I go on 3-4 trips a year. This year I have been on a Carribbean Cruise; Alaska Cruise, Tour of Central America; Tour of 7 countries in Europe. I'm about to go on another trip to Thailand. All of these trips exept the Carribbean cruise were with escorted tour companies. Tipping is a huge issue.
I feel some folks like to Lord it around that they are well off and have money; tipping people when tips have already been paid. Overtipping just because. Or in the case of a cruise, tipping staff on the first day to guarantee good service. Of course they tell everyone. Makes some else feel like they should have also done the same. When they talk about it; these overtippers are looking for admiration and praise. Bunch of show offs!
I tip when its deserved, at the end of the trip; and generally will adhere to the recommended quideline for tipping.
I do not count travel days to and from the trip as days that deserve a tip. I will tip a bar waiter on a cruise $1 when they bring my drink, even though they made me pay prepaid gratuities for the unlimited beverage package perk.
Cruise companies in particular have guilted everyone to think the staff is living on starvation wages, made even worse if you do not tip according to the amount they tell you to. I call BS. The staff signed up for the cruise employment and they get room and board and a chance to get out of their country. It is the cruiselines that are exploiting them and passengers should not have to make up the difference.
