Tipping Etiquette for River Cruise Excursions

Nobody wants to be the person fumbling with unfamiliar currency at the end of a tour. Here's the simple system I give my travelers.

For a local walking-tour guide on a half-day excursion: €2–5 per person is the comfortable norm, and €5 says "you were excellent." For the coach driver: €1–2 per person, per day. Hand it over directly, with a thank-you — it matters more than the amount.

Onboard, most river lines now include gratuities in the fare or charge a suggested daily amount to your onboard account. Read your cruise documents before you sail (or just ask me — I flag this for every client), so you're not double-tipping or, worse, not tipping at all.

One rule above all: cash still wins. Small euro notes, kept in an accessible pocket. Many guides can't accept cards, and a crisp €5 handed over in three seconds beats a promise to "leave a review" every time.