Tipping on excursions

[wendyp247]

I have taken many crusies but my next trip will be the first where I take a RCL excursion during our Panama Canal trip. What are the tipping policies when taking a ship's excursion ? Is the tip included in the price of the excursion?

[banderboo]

The excursions that I have been on through RCCL did not include a tip nor have I felt obligated to tip tour guides unless they provided superiour service beyond just driving the bus, etc.

[cb at sea]

Unless the tour director does something totally out of the ordinary that's not included in the excursion, I wouldn't tip at all! This is an RCI excursion--haven't you paid enough for this?

[FunCruiser56]

We have been on lots of tours both booked through the cruise line and on our own. We have always felt that a tip was expected. It is hard to miss the sign that says 'tips are appreciated'. Some drivers/guides even go out of their way to mention it. At any rate we do tip, it seems to us that most of our fellow tour members tip also. Most of the islands we visit the yearly wage is quite small so I think that a few extra dollars means alot.

 

Bev

[Sheffie]

We always tip, no matter if it is a private excursion or a ship's excursion. The operators on the ship's excursions make less than those who do the independent excursions, and I think they should probably be tipped MORE often than you would an indepent operator. That being said, we usually tip about 10% for either type. We just consider it part of the price, just like when we go out to dinner and tip the waiter.

[michigan tim]

We always tip, no matter if it is a private excursion or a ship's excursion. The operators on the ship's excursions make less than those who do the independent excursions, and I think they should probably be tipped MORE often than you would an indepent operator. That being said, we usually tip about 10% for either type. We just consider it part of the price, just like when we go out to dinner and tip the waiter.

 

Yep!

[boaterette]

We usually budget $5 per person per tour for the tip.

[BobBeaSea]

Yup! We tip on excursions. Whether it's an excursion purchased by the cruise line and resold to passengers doesn't matter....it's the same excursion that can be bought by anyone, on or off the ship.

[lindajeff]

Unless the tour director does something totally out of the ordinary that's not included in the excursion, I wouldn't tip at all! This is an RCI excursion--haven't you paid enough for this?

 

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but just because you book the excursion through RCI, it doesn't mean that they are actually making a very big profit/commission on the transaction. I've got to believe that all/most of the money is going to the actual tour operator, and of that only a small portion to the driver/guide. We generally have tipped about $5/pp for "short" tours, whether on a cruise or land-based vacation. I suppose were we to do an all-day tour or if the guide did something extraordinary, we'd bump it up.

[Magic Man]

Always leave a tip, usually $5.00. If they provide excellent service, I will tip more.

[KillaFee]

We always tip a few bucks if it's a tour through Royal Caribbean and the guide has a great personality, which they more often than not, do. If it's a more personal tour w/just the two of us we'll tip more.

Laura