There have been quite a few discussions around tipping ship crew members, but I don't remember anything recent regarding shore excursion tipping. Regardless of whether you book through the ship or make arrangements on your own - do you tip your tour guide and driver? What prompts you to tip and how do you decide on how much you tip?
noname111
Contributor Level:
Captain
Shore excursions and tipping
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22 Answers
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DVCruise
Contributor Level:
Captain
Yes I tip the guide and driver - they often say something about sharing the tip basket. The amount is dependent upon how good of a job they did on the excursion. Most of them have been excellent!
This is what we have done on the Panama cruise. We have asked the excursion desk what is the recommended protocol. Then we check with security. In countries other than the U.S.A or Canada, I've have become cautious with cash. In Cartegena, we met with our guide before we got on the bus, because of the crowd expected at the Fort and at the entrance of the old city.
In some of the countries the driver and guide only work on tips and pay the companies to work.
Tips from wealthy Canadians and Americans often exceed the daily salary.
But we always tip and make sure it's enough.. always ask the questions.
akaGrandmaJo
Contributor Level:
Cruise Director
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.
glomarrone
Contributor Level:
Admiral
Depending on the length of the trip and how good the guide and driver were, we usually do tip. If they do anything extra like allow us to get of the coach in town or stop to let us take a photo, we tip higher.
Dbldelites
Contributor Level:
Captain
Yes, I end up needing wheelchair assistance unexpectedly and the tour guide and our driver were WONDERFUL and accommodating on our excursion in Cozumel. I was very stressed out, but they took all my worries away and made my day awesome! I was more than happy to tip and give hugs too! 
ToddRohl
Contributor Level:
Staff Captain
Ten bucks. Take it or leave it..
BonMike
Contributor Level:
Captain
Yes, we tip, but I don't like hearing them actually ask or remind us to do so. We tip because we appreciate the service, not because we feel we have to or are expected to.
BDRebel
Contributor Level:
Captain
If the guide is good and friendly, then I will tip extra. If the guide is not, then no tip and a complaint to the cruise line (or wherever I booked the tour). If the guide simply performs minimally, then I figure I already paid the excursion, and the guide didn't provide extra, so neither will I.
OldGreyWolf
Contributor Level:
Cruise Director
We will always tip the driver and the guide on excursions. If they were good we give them an extra tip.
noname111
Contributor Level:
Captain
Originally posted by: BDRebel
If the guide simply performs minimally, then I figure I already paid the excursion, and the guide didn't provide extra, so neither will I.
I agree with you on this. Most of our excursions have been wonderful experiences. One that wasn't so much of one was somewhere in Central America. We were literally left on a pier by our guide. Hubby moves a bit slowly and no one signaled directions where to go from the tour bus to the boat. When we reached the pier, the only people were dock workers. We had no idea where anyone else had gone. We headed back to the bus and waited for everyone else to return. Not a real banner day for excursions. Needless to say, no tippy for that guy.
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