One curious cruiser took to Facebook to ask what others typically tip their tour guides in Alaska, sparking a heated discussion.
Tipping is a controversial topic, whether in a restaurant, bar, or cruise shore excursion. At the end of the day, there’s no universal rule. The right amount depends on the service received, tour length, and budget.
Tours in Alaska tend to be pricier than excursions in the Bahamas and Caribbean. It's not uncommon for helicopter rides, for example, to cost over $500 per person. With the high price tag, some may wonder what an appropriate tip for the tour operators is.
Read more: 20 Alaska cruise must-do excursions
"How much should we tip [our] helicopter pilot? Just have no clue if it’s 20% then that’s $200 which seems a lot," asked Gretchen Vokes Emmetts in a public Facebook group.
The post quickly drew dozens of responses. Some argued that if you can afford an expensive helicopter ride, you shouldn't be questioning the tip, while others claimed today's tipping culture has gotten out of hand.
"Why are we tipping for every freaking thing?"
"It used to be for waitstaff as they only made $2-$3 per hour- now it’s for everyone- even those making hundreds of dollars to do a job?" one user wrote.
Others chimed in with similar sentiments, adding that pilots aren't considered to work within the tipping industry.
"I don’t tip my pilot when flying with southwest. Not sure I understand tipping a pilot for an excursion that is already pretty expensive!!! Does the pilot [fly] for tips….i don’t think so!!" another commenter wrote.
Because helicopter tours are more expensive than typical excursions, many also claimed that the tip is built into the price.
"I've never tipped the helicopter drive[r] as much as it cost. I don't [because the price] includes it That's why the price is high," one user declared.
Another went as far as dropping the price of their tour, claiming it cost $2,900 and that they aren't tipping.
"Ignorance shows"
Though many shared that tipping a helicopter pilot was unnecessary, others argued that they aren't your average commercial pilot and often double as a tour guide.
"It’s a tour, the pilot is a tour guide. You always should tip a guide. $20-30 per person is fine. So many people saying pilots get paid well are oblivious. I bet they make a quarter of your salary," wrote Cassie Deets.
Another Facebook user added that pilots lose out when the weather in Alaska is poor and the helicopter tours are canceled. Plus, the Alaska cruise season is short, so they don't have as many customers, if any, during the fall and winter months when ships are redeployed to warmer regions like the Caribbean and Australia.
Many seemed to agree with Deets, saying that $10 to $30 per person was a good tip for that kind of excursion.
Gordon Browning said, "If the pilot is the owner of the business no tip is required. If the pilot is an employee I would think $10 pp per hour of flight is reasonable."
"I always tip tour guides (helicopters, sea planes, boat captains, zipline crews, etc) based on the quality of the tour. My general range is $10-30/person for tour tipping. If the tour is a full day or exceptional, I adjust accordingly," added Tracy Bryan.
Read more: 14 lessons learned after I tried my first Alaska cruise
How much do tours in Alaska cost?
The answer varies based on your interests. Helicopter tours are among the most expensive excursions in the Last Frontier; however, train rides are also pricey.
According to Carnival Cruise Line's website, the most expensive tour offered in Juneau is the "Four Glacier Helicopter & Dogsled Adventure," coming in at about $715 per person. A family of four would spend over $2,800 on this 3.5-hour adventure!
Comparatively, an all-day pass to the Goldbelt Tramway is just $49.99 per adult and $39.99 per child.
It's possible to plan a budget-friendly trip to Alaska. However, it will require more planning than simply booking interesting tours through your chosen line.
For example, rather than booking a tour in Ketchikan, you may choose to wander through Creek Street, stopping in at local stores before exploring the Tongass Historical Museum to learn more about the local native culture and miners who helped build the town.
Read more: How to plan an Alaska cruise without cruise line excursions
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
