Charter Boat Tipping Etiquette: How to Tip Your Private Charter Captain (2024)

FAQs

Charter Boat Tipping Etiquette: How to Tip Your Private Charter Captain? ›

Usually, tipping 10-20 percent of the charter's total cost is proper charter fishing boat tipping etiquette (and 15 percent is generally considered the norm.) Additionally, note that the captain will likely share those earnings with their crew!

Do you tip boat captains on yachts, charters, or fishing boats? The tipping is usually around 5-20% of the boat fee, no matter what type of boat you are renting. It's up to you to decide how much you want to give, depending on your experience.

Industry standard is 20%. On our larger vessels, where there is a Captain and Mate, they split the 20%, and on our smaller vessels, 20% goes to the captain, as he or she also is your Mate. Think of your Crew like waiters of the sea!

Tipping for a fishing trip carries the same general rule as tipping your waiter with 10-20% being common practice. It's a good idea to start at 15% and go up or down depending on how satisfied you were with the trip. Keep in mind that guides spend hours preparing for a trip.

Stress-Free Tipping: How to Determine Tip for Your Crew

According to the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association (MYBA) tipping guidelines, the general rule is to tip between 10% and 15% of your weekly charter fee, excluding running expenses and taxes.

Many US customers don't tip pilots, but offering something in the $50-100 range is fairly common. Corporate pilots are typically paid well for their flying experience and professionalism – but some do go above and beyond for clients.

In general, a tip of $10-$30 is much appreciated by marina team members for covering (or uncovering) a boat, helping to land your boat in a slip, or a job well done at the fuel dock.

Tipping is crucial on Below Deck charters, and crew members can expect to receive anywhere in between $1,000 and $2,000 from each guest on average. Typically, the primary charter guest gives the Captain an envelope with tips for the entire crew, which are then split up among them evenly.

The 20 percent tip with a 15/5 split between the captain and the waiter is universal in the top restaurants. The captain gets less and often does more work but then he. has a number of tables in his station while a waiter may have only one or two.

A first mate is the second in command directly under the ship's captain and is responsible for ship navigation and safety if the captain is unable to perform their duties. Professional training is available to become a certified first mate, including required exams in coast navigation and deck safety.

Do charter guests have to tip? ›

While there's no strict obligation, it's a gesture of appreciation for the crew's exceptional service and dedication throughout your voyage. General tipping on private and luxury yacht charters is relevant to the cruising ground and can vary from 5% to 20%.

On a luxury charter, tipping depends on the quality of service you receive. Generally, people tip around 10-20 percent of the charter's total cost. Note that the captain might distribute a percentage of the tip to the rest of their crew, depending on their contributions and duration of service.

When considering the price of the fishing boat, insurance, maintenance, slip fees, bait, tackle, repair, fuel, and storage, it will all add up quickly. Then divide that by ten or so fishing trips in a season, and usually, the average weekend angler and boaters will come out ahead financially by charter fishing.

While there is no strict rule, a general guideline is to tip between 5% to 15% of the total charter cost. This range provides a starting point but can be adjusted based on the level of service.

Skipping the tip can also lead to awkwardness if you book with the same yacht company again. Your crew may remember your party didn't tip last time and be less motivated to provide top-tier service. Avoid this uncomfortable situation by always tipping your crew appropriately.

Guests pay tips

Similar to the charter fee, guests also fund the tip that gets handed to the crew at the end of each charter. It's customary for this to be around 15-20% of the full amount for a week-long charter on the yacht in question (not the discounted rate), though some guests choose to pay less.

Standard Rules in Tipping on a Yacht Charter

While there's no strict obligation, it's a gesture of appreciation for the crew's exceptional service and dedication throughout your voyage. General tipping on private and luxury yacht charters is relevant to the cruising ground and can vary from 5% to 20%.

On average, if you work on a 1 week charter, you can expect to get tipped somewhere between 5% to 15% of the weekly charter price. Charter managers typically advise that at least 10% of the entire charter cost is attributed to crew tips.

Yacht Week Skipper Tipping: The Yacht Week experience in Croatia is often enhanced by the expertise and sociability of your skipper. For Yacht Week, where the skipper plays a pivotal role in your experience, a tip of 10% to 15% of the charter cost is a generous way to show appreciation.