River Cruise Gratuities, Guidelines On How Much To Tip (2024)

October 28, 2015 By Aaron Saunders 14 Comments

When we first began writing about river cruises over six years ago, river cruise lines had a myriad of tipping policies. Few lines included gratuities in the cost of the cruise, and fewer still allowed you to charge those gratuities to your onboard account in order to pay with your credit card.

River Cruise Gratuities, Guidelines On How Much To Tip (1)

But just as gratuities have evolved and changed for deep-ocean cruising, the river cruise industry is no exception. Today, a number of lines offer gratuities included in the cost of the cruise as they attempt to attract an international passenger base that has different cultural customs for tipping. Americans, for example, tend to tip more than Canadians, and both tip more than Australian guests, who are used to having gratuities rolled into wages for service staff. Including the gratuities in the cost of the cruise smooths out the experience, regardless of your customs or background.

Here’s a look at the current river cruise line suggested gratuities this fall:

LINE	TIPPING GUIDELINES	CASH OR ONBOARD ACCOUNT
A-ROSA	Gratuities included in cost of cruise; optional gratuities in cash.
AmaWaterways	Crew: €12 per person, per day Cruise Director: €3 per person, per day.	Credit card or cash in envelopes.
Avalon Waterways	Crew: €12 per person, per day Cruise Director: €3 per person, per day.	Credit card or cash in envelopes.
CroisiEurope	€5-10 per person, per day. *	Cash in envelopes.
Emerald Cruises	Gratuities included in cost of cruise; optional gratuities in cash.
Scenic	Gratuities included in cost of cruise; optional gratuities in cash.
Tauck	Gratuities included in cost of cruise; optional gratuities in cash.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection	Gratuities included in cost of cruise; optional gratuities in cash.
Viking River Cruises	Europe Onboard Staff: €12 per person, per day. €2 per person, per day, Program Director. Egypt, Russia, Southeast Asia: $15 per person, per day, crew. $10 per person, per day, Viking tour escort.	Credit card or cash in envelopes. Tips in Egypt, Southeast Asia Portugal must be cash-only.

* CroisiEurope notes on its website that "an acceptable range within the industry is € 5 - €10 per day per person, with the understanding that tipping is entirely at your discretion."

It’s worth noting that gratuity levels and payment types can vary on more exotic itineraries. A good example of this can be seen by viewing Viking River Cruises in the chart above. The line has very flexible payment types on their European-based river cruises, but both rate and payment type vary on their exotic itineraries. Not only does the daily rate go up, but the type of currency changes too (from Euros to American Dollars). Gratuities for the line’s Egyptian, Southeast Asian, and Portugal itineraries must be paid in cash – and that could mean a trip to the bank prior to leaving home.

For river cruisers, all of this information should be provided by the cruise line with your pre-cruise documentation. It’s important to thoroughly read each and every piece of documentation that the cruise line sends you before your vacation begins; doing so can save you some real headaches when you’re abroad.

As a seasoned expert and enthusiast in the field of river cruising, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. Having closely followed the evolution of river cruise lines and their tipping policies over the past several years, I can provide valuable insights into the industry's dynamics.

The article you've shared, penned by Aaron Saunders on October 28, 2015, delves into the tipping policies of various river cruise lines. Tipping has been a subject of evolution within the river cruise industry, much like in deep-ocean cruising. The piece highlights how, over time, many river cruise lines have adapted their tipping policies to cater to an international passenger base with diverse cultural customs regarding gratuities.

One noteworthy trend discussed is the inclusion of gratuities in the overall cost of the cruise by several river cruise lines. This shift aims to create a smoother experience for passengers, regardless of their cultural background or tipping customs. The article specifically mentions how Americans, Canadians, and Australians have distinct tipping habits, and including gratuities in the cruise cost helps standardize the experience.