Do we treat our guide to lunch?

[Afloat]

We have arranged for several privately guided tours for our upcoming Mediterranean cruise. Do we ask our guide to join us for lunch and if so do we treat them to lunch? What is the proper etiquette?

 

The tours are not inexpensive but we would like to do the proper thing.

 

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[oshmom]

We did a Med cruise last year and did four tours. We asked two of the four guides to join us. In all cases it worked out very naturally. We had a wonderful time hosting the two guides and did not feel awkward about not inviting the other two.

 

I would play it by ear and see how you are feeling at the time.

 

Enjoy!

[CruiserBruce]

We have always offered. Some have accepted, some have declined. Never was a problem either way.

[LondonTowner]

No, not at all. The guides like to have some time away from their clients, no matter how nice they are, but the guide and driver never pay in the restaurants that they take you. They are given their meals free by the restaurant.

[euro cruiser]

If you'd like to eat with them you offer and let them choose, but there's certainly no expectation that you will make the offer.

[Afloat]

Thank you everyone for your prompt and helpful replies.