Thanks British! Do you know about pre and post hotels that are part of the trip? After reading some of the comments here, I wasn’t sure! It’s our first small ship cruise and we weren’t familiar with differences from riverboat cruises.
All gratuities are covered whether riverboat or small ship. This includes excursions, local guides, car service to and from airport, tour directors, bus drivers.
Regarding hotels, all gratuities are covered except for one possible exception. There has been some discussion herein with respect to hotel housekeeping. When I first started traveling with Tauck, it was covered but I was told quite some time ago that it was not.
The best thing to do is to ask a tour director once your trip starts. It is a moot point for me since I almost always extend a gratuity based on level of service.
Spain and Portugal are so very culturally enriching. Enjoy!
Small ship is the same are river cruise for the same reason - multiple tour directors and coach drivers. It will be outlined in the final documents. Pre and post hotels covered you booked them thru Tauck. If you booked the same hotel on your own then tips aren't included and freebies like breakfast might also not be included. Yes drivers that Tauck arranges for you. We do sometimes tip them a couple of dollars/euros if they go out of their way to chat, point out sights, etc. Tipping/Gratuities is covered in your final documents which arrives via email about 1-2 months prior.
Our most recent driver back to the airport stopped and picked me a bunch of flowers from the roadside. We tipped him, he was so sweet. Of course we could not take them past security but I was so touched..
Comments
All tips are covered on small ship cruises as are the tips for drivers to and from the airport.
Thanks British! Do you know about pre and post hotels that are part of the trip? After reading some of the comments here, I wasn’t sure! It’s our first small ship cruise and we weren’t familiar with differences from riverboat cruises.
Tip for included breakfast should be included.
Small ships and riverboats have the same protocols as far as tips are concerned.
All gratuities are covered whether riverboat or small ship. This includes excursions, local guides, car service to and from airport, tour directors, bus drivers.
Regarding hotels, all gratuities are covered except for one possible exception. There has been some discussion herein with respect to hotel housekeeping. When I first started traveling with Tauck, it was covered but I was told quite some time ago that it was not.
The best thing to do is to ask a tour director once your trip starts. It is a moot point for me since I almost always extend a gratuity based on level of service.
Spain and Portugal are so very culturally enriching. Enjoy!
I think you may may have missed one kink…. Mother of dogs called and confirmed that housekeeping is covered.
I saw that, but I believe the tour directors are the best ones to answer the question since they are responsible for settling the hotel bills.
It certainly is possible I was given misinformation.
Small ship is the same are river cruise for the same reason - multiple tour directors and coach drivers. It will be outlined in the final documents. Pre and post hotels covered you booked them thru Tauck. If you booked the same hotel on your own then tips aren't included and freebies like breakfast might also not be included. Yes drivers that Tauck arranges for you. We do sometimes tip them a couple of dollars/euros if they go out of their way to chat, point out sights, etc. Tipping/Gratuities is covered in your final documents which arrives via email about 1-2 months prior.
Our most recent driver back to the airport stopped and picked me a bunch of flowers from the roadside. We tipped him, he was so sweet. Of course we could not take them past security but I was so touched..