don't work for Regent. I usually get a sense of what is appropriate.

And I must admit I usually do tip the stewardess for our room especially if she has gone out of our way for us. I also usually wind up leaving her our bottles of liquor since we don't drink and aren't about to cart them home.

FWIW, The cabin/suite stewardess are not allowed to take any of the liquor. It can and will get them fired if they take it. They may say thank-you and be appreciative of the your gesture, but after you leave all the open bottles go in the trash and unopened bottle go back to F&B.

And as others have said already, they are paid much better than other cruise lines, but cash is king and a thank you note with $$ is alway appreciated and will get you a lot of goodwill payback the next time you are on a ship with that stewardess. Even if she is working two decks away and on the other end of the ship she will let you current stewardess know the take "special care" of you.

It is not the money aspect so much that they remember, it is that you took the time to recognize and appreciate them personally that matters. It is surprising how small a company Regent is, I have had personnel from one ship email another ship to "take care of me" when they learned I was going to be on a future voyage. Just one of the many reason I am a RSSC fan.

J

[OrpingtonT]

but cash is king and a thank you note with $$ is alway appreciated and will get you a lot of goodwill payback the next time you are on a ship with that stewardess. Even if she is working two decks away and on the other end of the ship she will let you current stewardess know the take "special care" of you.

I have had personnel from one ship email another ship to "take care of me" when they learned I was going to be on a future voyage. Just one of the many reason I am a RSSC fan.

J

What puzzles me in this expectation of "special care" is what extras does a "tipper" get?

In what way does a person who gives tips benefit over those who accept what Regent say, that is that gratuities are not expected but you may, if you wish, contribute to a staff fund at reception.

Perhaps the non-tippers are thus some sort of inferior guests or will be regarded as such.

[Iamboatman]

Aside from the obvious suggestion of there being two tiers of guests (or is that staff), the concept is that it is NORMAL for the staff to be going above and beyond. To claim that level of service is exceptional and worthy of extra is, in a way, to say that the remainder of the staff are underperforming. That is probably incorrect and unfair.

[sho]

As tipping is already included on Regent's cruise fare, I only tip those whom I find most helpful. I do not expect any special care from them, but merely an expression of my appreciation for their service and kindness. I also understand that the staff work long hours on these boats and get paid peanuts by the cruise companies.

I did tip the stewardness on my last cruise who was most pleasant and hard working. It's difficult to tip in the restaurants as it's free-seating and you get served by different waiters each time.

For excusions, I tipped the local guides but the amount depended on their service, on average $5 per person for half-day excursion. Despite what we paid the cruise company for the excursions, I didn't think much of that got into the pocket of these guides.

However some guides spent more time in shops than sightseeing, knowing very well that they would get a good commission. I'd scream if I were taken to another carpet factory (when I visited Turkey, Egpyt, Tunisia and Morocco)!

[blackbird71]

I normally plan on $10 per tour for myself. $5 for the tour guide and $5 for the driver if there is a separate driver. I also bring money for tips at lunch, if the tour includes a meal.

[sassycruiseher]

Does everyone tip for spa services? The last time I tried to add something on to my spa bill on Silversea the young lady who had done my massage told me that is wasn't necessary as all tips were included in the fare.

[Gail C]

I think it depends on the spa person. I had what I thought was a less than "tipable" facial on the Silver Shadow. I would normally tip well and decided not to this time. I was not happy with the service. She stood around forever waiting while I dressed making me more uncomforable and determined.

[CruiserPK]

This thread has digressed to tipping on all inclusive cruises. However, the original poster asked about tipping for excursions. Yes, a tip for an excursion is certainly appropriate, but only if you are willing to tip in the local currency. I have seen people hand a one dollar bill to a guide in France. Would an American guide be happy if they were given a euro for a tip? I doubt it unless they had a trip to Europe planned.
Cheers, Pam

[OrpingtonT]

but only if you are willing to tip in the local currency. I have seen people hand a one dollar bill to a guide in France. Would an American guide be happy if they were given a euro for a tip? I doubt it unless they had a trip to Europe planned.
Cheers, Pam

No. Don't worry about giving your tips in dollars in Europe. That currency is quite acceptable and can be changed easily. However, I suppose banks in the US (especially out of the BIG cities) wouldn't know a Euro if it stood up and bit them!