Are Gratuities Included on CroisiEurope?
Tipping on river cruises is one of the most frequently asked and least consistently answered questions in river cruising. Here is the definitive answer for CroisiEurope, specific to Australian travellers.
The Direct Answer
Gratuities (tips) are not included in CroisiEurope's base cruise price. Tipping is discretionary it is not mandatory, it is not automatically added to your account, and CroisiEurope does not specify a required amount. However, tipping is customary and genuinely appreciated by the crew.
The Standard Tipping Practice on CroisiEurope
The widely observed practice among CroisiEurope passengers and the recommendation from CroisiEurope Australia is:
€10 €15 per person per day for the ship's crew overall (distributed by the cruise director to the crew collectively).
Additional tip to specific crew (your favourite waiter, the cabin steward) at your discretion on the final evening.
Shore excursion guides are separate €2 €5 per person per excursion is appropriate if the guide was excellent.
On a 7-day cruise, this works out to approximately €70 €105 per person for the ship crew tip around AUD $115 $175 at current exchange rates.
How to Tip on CroisiEurope
Tipping is done in cash, at the end of the cruise. Most passengers put their gratuity in the envelope provided (or available from reception) and hand it to the cruise director on the final evening. The cruise director distributes tips to the full crew kitchen staff, cabin stewards, bar staff, waiters, and deckhands.
Some passengers prefer to tip directly to specific crew members they've had particularly positive interactions with both approaches are acceptable and appreciated.
Currency for Tipping
European rivers (Danube, Rhine, Seine, Douro): Euro (€) is universally appropriate, even in countries that use their own currency (Hungary uses Forint, but Euro is accepted and preferred for tips).
Mekong (Vietnam/Cambodia): US Dollars or local currency (Vietnamese Dong, Cambodian Riel). USD is widely accepted.
Nile (Egypt): US Dollars or Egyptian Pounds. USD is preferred.
Do Other River Cruise Lines Include Tips?
Some competitors (Scenic, Tauck) include gratuities in their pricing as a selling point. This is factored into their higher per-person cost. CroisiEurope's approach discretionary, cash, at the end is the traditional European practice and means the tip reflects genuine appreciation rather than being a mandatory additional charge.
Practical Tip: Bring Euro Cash
Most passengers don't carry significant amounts of Euro cash during the cruise (card payments work at all ports). For the final-night gratuity, bring sufficient Euro cash from home or withdraw it during the cruise at a port ATM. Do not rely on the ship for currency exchange.
Enquire with CroisiEurope Australia
For bookings, brochures, or any questions about CroisiEurope itineraries, contact our dedicated Australian team.
Phone: 1300 739 652 | Email: contact@croisicruises.com
Website: www.croisieuroperivercruises.com.au | Tweet World Travel, 544 Magill Road, Magill SA 5072
2027 departures are open for booking now.
