Tipping Guideline For Galapagos Liveaboards?

[loosenit2]

I lived in Switzerland for 2 years, where most workers are paid a living wage. A simple salad, pizza, bottle of wine dinner could easily cost $100 or more. The service was very good.

I am also in favor of paying people a living wage, but I am also aware of the fact that I would pay for it. We did not go out to eat frequently.

Is it your assertion that the cost of the meal in Switzerland was a direct result of the “living wage” vs tipping model of paying servers? I would challenge that assertion. I lived in and traveled through Germany, France, Belgium, UK, Eastonia, Russia, Denmark, Norway, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Spain, Czech Republic, Poland and many others and the price of going out varied wildly in each of the locations. (Norway was by far the most expensive, followed by UK). The cost of going out reflected many more factors, including the relative level of wealth in an nation, their tax structure, societal norms, and food costs. What was common to all of them was the practice of tipping not being the norm.

If we were to extend your argument to this thread I would interpret your assertion that moving to a model in the diving industry where DMs and crew about LOBs and other dive operations are paid fairly rather than using models that rely on tipping would drive the costs so high that people would rarely dive? Diving is a common enough hobby in Europe so that fear, on the face of it, would not appear to highly probable.

 

[Ministryofgiraffes]

Yeah...love ya man but Switzerland is a bit of an extreme example of this instance as it is generally accepted to be economical for no one but Phil Collins .. I could counter with I lived in Mozambique in 1972 and a pizza was 3 cents with. I tipping on a living. Wage and we went out to eat dinner 4 times a night.

 

[drrich2]

I had the pleasure of living in Germany and traveling extensively through Europe for several years. On the whole I did not notice any better or worse service while in restaurants and I can say without a doubt that I preferred the no tip required standard.

The impression I got was from the perspective reported by one or more foreigners traveling in the U.S. who found service people approached them faster in stores (which not everyone prefers; some like to browse undisturbed awhile), and I believe someone thought waitstaff may try to act more charming. It wasn't a complaint about European service being bad, or worse, just a suggestion that dependency on tips may create pressure to make extra sure that customer's happy.

I imagine people's experience and perception of what impact this has on service person demeanor varies, but it seems like tipping culture would provide an extra boost to make those customers happy. Which, again, may not be to everyone's taste. How many threads on Scuba Board have mentioned divers touching/handling marine life, readers getting righteously indignant about it and claiming the guides should make them stop, followed by reminders those guides live in part on tips?

Richard.

 

[Ministryofgiraffes]

yes, the US has always had a reputation of 'Faux pleasantries' and over animated fake welcomes due to the tipping culture, but I also think that's because people are usually just a bit more miserable 'back home' as a standard... at least in Northern UK....

 

[scubadada]

Is it your assertion that the cost of the meal in Switzerland was a direct result of the “living wage” vs tipping model of paying servers? I would challenge that assertion. I lived in and traveled through Germany, France, Belgium, UK, Eastonia, Russia, Denmark, Norway, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Spain, Czech Republic, Poland and many others and the price of going out varied wildly in each of the locations. (Norway was by far the most expensive, followed by UK). The cost of going out reflected many more factors, including the relative level of wealth in an nation, their tax structure, societal norms, and food costs. What was common to all of them was the practice of tipping not being the norm.

If we were to extend your argument to this thread I would interpret your assertion that moving to a model in the diving industry where DMs and crew about LOBs and other dive operations are paid fairly rather than using models that rely on tipping would drive the costs so high that people would rarely dive? Diving is a common enough hobby in Europe so that fear, on the face of it, would not appear to highly probable.

Yeah...love ya man but Switzerland is a bit of an extreme example of this instance as it is generally accepted to be economical for no one but Phil Collins .. I could counter with I lived in Mozambique in 1972 and a pizza was 3 cents with. I tipping on a living. Wage and we went out to eat dinner 4 times a night.

On the other hand, Switzerland is pretty good example of a country where nearly everyone is paid a living wage. This raises the cost of nearly all goods and services, and this is reflected in what you pay. Tips are essentially never expected, we would leave a token tip, a few francs, for superlative service. The overall quality of life is relatively high for a large proportion of the population.

I also travelled extensively during the time I lived in Europe. The cost of living and the proportion of workers who are paid a living wage varies tremendously from country to country. It is not uncommon to have to examine your restaurant bill to check whether service is included or not. If not, a tip was expected.

Regardless, if liveaboards switched to a "service included" model, it would simplify comparison of itineraries. I would imagine that the total cost would not be terribly different than the "tip expected" model and few of us who enjoy this form of diving would change our habits. I have no expectation that the system will change, any more that I expect tipping to disappear in the US

World Happiness Report 2019

 

[Shasta_man]

@Ministryofgiraffes I spotted why your concern is high: "we went out to eat dinner 4 times a night" Fixed your money problem and your diet all in one sentence. :-0

As for the older gent freaking out about paying $1000 tip, was this on a $10,000 (just for the boat) trip? First, no one should know what you paid since you pay direct. Second, it's expected you pay what you can afford and that your "what you can afford" calculation is honest. Lastly, who cares what anybody else thinks about what you paid or didn't pay. His response to the person pushing the tip should have either been silence or "You put in what you think everybody else missed."

<<it would simplify comparison of itineraries>> I didn't think this was a problem because my perception was that the majority were on the "please tip the crew" policy. What you tip is then up to you. Are there really that many that it frequently impacts comparisons?

 

[runsongas]

for a 2 week trip and if there were port fees, 1000 wouldn't surprise me. although the person gifting the trip should have accounted for the tip/port fee situation and either covered those too or warned the recipient in advance.

 

[chillyinCanada]

I'm seeing some kind of disconnect. Dewi Nusantara suggests $200 tip that will be shared out? That's quite a bit less than 10%.

 

[outofofficebrb]

Regardless of what our individual thoughts or takes are on tipping, given what I've read, I actually have a harder time accepting the fact that there was a jerk on that boat who gave someone a hard time about tipping. I tip on liveaboards and I would never do that to someone else who didn't tip, regardless of my own actions/decisions. Also, my understanding and experience is that everyone tips privately in an envelope or discreetly into a pooled box. I have never been on a boat where people announced or boasted about how much, if what, they were giving, or if they weren't giving anything. How tacky, to be honest, unless someone really isn't sure how much to tip and is asking to see what's "ballpark" or "acceptable".

 

[Ministryofgiraffes]

100% agree with the above, but the current process enables this. Etc etc etc.

The guy was retired, v blue collar etc, wife died when kid was 13, dad put him through college ‘Wisconsin math I think’ son doing well at work, wanted to treat dad for retirement, surprises him with refresher diving lessons and a liveaboard ( dad had been so in in the 80s and always spoke about how much he loved it)

We had a great 10 day trip. Guy had an amazing time. Most of his kit was loner. Just a great all round old guy having the trip of his life, the stuff we all like to see on a boat. Comes to tip time an it’s mentioned. He asks me if I think his son paid it, I said I don’t know, he gets a bit stressed, asks how much, discussion is going on on top deck between guests about 10 Vs. 20 % etc etc. Loud dude strolls in and goes on about anyone paying less than 20% is a bum because the staff need it to survive etc and everyone should expect it or not be on the trip. Old guy tells me he is worried because he doesn’t know how much the trip was but thinks it was over 4K for the 7 day, that he saw online but we are on a 10 day and he doesn’t know if he has room on his credit card etc. I tell him not to worry, but he clearly does. He asks me again later and I tell him not to worry. He tells me he is usually a good tipper and he has no idea that he would have to add this much, but goes on about it probably being fair if they say it is and he just didn’t realize. Then next morning before we leave he is saying again that he should have asked before he came and he would have discussed it with his son and he can’t afford $1000 for a tip and he doesn’t think he has room on his credit card to cover it and if he had known he would have probably turned down the offer to come, all of it is out of shame as opposed to pride...and I try to reassure him.. but he clearly isn’t reassured.. and that it... that’s now his experience of his trip. From the best thing that has happened to him in the last 30 or so years since his wife died to shame....and I hated it and in that moment I hated that guy with his big mouth and the whole absurd liveaboard ( not waitress) tipping culture... and that’s that story...