How Much to Tip on a Liveaboard

[HenrikBP]

To me it's slightly off putting. I've seen a number of business people on this board who I respect "get into it" with other people on the board.

I understand your point - when it gets to the point of "airing dirty laundry" it's never pretty and everyone walks away a little "dirty".

I found Wookie's description pretty funny though. I worked on a cruise ship many moons ago and I certainly "recognize" people I've encountered (cruise ship and diving alike) as well as a few grains of myself in his post

Henrik

 

[Tropicalwolf]

I found Wookie's description pretty funny though.

Oh, I did too, I've seen just the type he described. Making it personal is a different matter. What could have been a future customer is now lost...and word of mouth is a powerful thing.

 

[wrybosome]

People who say they don't tip or don't tip well unless the service is above average are cheap a$$hats who deserve to have their margaritas spat in.

The comparison to the police and FD folks is laughable. They are well compensated, with benefits and pensions. Please get a clue.

 

[EastTNDiver]

I understand your point - when it gets to the point of "airing dirty laundry" it's never pretty and everyone walks away a little "dirty".

I found Wookie's description pretty funny though. I worked on a cruise ship many moons ago and I certainly "recognize" people I've encountered (cruise ship and diving alike) as well as a few grains of myself in his post

Henrik

I think I've seen the types on about every kind of trip I've ever taken at some point or another. That being said, knocking customers...even bad customers...on a public forum is not exactly the best marketing scheme I've ever seen.

As for tipping, I start at 10% as a base to work from. If the crew simply goes thru the motions to get thru the trip, that's what they get. If they're personable, helpful, and make an effort to remember the little things for the divers, they get 15%. If they go out of their way to make it fun and memorable, then I might go a little beyond 15%. If they treat me like crap, I will not hesitate to leave zero tip, and will make sure their employer knows of my displeasure. I have limited vacation time and funds, and I'm not real big on spending either just to be treated poorly.

My son and I took a Blackbeard's trip this past June. Their rate is $899 per diver. The crew was fantastic, and helped make my son's first liveaboard trip very memorable. I gave them $300 for the both of us, which approaches 17%. Not only did they earn a decent tip on that trip, but they earned their employer some repeat business. Oh yeah...they also earned themselves a couple rounds of drinks at Crazy Joe's back at the docks.

 

[Wookie]

Sigh. I really did try to stay out of it as long as I could. I really do know what taking it personal means, and I do apologize to Tropicalwolf for naming him (or her) specifically. I had just returned from a trip where the worst diver, reef crawler, photographer, trip would be ruined if we didn't do a rig dive in 4-5 foot seas, blown HP hose, didn't like the corned beef hash (my favorite breakfast), and made the deck staff jump through their asses because he only had 3200 psi in his Al-80 instead of 3300 like some other divers had. He is an experienced diver, world traveler, takes awesome photos, even if he poses his subjects, and never leaves a tip. It seems that the guy who causes the crew the most work is the worst tipper.

I made a mistake for calling out Tropicalwolf personally, I actually do try very hard never to make it personal. You'd be amazed, however, how many folks ask me to name the world's worst customer. Yes, there is one, and yes, I'll tell the story. We never name names, however.

Tropicalwolf, I again apologize for unfairly assuming that you are that customer. Please chalk it up to a long season with too few days off. Since we are back in the western gulf for a month, the weather has repaired that problem.

Frank

 

[HenrikBP]

Oh, I did too, I've seen just the type he described. Making it personal is a different matter.

You are correct.

It seems that the guy who causes the crew the most work is the worst tipper.

Yep. It's the guy that tips you $5 on the first day and then continue to think he "owns" you the rest of the trip. Only to leave you *nothing* at the end of the trip. May he be stricken with eternal anal itch and arms eternally too short to reach

Edit: his arms are likely already short, given he can't seem to reach his pockets for tips

Henrik

 

[wrybosome]

May he be stricken with eternal anal itch and arms eternally too short to reach

Henrik

Traditional Danish curse?

 

[HenrikBP]

Traditional Danish curse?

Indeed - and a pretty severe one if you think about it ...

Henrik

 

[wrybosome]

Indeed - and a pretty severe one if you think about it ...

Henrik

Worse than Have roterende fis i kasketten .

 

[HenrikBP]

Worse than Have roterende fis i kasketten .

Very nice! I'm impressed. Well, "roterende fis i kasketten" is more of a "state of mind" . You could consider it a curse as in "curse word"

Sorry 'bout the thread drift - back to tipping.

Henrik