USVI-On-Line

Are tipping standards/expectations the same in St. John as one might expect at home? Buck a bag? 15-20% on meals? Crew on the boat excursion?

BTW:

Thanks so much to those posting all of this great St John info. My wife and I leave TOMORROW to get out of this snow/freezing rain mess in N.E. for our first trip to St John.

I often plan out trips with too much detail, so I've made a fairly strong effort NOT to do that this time. Other then the villa, the rental car, and a day on the Stormy Petrel, I've actually planned very little. It will be breakfast, beach/snorkle, drink by the pool, food, wash, rinse, repeat. Can't wait.

Yes
I use the same as state side. But I might be a little more likely to tip more on the islands you know rum is involved

I don't take boating excursions often.
What's a normal tip for something like a day excursion to the BVI?

I think I gave 20% to 25% in Jan on NH II

We tip 10% for boat excursions. 15-20% for restaurants.

I worked as a first mate on a charter boat one summer I think I got less them minumun wage and was suppose to make it up on tips thats why I tip so well for the boat trips been there. NH II trip is a 12 hour day for the captain and first mate with getting the boat ready and stocked before and cleaning after. It always made me mad that the people that came on the boat would tip the waitress 20% of there meal and she has more then one table and I worked my butt off for the same group for 12 hours and I'd get maybe 5 to 10 % Sorry for the rant just hit a sore spot when I was putting my self thru college.

While I can't disagree with you, I think its a matter of scope. It's easier to tip $20 on a $100 meal that it is to tip $100 on a $500 charter. Not that the captain and the mate(s) deserve it any less. I think it's just psychological.

We tipped $50 on the $250 (for two of us) daysail on the Ike Witt last year.

Psychologically, it did seem like a lot, but the copious rum punches made it easier...

I agree with you but if there are 6 of you on that charter for 100 tip thats only 17 dollars a piece

What if you're taking a sailing lesson? Is it customary to tip on top of the hourly rate?

We tip 20% of the total charter price whether it be private or group. It gets spendy with four of us but we have good fun times and it's worth it! And yeah it's a lot easier to hand over a bill if you've had a little rum in ya tum!

We tipped 20% last year on our boat trip. I agree with other posters, these folks work for you all day long, so while it is a larger chunk of change, I think they deserve at least the same percentage as a waiter/waitress or bartender.

We tip generously when our service is good. When daysailing with Capt. Phil on the Wayward Sailor, his mate Tarn was personable, interesting to talk with, and provided great service. She received a very good tip from us both days we were out with them. We also received excellent service from our water at Morgan's Mango. The wait staff there really haul ass up and down the steps at the rear of the restaurant.
When service is average, we provide an average tip.

savvy wrote:We tip generously when our service is good. When daysailing with Capt. Phil on the Wayward Sailor, his mate Tarn was personable, interesting to talk with, and provided great service. She received a very good tip from us both days we were out with them.

So this brings up an interesting question. Did you tip both Capt. Phil and Tarn, or did you just give the tip to Capt. Phil for him to share with is mate?

Ron_L wrote:So this brings up an interesting question. Did you tip both Capt. Phil and Tarn, or did you just give the tip to Capt. Phil for him to share with is mate?

I was wondering the exact same thing! Thanks for asking Ron