Cairns Live aboard gratuity?

[DEW]

Will go on my first live aboard in Australia shortly. How much should I put down as crew gratuity?

Cheers

 

[aussie_shark_bait]

We don't tip in Australia...seriously

Cheers
Aussie_Shark_Bait

 

[almitywife]

i agree!!!

but, i will say FairyBasslet was on the Nimrod before chrissy and they actually had tips on the price board

i would have ripped the dammed thing off the wall

 

[aussie_shark_bait]

I went on Nimrod after New Years and I did rub the tip cr*p off the board... it isn't Australian at all. And it was tacky.

Aussie_Shark_Bait
Edited becasue i can't spell

 

[Doubles]

We have made 3 7-day trips on the Spirit of Freedom over the past 5 years. The first 2 trips the cruise director mentioned tips one time towards the end of each trip, and strongly stated that tips were not expected but appreciated. Knowing that tipping isn't done down under I felt that it was a well worded tip discussion. No tip jar either

Now last Nov on my last trip - the new cruise director mentioned tips a lot, they had the jar out and it was never mentioned as being optional.

I sent a complaint letter to the owners about that and a few other things that happened on our trip

Instead of tipping I usually buy the crew a few rounds of adult beverages the last night, and some soda's for the skipper and 1st mate.

Cheers

Steve

 

[DiveNerd]

I have to say that it looks like tipping is getting more popular. The discussion on our liveaboard last month went like this:

"Some of you may have heard that in Australia we don't like tips. But that is not the case, and I assure you that the crew would greatly appreciate it!"

So we plunket down $100 US for 4 day liveaboard. Pretty standard in US & Carib for us to tip about $20US per boat trip...

Sorry, folks... it's happening to you Aussies TOO!!!!

 

[aMc10]

I was on the Nimrod between Christmas and New Year but i don't remember seeing anything on the board about tips.

They did bring the tip jar out at the end though, and most people (if not all) put something in. (it was mostly yanks on board though.)

 

[periwinkle888]

This trips are really expensive. Don't see the need to tip.

 

[almitywife]

This trips are really expensive. Don't see the need to tip.

EXACTLY!!!!

someone is charging like a wounded bull for those trips and if the money isnt being filtered down to the crew - then in this country there are guaranteed wage levels and they are not low so someone is pocketing the money.

YOU have paid enough for your trip that should guarantee good service and facilities without the need to bribe anyone to do their job with a smile!

if a dive crew is prepared to get free board, food , training and diving in exchange for working/diving then that is their choice and they are not being hard done by

tips are happening here in the tourist industry because the US people are so trained to hand over the money and the QLD operations are now playing it up

im embarrassed for my country when i see/hear about this happening

 

[Doubles]

tips are happening here in the tourist industry because the US people are so trained to hand over the money and the QLD operations are now playing it up

Well I have to admit that during our first trip to Oz and NZ we felt the need to tip, but that need to tip went away after so many Aussie's and Kiwi's suggested it might be hazardous to our holiday if we kept tipping

We haven't tipped since and really wish that though process would work its way north of the equator

Cheers

Steve