Tipping on a River Cruise ship

Old Apr 13th, 2014, 12:13 AM
  #21  
 
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"I have been on Yangtze and Nile river cruises and recently on a Patagonia expedition cruise."

The question related to a cruise in GERMANY, plying ONLY in EU waters

There are minimum wage laws in Germany, and there's no possible justification for passengers to impose their culture of institutionalised begging onto a civilised society.

No-one's offered a hint of a scintilla of evidence that importing American fads about this is any more tolerable than touting guns or expecting a credit card imprint before providing medical attention.

The ONLY factual answers this thread has offered so far are those reminding you that, when on the Rhine do as the Rhinesiders - which is don't demean the culture by pretending you're in Las Vegas.

If any of the "well that's how we do things in Florida" merchants disagree, just remember one thing: none of them have even tried to demonstrate that's how we do things round here.
flanneruk is offline  
Old Apr 13th, 2014, 02:30 AM
  #22  
 
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"To make them rely on "tips" like a beggar on the street is beyond disgusting to us"

Which is pretty much how most Brits view the situation. We are very aware of the American system, it is historically an American system, and will adapt to local customs when visiting The States.

As Flanner posts, it is inconceivable that a river tour based in Germany should try to fleece more cash out of you when they are forced by EU law to ensure that their staff earn the minimum wage. As far as I recall employers are allowed to use tips to top up a low basic as long as the end wages is above the minimum.

As a result, operators are simply conning you by offering a lower trip price and then landing you with an extra charge to cover their staff costs up to the minimum wage. It is poor business practice but as always if you are stupid enough to throw away hard earned cash for no reason, who are we to question?

Street cleaners in Germany are also probably on the national minimum, when the boat docks could consider tipping them as well!
Dickie_Gr is offline  
Old Apr 13th, 2014, 04:04 AM
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Question for flanner and Dickie:
How do you know the OP is American or seeks to impose American tipping culture?
Next question:
Is it hard to sit with that stick up your fundament?
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Old Apr 13th, 2014, 06:53 AM
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I am curious, what is the minimum wage in Europe?
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Old Apr 13th, 2014, 07:00 AM
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Never mind, google, duh!
cafegoddess is offline  
Old Apr 13th, 2014, 09:01 AM
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Since several seem to be bandying about the "minimum wage" for all Germans, maybe not. It is restricted to sectors of the labor force, and I don't see "hotel industry" or such in that list.
Germany and Cyprus (as well as the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) have statutory minimum wages that do not apply to all or to the large majority of employees but are restricted to specific groups which are defined, for example, by sectors or by professions
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Old Apr 13th, 2014, 09:51 AM
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I don't think there is one minimum wage for all of Europe. I think in France, it is around 10 euro per hour. I don't know who it applies to or not, though. Here is a report by Eurostat on minimum wages in Europe:
http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/...mw_cur&lang=en

I can understand the OP's math as that example was the tip only for the director, not the entire boat. It does seem like a lot of money for someone to get on top of a salary, 2240 euro. But if they don't have a salary, you can understand it more. I also think a cruise through Germany may not necessarily have German owners or regulations.

However, paying 20 euro to the program director for a cruise doesn't really seem that outrageous, if they do a good job. Heck, I've tipped 20 euro to a day tour guide for me and my sister (10 euro each), and we had paid the tour company 100 euro for the trip.
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Old Apr 13th, 2014, 09:57 AM
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There is no minimum wage in "europe". Each cuontry has different rules and regulations that apply to different groups of people.

Saying - without any info - that service staff on these boats receive a significant "minimum wage" is not only incorrect but a rationale to avoid tipping.

I recognize that in some nations tipping is not common. But if you are traveling to other countries with other habits - you need to follow the rules there.

A recent survey of NYC cab drivers showed that the least popular fares were foreign visitors - since some didn't tip at all and many didn't come near the usual 20% minimum tip (which is indicated on the electronic payment system). It's possible to tip less - but clearly indicates 20% is what's appropriate.
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Old Apr 13th, 2014, 10:19 AM
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NYT

There's the vagueness of the tipping system. I wouldn't tip a cab driver in tne US, just presume that the fare went in their pocket. Only time I ever tip in the States is to waiting staff because it has been made pretty obvious over the years that they don't get an income otherwise. The whole bell boy thing seems b******s. god gave me arms and legs and if I manage to cart cases 2 and half miles across Washingotn Dulles, I can usually manage 25 yards to the front desk of a hotel.

As far as the rest of US economic activity, there's been many posts over the years by US posters asking for advice as to whether they should tip in certain situations in their own country.

Fascinating subject for Scots, we have never been good at giving money away without good reason. Other than in Panama during the 1690s!

In the end the answer to the OP should be check with the company but if they are operating a tipping system, it isn't a European norm.

BTW if the cruise is with Viking you may have other issues to worry about apart from tipping.
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Old Apr 13th, 2014, 11:17 AM
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Dickie_Gr

Taxi drivers in the US do NOT pocket the fares. Let's just use NYC as an example. Licensing rules for actual taxi vehicles require the ownership of a "medallion" which cost around one million dollars. This gives the medallion owner the right to hire drivers to drive the owner's taxi around NY.

The high cost of a medallion prevents most drivers from even dreaming of owning their own taxi. Instead, they pay a very high lease fee per driving shift. In many cases, all expenses are above the lease fee. If they have a slow shift, they may not even make their lease in fares, let alone without a tip.

In other cities, the taxi companies are privately owned, and they also lease per shift to individual drivers. Again, a slow day may not even pay the driver's lease.

When you don't tip a taxi driver in US, you are being very cheap indeed, and most likely jeopardizing someone's daily bread.

I'm sorry that we Statesiders have this system, but because you don't like or understand it, doesn't mean that you shouldn't do in the States as the Statesiders do.
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Old Apr 13th, 2014, 11:43 AM
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"being very cheap"

We not, we just don't have that depth of knowledge and as I said many Americans don't seem to have full knowledge of the system.

Taxi system sounds pretty similar to our system and to many rented businesses which take risk. In Britain the fares are metered to give the driver some sort of return.

Are you saying that the whole fare goes to the medallion owner and the driver only receives the tip, no other income?
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Old Apr 13th, 2014, 04:54 PM
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NO, he's not saying that--but your original scenario is hilarious and a cheapskate explanation for sure.
You really seem clueless about tipping in the US--in high end restaurants, servers may indeed be paid quite well, including benefits, but for that expertise, a tip is still expected. In restaurants servers are paid "tip hours" which I think is in the realm of $2.15/hour--and no benefits.
And while we are talking about a "miniumum wage"--it may not be a "living wage". Just a thought.
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Old Apr 13th, 2014, 05:05 PM
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In the US a driver often has to pay the owner to rent a cab for the day and then they have to hustle all day to make as many trips as possible to cover the minimum and get aboe that and the tip for themselves. Taxi drivers do NOT get rich.

And in many restaurants the wait staff do get $2.15 per hour plus a "free" dinner. For comparison the kids at Mickey D's get about $10 per hour and a reliable baby sitter gets $15 to $20 per hour.

Also the government taxes waitstaff on "expected" tips - without any proof that the staff has received them.

It's true that in very upscale restaurants the staff do get paid more - but still no a lot. And if you can pay $250 for dinner for 2 - not leaving a decent tip marks you as a true cheapskate.

If you find tipping truly offensive you have the option of eating in fast food places and taking the subway or walking. Not tiping appropriately is really stealing from those whose services you are using.

As for this cruise - I don;t know the details - but the cruise company should provide detailed information. But $2 is only enough to give to a doorman that gets you a cab/holds door and even kind of low for a car valet service.
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Old Apr 13th, 2014, 07:03 PM
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Much of this exchange is totally unnecessary. Find out what the policy is and work within it but if you get exceptional service from a particular individual, surely it would be kind to tip. Don't give grudgingly, be compassionate and loving to others. If you are taking a river cruise in Europe, let's face it, you can afford it.
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