Fishing captains on rental boats typically receive tips of 10 to 20% of the cost of the trip, with 15% being the expected amount. Tipping is not mandatory, but it is a customer-driven act that usually demonstrates an appreciation of the level of service. The tip is always given to the captain in cash, who then distributes it to the crew equally. Charter flights are not like restaurants, as people who work on a charter would compare it more to a lifestyle due to their longer shifts.
In some countries, stations only last between 12 and 16 weeks and have to run every day. Even when the captain is the owner of the boat, most of the money goes toward maintaining the boat and the expenses of owning a business. This same principle applies to charter captains, fishing guides, and first officers who provide services during their fishing experience. Customers will usually add 15 to 20% tip to the price of the trip, depending on the quality of service.
If you think that both the Captain and the First Officer deserve a tip, you can offer them both cash. The current template of the MYBA statutory agreement, widely used in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, has sections dedicated to financial issues such as freight rate, VAT (if applicable), APA, security deposit and broker's fees, but not to tipping. Brokers generally suggest that a tip calculated between five and fifteen percent of the gross contracted fare is only appropriate if the crew has provided excellent service. Yacht Crew Placement Director Jill Maderia from Denison Yachting in Fort Lauderdale adds: “It's always good to ask if there are charters booked and how many have been confirmed at the time of boarding.
In many cases, especially for first-time customers, the broker booking the trip is the one who must educate the customer about charter etiquette, including tipping practices.” Nicci Perides from Burgess in London quotes his company's charter team as saying that it's not uncommon for customers to tip crew less than 10 percent of the freight rate. Tipping is not mandatory but it is a great way to show your appreciation for good service. It is important to remember that charter flights are not like restaurants and that people who work on a charter would compare it more to a lifestyle due to their longer shifts. The current template of MYBA statutory agreement does not include sections dedicated to tipping but brokers generally suggest that a tip calculated between five and fifteen percent of the gross contracted fare is only appropriate if the crew has provided excellent service.
