USVI-On-Line

When you charter a boat for the day whether private or in a group, do you tip the crew or Captain? if so, what's the guideline on amount? TIA

Generally, it is expected that you tip the Captain and crew 10-20% of the rental if you feel that you have receieved excellent service and had a good time.

There has been some debate in the past about whether this applies to a Captain who actaually owns the boat, but it seems that the general consensus is that, if you are happy with the service and the trip, then you should tip.

Will the world end if you don't? No.

But I think most feel that it's the right thing to do.

I always tip if the boat and captain were up to par.

I had an embarrassiing situation last year. We took 3 newbies with us last year to STJ and we went out sailing with Long Distance. I told the newbies how much the trip was going to cost and how much tip I was giving the captain AND to bring it all in cash. They were told this weeks before the trip and several days before the sailing trip. Wellllllll, we get back from the sailing trip which was great and they didn't have the money to pay for the trip NOR the tip. I had to pay for everything with the cash I had with me which covered the cost of the trip and a small portion of the tip. I was really embarrassed. After we got home I sent the three newbies an email telling them what they owed me and I didn't even include the tip in it. Two paid up and one didn't. Lesson learned.
By the way, I took extra money this year to pay Long Distance. I had their phone number and had planned on calling them to meet up and give them the tip money but ran into the captain at Skinny Legs and gave him the cash. Glad to have that off my conscience!

When we went on Breath on our last trip, I told all of the girls that they could contact Jared directly to pay by credit card or they needed to bring cash. Luckily, they all did that. Except they all brought cash. Exact change. And there were two other people on our boat with us who were a little rough and tumble where manners were concerned. No tip from them either. I had brought an extra $20 figuring that $10 each was good for Jared and Drew for my share. (It was just a short sail.) But then they were training a new first mate, so they each got less than seven bucks.

Needless to say, I was mortified.

Yes, if you enjoy yourself, have a good trip and have good customer service, give the crew a tip. Make sure you tell the others traveling with you of this expectation so you aren't like me and JoAnn.

Yes, we tip the captain (either way - if they are the owner of the boat or not). Each passenger gives $20. We've always had excellent service so there has never been a reason not to tip in our 30+ boat trips to the BVI.

I always say 'Boat days are the best days!'

Jo Ann - VA wrote:I always tip if the boat and captain were up to par.

I had an embarrassiing situation last year. We took 3 newbies with us last year to STJ and we went out sailing with Long Distance. I told the newbies how much the trip was going to cost and how much tip I was giving the captain AND to bring it all in cash. They were told this weeks before the trip and several days before the sailing trip. Wellllllll, we get back from the sailing trip which was great and they didn't have the money to pay for the trip NOR the tip. I had to pay for everything with the cash I had with me which covered the cost of the trip and a small portion of the tip. I was really embarrassed. After we got home I sent the three newbies an email telling them what they owed me and I didn't even include the tip in it. Two paid up and one didn't. Lesson learned.
By the way, I took extra money this year to pay Long Distance. I had their phone number and had planned on calling them to meet up and give them the tip money but ran into the captain at Skinny Legs and gave him the cash. Glad to have that off my conscience!

That is just horrible! What is wrong with some people?

We don't have any cheapskates in our STJ group but we do have other friends that would welch on a tip.

We include the tip in the planning. Say it is $150 pp, we set the price at $172.50 and forget about it. That way the organizer (usually me) just collects the money and hands it over to the captain. It eliminates the fumbling around, trying to calculate tip, whispering to each other "what are you giving?" and so on.

I thought I was doing myself a favor by making each person handle it themselves instead of coordinating all the money. But I am one of those people who is extremely embarrassed when the people with her skimp on tips.

I like PAGirl's idea for next time.

Mr SapphireCat and I figure out ahead of time (before we leave for the islands) how much scuba-ing we're likely to do and how much this will cost. We separately take enough cash to cover tips @20%. Of course, there is always extra cash in order to cover tipping for captain or crew going out of their way for us or saving our vacation: like last year when they repaired my broken BC.

That was really stinky of your shipmates, Jo Ann to sponge off of you like that. Good grief. YOU shouldn't have been embarrassed, but they certainly should be.

SapphireCat - needless to say we will never travel with them again. The trip broke up our friendship with two out of the three.
I've always said you really don't know someone until you live with them or work with them. Now I add to that until you travel with them!

I have recommended people to be hired in the company I work for thinking they would be a good employee. More than once I found out that their work ethics isn't there. I no longer recommend anyone! Live and learn.

Jo Ann, Like you, I always think the best of people. It's hard to believe when they let me down. after all, it's so easy to behave in a nice manner! Seems many have forgotten the Gold Rule.

Oh, well. Don't let it grind you down.

SC

Lol, this past June we went out on Born To Rhumb and had a smashing good time, especially after the painkillers started flowing. It was so good my very embarrased husband called them up the next day to make sure we had actually tipped them.

-Sandy (Still not sure how we made it back to the villa in one piece)

We tip 20% (have not had a bad trip) plus pay for the captain's lunch. Last trip we had a bunch of newbies with us and chartered 3 boats, 3 captains. We told our friends what we tip, but at the end of the day, after drinks and all, not sure what the others did. It has bothered me since!

Daysail is usually ~20% - owner or not.

[quote="Jo Ann - VA"]SapphireCat - needless to say we will never travel with them again. The trip broke up our friendship with two out of the three.
I've always said you really don't know someone until you live with them or work with them. Now I add to that until you travel with them!

Phew, I guess I passed the test :