Gratuities for Instructors

[BobB]

Dear Readers,

I am off soon for an ASA103/104, week long sail. All sailing schools say "gratuities not included".

How much should the gratuity be? Advice on percent or amount would be appreciated.

[ssullivan]

If you're talking about tipping a captain on a chartered vessel, it's 10-15% if you were pleased with the service. If this is one-on-one or a very small class, I would imagine the instructor/skipper would be doing a lot of hands on, personal work with you? 10-15% would be adequate if so.

[David_Old_Jersey]

This is one where I think the "Cultural Divide" appears

Me.......I pay for a service. Someone provides the service as part of their job. I then.................say thankyou and leave. EVERYONE happy.

Others........I know vary.

[Pblais]

How much should the gratuity be?

I would say it depends on how good the instructor was and what the class was like. I think situations like this would merit more than a good waiter. If it was a class of say 8 students I might tip a lot less than if it was just say 2 people. There may also be other crew to consider as well.

If there are deck hands and other crew I would start with them first. The folks taking the least money need it most and usually may be the ones you really owe the most to. You need to feel you were generous without being cleaned out. You should by the end of the course know if people gave you exceptional service or not. If the course was terrible and no one helped you then stiff them.

I did 103/104 together with my wife and one instructor. It was a great course. I would be sure you have all the reading well digested before you get there as it's a lot of course to bite off in one week.

[ssullivan]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

This is one where I think the "Cultural Divide" appears

Me.......I pay for a service. Someone provides the service as part of their job. I then.................say thankyou and leave. EVERYONE happy.

Others........I know vary.

Yes, cultural divide there. I was very impressed with some Swedes we had for charter last year. It was a father and 3 sons. A little male bonding. They tipped a good 10%, which was a lot considering the cultural divide and the fact that it rained the entire 3 days they were aboard!

[David_Old_Jersey]

I guess the Swedes had heard about the tipping stuff in the States.......and made a special effort in going up to 10%

Apart from in good restaurants (which met or exceeded the good expectations), I would be embarrassed to just give someone money.

In your circumstances I would not have tipped - but if I had enjoyed the charter / company you and the missus would have got a decent bottle of booze. The only difference between me getting invited aboard for 3 days as a mate (for free) is that yer would have got the bottle of booze, whether I had enjoyed the trip of not! But I may have then drunk it

I seem to recall reading that the employees on the "All in price" Cruise Ships and Resorts in the Caribean hate dealing with the Brits.........especially if the "all in price" includes the booze...........

These cross cultural rules can be quite strange...........



Actually one other place I do "tip" is when in Bangkok. But that's another story.....................

[Boracay]

I don't give anyone my money unless there is a reason.
In general I don't tip if the person with whom I am dealing has a standard of living close to or better than mine.
Even then I don't tip for service. I tip for friendliness.
In particular in the marine industry where the working conditions are excellent and the prices are high I don't tip.
I very rarely give a present (like a bottle of wine) where the experience has been very enjoyable.

[seafox]

NZ dollar is worth bugger all and when overseas I would not waste it on a tip.
I will never see the person again so don't care if they are pssed off. They are only friendly or whatever so they get more of a tip.
My tip is "be nice to your mother and never waste a fart".

[delmarrey]

I chance to say, this is why Americans are call "generous".

Just the tips that my wife receives pays for the groceries and some of the minor bills, which actually accounts for 1/3 of her income.

In return I/we also tip as a courtesy to others who's pay is not all that great. Which also improves the enthusiasm in which labor's do their jobs. Incentives is the only way to get better service, a proven fact!!!!
.................................................. .........._/)

[ssullivan]

Agreed, Del. In the States, tipping is all the income some have, especially in food service. Waitresses often make $3 or $5/hr. Tips are how they earn their income. My wife's tips account for nearly 100% of her income right now.

I think often in places where they don't tip (the UK?), food service and others get a better hourly wage or percentage, correct?

[Sunspot Baby]

Tipping crew members or even a captain on a charter, sure. Instructors however, I don't know. Years ago, we took a 5 day live aboard ASA class in San Diego. We ponied up the fee up front, always had cold drinks and lunch for the instructor but I didn't feel the need to tip.

I don't expect a tip for completing a delivery contract. Where do you draw the line?

I was an active dive instructor for 10 years. I always tipped dive masters and boat boys on trips, but never expected or received a tip from my students. I didn't tip my college instructors either.

Maybe that's just me.

George

[ssullivan]

David: I know what you mean about those "all in" packages. ha ha. At least you Brits know how to let loose and have some fun. I have been dying to go to London on New Year's for 2 years now to see the Chemical Brothers play at Turnmills. The damn airfare and hotel cost keeps me from doing it. Someday... hopefully we'll be able to do that before the Chemical Brothers need crutches and wheelchairs to get around, as I will too by then.

[seafox]

there is no tipping at all in NZ. All very simple. You get the quote or invioice and that's what you pay. From what I gather the pay for waiters etc is pretty bad. Mostly students trying to get some money to get through uni.

[BobB]

Everyone,

Thanks for the responses. Interesting that they range from the 10/15% to "no tip-you'll never see them again-who cares".

FYI - ASA103 is bareboat chartering, 104 is coastal cruising, the course is 6 days and - re: cultural divide - in the BVI's. Course is on a 42 Jeanneau, one instructor, one other couple.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

I chance to say, this is why Americans are call "generous".

Just the tips that my wife receives pays for the groceries and some of the minor bills, which actually accounts for 1/3 of her income.

In return I/we also tip as a courtesy to others who's pay is not all that great. Which also improves the enthusiasm in which labor's do their jobs. Incentives is the only way to get better service, a proven fact!!!!
.................................................. .........._/)

American tippers may be generous, but it seems the employers aren't! Here in Aus waiters etc. are paid enough so they don't need tips just to survive. Therefore tipping isn't considered mandatory, and is only done when the level of service is actually deserving of it. As for tipping a sailing instructor - he's probably on more money than me, so i doubt I would.