gratuities for snorkeling day trip

[sueoz]

Hi - while on St. John we are taking an all day snorkel trip with an outfitter around the island. The price says a flat fee for the day plus gas and gratuities. What do you all usually do for gratuity? A percent of fee? Or something else?
Thanks,
sue

[chicagoans]

We tipped 20%, or $110, for our half day outing, which cost $550 for 6 adults + 4 kids (a great price, I thought.)

We had an excellent time on our trip; our captain and the marine biologist who snorkeled with us were super. We felt they deserved every bit of the tip.

I'm sure many islanders rely on tips. 15-20% is probably the usual. (However, I don't look at 15% as a given and will tip less than that if the service is really bad.)

You will have a great time! Enjoy!

[Kentuckygirl]

We tipped 20% ($100) and bought his lunch. He was great and we had a wonderful time!

[waterguy]

20% here to some boats the captain and first mate work on tips alone.

[sailorgirl]

Related question,

Do u tip even if the captian is the owner of the boat? I don't know what the etiquitte is. For example in my neck of the woods if the owner of the salon does your hair you don't normally tip.

[waterguy]

If there is a first mate I'll tip them

[katiep]

I was wondering that myself. We are taking a day trip - the captain is the owner, and I have been told to only tip the first mate???

[liamsaunt]

I just tip 20% no matter what. I've tipped the owner, the first mate, whoever it is that took us out, everybody gets something from me. Nobody's ever turned it down!

[MarciaMarciaMarcia]

I've always felt a bit awkward about it. We always tip 20% but never feel sure who to hand it to. If there is a captain and first mate do you split the 20% between them or give it all to the captain hoping he in turn tips the first mate? If you split it yourself do you give each half? 60/40? Such a terrible dilemma to have isn't it?

[waterguy]

Most of the boats I've been on if the capt. is the owner he will say some thing about the first mate working for tips. If both are not owners they will give you the talk.

[jimg20]

Our only daysail so far did not work out the way they told us to expect. We had such poor service from our NHII captain that we gave him nothing. The first mate, Lisa, was excellent. We gave her 10% of the fee, her half, because she took such good care of us and he was downright antisocial throughout the day.

I didn't like doing that, but he refused to even talk to us unless he was directing us to do something.

JIM

[sueoz]

Thanks all. I guess I'm not the only one unsure about this! sue