Travel Travails- 10

10 Cruise tipping
The problem
There is nothing that flusters British travellers more than tipping. When? Who? How much? It’s a minefield. The Americans are to blame. Not only do they tip anything that moves, but they do it so generously they put the rest of us on the spot. Knowing who and how much to tip is a particular problem on tailor-made tours, treks and safaris, where you’re faced with a phalanx of drivers, guides, hotel staff and waiters to “thank”. And cruise holidays are tricky too, particularly for novices.
On some ships, you will find in your cabin at the end of the voyage envelopes in which you are expected to place tips. On others, charges of between £4 and £8 a day are added automatically to each passenger’s shipboard account to cover tips – in addition to service charges of up to 15 per cent on bar orders, and up to 18 per cent for spa treatments. You can ask to have the daily levy removed from your bill, but it’s an awkward request.
The solution
When you book, you need to be told clearly which charges are included and what you are expected to tip for a reasonable level of service. Some operators provide in advance details of exactly how much per day you are expected to tip guides and camp staff. This means you can calculate the extra cost before going and not have to scrabble at the bottom of your bag for change. The cruise line Saga and some of the luxury lines, such as Seabourn, SeaDream and Silversea, include all extras, including service charges, in the cost of the holiday. Then, if you do want to tip for exceptional service, it becomes the voluntary gesture of appreciation it once was.