Shore excursions and tipping

[Gamom3]

How much do you usually tip on top of the price paid for excursions? I am guessing that most of the excursion workers are working mainly for tips. Do you do a certain percentage based on total cost of excursion or maybe a certain amount per person that you interact with ( like tour guides etc). Sorry if it seems like a stupid question but I want to make sure I am tipping enough!,

[Cruising4]

It depends on what services were performed and if we were happy with the services received.

 

For example, we did the Twister boat on Cozumel; they guys who drove the boat were a blast. I think I gave them $20 for 4 of us. On the same excursion, we were "reminded" to leave a tip for the waitstaff, I felt it was a shakedown but I left a few dollars anyway.

 

We had a great private tours on Dominica and Roatan, I mean GREAT. They were both all day tours, I recall tipping $100. There were also 4 of us.

 

A half day stingray tour, I think we left $20. Half day spearfishing - $50.

 

When diving, the tip ranges from 10-20% of the cost of the dive.

 

Been in a taxi bus that was full, only to have the driver squish in a lot more people. Left nothing.

 

Hope this helps.

[evandbob]

How much do you usually tip on top of the price paid for excursions? I am guessing that most of the excursion workers are working mainly for tips. Do you do a certain percentage based on total cost of excursion or maybe a certain amount per person that you interact with ( like tour guides etc). Sorry if it seems like a stupid question but I want to make sure I am tipping enough!,

 

10 or 15% of the excursion cost for a tour guide if I am happy with their help. So for 2 people doing a $100 excursion each, that's 20 or 30 bucks for a job well done. Maybe $5 or 10 for an all day driver if on a large bus.

Edited December 11, 2014 by evandbob

[elainmir]

I've seen thread after thread of people who left things onboard only to have the ship say sorry we didn't see it..didn't find it..etc.. At least the OP is trying to find out who it belongs to.

[cb at sea]

The excursion folks get PAID...they are NOT working for tips! However, if you feel you got more than you paid for, give them a little something...Se do about $5-10 pp, if we feel our experience was enhanced by the guide.

 

If your "guide" is simply transportation, no tip is needed. No tip is EVER REQUIRED......it's up to you.

 

There are no "tipping guidelines" for excursions. It's up to the value you perceive . These folks DO get paid....tips are but an "extra" bit.

[Scrapnana]

I base mine on the quality of the guide. We had a very rude guide in New York who only became friendly on the bus ride back to the pier when he started talking about how we could thank him for the tour through a gratuity. We looked at each other like "Really????". Very, very few people gave him anything. On other excursions I've given the guide 20% of the cost of the tour because of great service.

[Keith1010]

There are so many factors that come into play.

 

I consider if this is a ships tour or a private tour.

 

Depends where we are sailing. There are places where tips are not necessary so if we tip we adjust accordingly.

 

I consider the quality of the tour guide, and whether or not the tour guide is the owner of the business.

 

Do what you think makes sense. Don't worry about what others do.

 

Keith

[kteachcruiser52]

On a ship excursion where there are a large amount of people, we usually tip the driver and the guide 10% each.. On the smaller private tours where the driver is also the guide, we tip 15%-20%.

[DJSchib]

It depends on what services were performed and if we were happy with the services received.

 

 

 

For example, we did the Twister boat on Cozumel; they guys who drove the boat were a blast. I think I gave them $20 for 4 of us. On the same excursion, we were "reminded" to leave a tip for the waitstaff, I felt it was a shakedown but I left a few dollars anyway.

 

 

 

We had a great private tours on Dominica and Roatan, I mean GREAT. They were both all day tours, I recall tipping $100. There were also 4 of us.

 

 

 

A half day stingray tour, I think we left $20. Half day spearfishing - $50.

 

 

 

When diving, the tip ranges from 10-20% of the cost of the dive.

 

 

 

Been in a taxi bus that was full, only to have the driver squish in a lot more people. Left nothing.

 

 

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

Would you mind telling me about your excursion on Dominica.? One port we have not booked anything

 

Thanks !

 

 

 

 

 

Debbie

 

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[DivaMimi]

It depends on what services were performed and if we were happy with the services received.

 

For example, we did the Twister boat on Cozumel; they guys who drove the boat were a blast. I think I gave them $20 for 4 of us. On the same excursion, we were "reminded" to leave a tip for the waitstaff, I felt it was a shakedown but I left a few dollars anyway.

 

We had a great private tours on Dominica and Roatan, I mean GREAT. They were both all day tours, I recall tipping $100. There were also 4 of us.

 

A half day stingray tour, I think we left $20. Half day spearfishing - $50.

 

When diving, the tip ranges from 10-20% of the cost of the dive.

 

Been in a taxi bus that was full, only to have the driver squish in a lot more people. Left nothing.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

 

I would love to hear about excursions in Dominica

 

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