For many travelers, one of the central sources of angst and confusion is how to tip in a manner that is neither miserly, nor extravagant. Travelers run into far more situations where tipping is a concern than they would in their everyday life at home. And it’s made more uncomfortable due to the fact that when visiting abroad, the customs are foreign and easily misunderstood. Taxi drivers, porters, valets, waiters, and barbers/hairstylists are just some of the people you will encounter who will provide you with a service, and may or may not expect or require a gratuity.

The first key to understanding tipping is realizing the situation at hand. Starting with restaurants, the general rule is between 10-20% of the bill before taxes. Some people choose to tip extra if they feel the service is outstanding, while many will leave a small tip or not tip at all if they feel the service is terrible.

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I had the pleasure of visiting Crystal Serenity during her stop in Vancouver BC for a ship inspection tour.

This is a rare moment for our city because this is the one and only time this year that she will be gracing our port. As passengers of almost a 100-day cruise disembarked to tour Vancouver, I was excited to make my way up the gangway.

Will she live up to her reputation as one of the highest-rated ship in the world? So I took a few photos to share with all our readers …..

My first thought was “this is beautiful” and “I’d love to be one of those people who got to spend 100 days on this ship”. Within the first few minutes of entering the ship, I was beginning to catch a glimpse of the Crystal experience – abundant space, exceptional quality and attention to detail.