Real Talk: Money, Tipping & Helpful Lessons We Learned on Our Mexican Riviera Cruise

Real Talk: Money & Tipping in Mexico — What Every Cruise Passenger Needs to Know

If this is your first cruise to Mexico — or even if it's not — there are some things I wish someone had told me before we went. Not the scary stuff, just the real stuff. How money actually works in the informal tourism economy, why tipping matters more than you might realize, and a few practical lessons we learned the hard way so you don't have to.

💵 How Money Works in Mexican Cruise Ports

One of the first things you notice in Mexican cruise ports is how many people are involved in getting you from Point A to Point B. In Cabo San Lucas, the moment you step off the tender boat you're greeted by a lively crowd of vendors and operators calling out "Water taxi! Lover's Beach! Snorkeling! El Arco!" It can feel chaotic at first, but once you understand how the local tourism system works, everything starts making sense.

Here's the reality: the person who approaches you at the pier is likely a "steerer" — someone who earns a small commission for directing you to a specific boat operator. The person who walks you to the boat may be different from the person who actually drives it. And the fare you pay? In many cases it goes straight to the company owner, not the person serving you.

We saw this play out in real time in Cabo when our water taxi fare of $10 per person (plus $1 at the ticket booth) changed hands between several people before we even boarded. It was fascinating to watch — and it immediately made us think about tipping differently.

The same thing happened in Mazatlán with our pulmonia tour. A pulmonia, by the way, is Mazatlán's iconic open-air taxi — think a golf cart crossed with a dune buggy — and it's the most fun way to see the city. Our driver Ruben was absolutely outstanding. He narrated the entire tour with genuine passion, pointing out the commercial port where cars are imported from China, telling us about Mazatlán's famous Carnaval, the tuna fishing industry, Stone Island where expats build their homes, the 1975 hurricane that devastated the city and the seawall built to protect it, the zipline and so much more. He was funny, knowledgeable and made our entire Mazatlán day unforgettable.

We paid $100 for the pulmonia tour for our group. But here's what we didn't fully realize until afterward — that $100 went entirely to Jesus, the company owner. Ruben was working purely for tips. My husband tipped him $20, which is a standard 20%, but honestly knowing what we know now I wish we had given him more. If you take a pulmonia tour in Mazatlán — and you absolutely should — If you take a pulmonia tour, consider tipping generously for exceptional service. Drivers like Ruben truly made our day unforgettable. They are funny, hardworking and incredibly knowledgeable about their city. They deserve it.

🚕Taxi Drivers Depend on Tips Too

In Puerto Vallarta we took a taxi from the Malecón back to the ship — $20 total for our group of four, which is a great deal for that distance. What our travel companions didn't realize until the driver pointed it out was that a tip was expected on top of the fare. He made it pretty clear with an enthusiastic "Hey, come on... tip!" 😄

It's not rude — it's just how it works. The fare covers the cost of operating the vehicle. The tip is how the driver actually earns a living. A few dollars on top of your taxi fare goes a long way and means everything to the person driving you.

Always agree on your fare BEFORE you get in the taxi. Always.

(Side note — that PV taxi ride also had a near heart attack moment when another car nearly sideswiped us. Welcome to Mexican traffic! Hold on and enjoy the ride! 😄)

💳 Notify Your Bank Before Traveling

This one is simple but so important — call your bank and credit card company before you leave home and let them know you'll be traveling to Mexico. If you don't, your card may get flagged for suspicious activity and declined at exactly the wrong moment.

I learned this lesson firsthand when my card kept declining at a vendor in Mazatlán. It was embarrassing and frustrating — especially when the vendor kept trying and finally said "Cash! Cash! Ask your husband!" I wasn't ready to give in that easily but they were very persistent! My husband Doug, bless his heart, reluctantly reached into his wallet and paid $60 cash for a beautiful Mexican blanket that I had negotiated down from about $100. Worth every peso — but the whole situation could have been avoided with one quick phone call to my bank before we left home.

💵Carry Cash — Always

Related to the above — carry cash in Mexico. Not a lot, but enough for vendors, tips, small purchases and unexpected moments like the blanket situation. Many street vendors and small shops simply cannot process credit cards or may have unreliable card readers.

That said — don't assume everywhere is cash only. Our experience at Michael Gallery Mexico in Mazatlán was the complete opposite. This beautiful jewelry and gift shop not only accepted credit cards, they got ours to work on the very first try. If you're looking for quality silver jewelry, gifts or souvenirs in Mazatlán, this is a wonderful place to visit. They carry stunning silver jewelry, opal inlay rings, margarita glasses, ornaments, glass figurines, magnets and more. The staff was warm, helpful and the shop itself is absolutely gorgeous. You can find them at michaelgallerymexico.com — hopefully they'll know the Retired Wife soon! 😄

💵Quick Tipping Guide

To make it easy, here's what we'd suggest based on our own experience:

Pulmonia drivers in Mazatlán — tip at least 30-40% of the tour fare, or more if your driver was exceptional. It is their entire income.

Water taxi operators in Cabo — tip on top of your fare. A few dollars per person is appreciated.

Taxi drivers everywhere — always tip. A few dollars on a short ride, more for longer trips or exceptional service. And always agree on the fare before you get in!

Restaurant servers — 15-20% is standard, same as home.

Vendors and market sellers — negotiating is expected and welcomed! But once you agree on a price, honor it. And carry cash just in case.

🚢What About Tipping on the Ship?

Royal Caribbean automatically adds gratuities to your SeaPass account — 18% is added to all specialty restaurant bills and spa services. So when you dine at places like Izumi or Chops Grille, that gratuity is already being added to your bill.

However we chose to tip additionally for exceptional service and I'm so glad we did.

Dining Room & Windjammer — Renee

Our server Renee took such wonderful care of us throughout the cruise. What impressed us most was seeing him not only at our dinner table in the main dining room every evening, but also at the Windjammer buffet in the mornings. These crew members work incredibly long hours — mornings, evenings and everything in between — showing up wherever they're needed throughout the day. On the final night we gave Renee $20 as a personal thank you on top of the automatic gratuities. If your server goes above and beyond — and a good one absolutely does — a personal tip at the end of the cruise means the world to them.

Room Steward — Josari

Josari kept our stateroom spotless and was genuinely wonderful throughout the entire cruise. Every morning our room was fresh, our towel animals were waiting and everything was exactly where it should be. We gave him $40 at the end of the cruise and our travel companions gave him $40 as well. Your room steward works harder than almost anyone else on that ship — early mornings, late nights, always making sure you come back to a comfortable clean space. They absolutely deserve a personal tip beyond the automatic gratuities.

Specialty Restaurants — Elmer & Nilo

At Chops Grille our waiter Nilo provided exceptional service and we added an extra $10 on top of the automatic 18% gratuity because the food and service were both outstanding. At Izumi's our waiter Elmer took wonderful care of us as well with the 18% automatically added to the bill. Every single crew member who served us throughout the cruise — Renee, Josari, Nilo and Elmer — was from the Philippines and each one of them made our cruise genuinely special.

❤️ A Special Note About Crew Members

Every crew member who assisted us during our cruise happened to be from the Philippines, which is very common on Royal Caribbean ships. They were warm, hardworking, professional, and genuinely passionate about making our experience special.

Many crew members spend months away from their families while working onboard so they can support loved ones back home. Throughout the cruise we were reminded that behind every dinner service, towel animal, friendly greeting, and recommendation is a person working incredibly hard.

Renee, Josari, Nilo, and Elmer all helped make our cruise memorable in their own way. Their kindness and dedication didn’t go unnoticed, and we’ll remember them long after the cruise itself.

The Bottom Line on Ship Tipping

The automatic gratuities cover the baseline. Personal tips on top of that are your way of saying "you specifically made my cruise better." And trust me — after a week onboard you will absolutely know who those people are. Don't wait until the last day to acknowledge great service. A simple thank you and a genuine smile every single day costs nothing and means everything.

🚢Safety Tips

One final and important piece of real talk — always check the US State Department website at travel.state.gov for current travel advisories before visiting any Mexican port. Conditions can change and it's always better to be informed before you travel. We felt safe throughout our entire trip by staying in tourist areas, traveling as a group and using common sense. But being an informed traveler is always the best first step.

Final Thoughts

Mexico's tourism workers are hardworking, proud of their cities and genuinely passionate about sharing their culture with visitors. The informal economy works differently than what most Americans are used to — but once you understand it, you'll find yourself tipping more generously, carrying more cash and appreciating every interaction so much more.

Travel isn't just about the destinations. It's about the people who make those destinations come alive. Ruben in Mazatlán. The water taxi operator in Cabo who knew every rock formation by name. Renee who greeted us with a smile at both breakfast and dinner every single day. Josari who left us towel animals and a spotless room. Nilo and Elmer who made our specialty dining nights truly special. These are the people who made our Mexican Riviera cruise truly memorable — and they deserve to be recognized, appreciated and tipped accordingly.

Explore each stop on our cruise: