Shore excursions and tipping

I always tip and we have to have excursions at each stop.

Yes, we always tip. Most of the time leave it up to the guide and driver to divvy it up, but if I have doubts about the guide sharing, I do so myself. Always tipped so far that is, but one time in Scotland I shouldn’t have because the guy was an arrogant ass, but then he did okay with the narrative.

However, if I were in the shoes of Cruising CM during that episode she previously described or even more so during Keywest 1's situation. I would have not only not tipped but voiced my displeasure with all concerned in the Keywest 1 scenario, with particular attention aimed at those who stole the old folk’s seats up front; by doing so they violated an unwritten civil decorum rule that I have only once witnessed before on a coach, and that was in 1997: “We have only not tipped on one excursion. The guide and driver allowed extra passengers to return from a beach (for a fee, of course). The extras were allowed to board first and took seats that some older folks had been sitting in all day (in front of bus with easy access). We were crowded and irritated, and I probably shouldn't have held the entire tip, but I did.”

What I can't stand, are the shuttle drivers from either the hotel or airport. They go through the their " welcome to Miami " schtick, and you know it's coming.........wait for it........" And please feel free to tip your driver........" Aaaaaaaaaaaghhhhhhhhhhh. You are paid to drive me 15 min to the pier. Why does that warrant a tip ?

The lady behind me did tell him that she would not offend him with American money. This of course added to my laugh.

I pay as much attention to those signs as I do to tip jars at fast food places -- I ignore them.

If it is a free shuttle, I will usually tip the driver. If I receive above average service from someone I will tip them. If they only do the bare minimum of their job, I will not tip. If they are insulting, I will tip them 2 pennies (my 2 cents).

Also, if they have their hand out begging, or mention it incessantly, their tip will be lower.

Wow .. just wow. Normally a no tip sends a message but in this case I think I might have stooped to the insult level of giving him a penny tip (since his hand was out) .

It does depend on the service, but about 99% of the excursions i've been on, they always have some sort of promotion for tips (verbal or signage). Even the shuttles to the port have some schpeal.

Holy crapoly. I'm not sure I could have kept my mouth shut.

The only time I did not tip a tour guide was 2002 in Belgium. Our first cruise since 911, everyone on the excursion was American. For three hours he explained to us the reason the Americans were targeted and why we were such terrible people. We all took it with a grain of salt for the most part. I laughed when we were departing he held his hand out for a tip. No one tipped this man. The rest of our time in Belgium was fantastic.

Me, too!