Tipping question

[Elise17]

I understand that tips are an automatic charge and we have the option of giving someone an extra tip for extra special service. I'm wondering though what tips aren't covered in this. I don't want to not tip someone when I should, but I don't want to tip when I shouldn't either. We're new to cruising, so I don't know the dos and don'ts. I don't want an arguement about tipping or not! I just want to know if so-and-so does such-and-such, his tip isn't coming from the automatic tip, so I need to tip him.

Thanks,

[CtheW0rld]

you'll be fine if you just leave the auto-tip in place. 15% is added to beverage purchases. i give a buck or two to the room service people, per order.

there is no need - stress need - to tip anyone else, unless you feel they went above and beyond.

now, so people will come along and say they like to tip everyone and that is certainly their perogative.

[kazu]

Only if you are taking children and they are using the HAL club, I do not believe these people are in the 'pool'. Other than that you should be fine unless you choose to tip extra for great service. Totally up to you.

[FLACRUISER99]

I say "Tip" because you want to, not because you feel you have to!

[Elise17]

Thanks, everyone. I just didn't know if, say, the person who takes our bags when we arrive gets tipped from the pool or do I need to tip him - that sort of thing. I doubt my teens will be using the kids club; that's not usually their thing, but I'll keep the info about them in mind just in case.

[vbmom87]

On our first cruise with HAL we chose to tip our room steward and waiters. We did have anytime dining but we were fortunate to be able to get the same table and waiters each evening. Since we considered them outstanding, we felt we wanted to reward their service. On our second cruise we just tipped the room steward extra. He was excellent and we felt he deserved a little something more than the auto tip. We ate in the buffet most nights on that cruise.

As already mentioned, the auto tip will cover everything, except perhaps the Club Hal as mentioned above. If you think someone deserves a tip for going out of their way to provide good service, then by all means tip.

[Krazy Kruizers]

the $11 per day per person covers your cabin stewards, your dining staff, the lido workers, the people you see going around the ship cleaning and painting, the kitchen staff, the laundry people -- all the behind the scenes people

if you buy cocktails, wine, sodas, bottled water -- a 15% gratuity will automatically be added onto that bill to be divded among the wine stewards and bar staff

we tip extra only to those whom we feel have made our cruise an enjoyable one -- it is usually the people we see everyday -- like a wine steward, our cabins stewards and dining room staff

if you decide to go to one of the speciality restaurants -- they also get a tiny part of that $11 hotel service charge -- it is up to you if you wish to tip your servers there at the end of the meal

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks, everyone. I just didn't know if, say, the person who takes our bags when we arrive gets tipped from the pool or do I need to tip him - that sort of thing. I doubt my teens will be using the kids club; that's not usually their thing, but I'll keep the info about them in mind just in case.

are you talking about about the porters at the pier who take your bags? if so -- they do not get any of that $11 hotel service charge

we do tip them

[catl331]

Thanks, everyone. I just didn't know if, say, the person who takes our bags when we arrive gets tipped from the pool or do I need to tip him - that sort of thing. I doubt my teens will be using the kids club; that's not usually their thing, but I'll keep the info about them in mind just in case.We give the pier porters $6 for two bags, $10 for the rare times that we have three. Just about everyone in the ship Hotel Department except officers is included in the pool, but we think you should tip extra for extra services such as in the Spa, room service, and Club HAL.

[vbmom87]

are you talking about about the porters at the pier who take your bags? if so -- they do not get any of that $11 hotel service charge

we do tip them


We also tip the porters.

[1teach53]

Thanks, everyone. I just didn't know if, say, the person who takes our bags when we arrive gets tipped from the pool or do I need to tip him - that sort of thing. I doubt my teens will be using the kids club; that's not usually their thing, but I'll keep the info about them in mind just in case.

Yes ,we always tip the porters at the dock!! I have seen some not tipping, sad! They work soooo hard! 
And........you DO want to see your bags on the ship! Right? 
Enjoy your cruise!

[GeriatricNurse]

Yes ,we always tip the porters at the dock!! I have seen some not tipping, sad! They work soooo hard! 
And........you DO want to see your bags on the ship! Right? 
Enjoy your cruise!

And NOT seen floating in the water near the ship as you are cruising away from the pier! ;)

[sandiego1]

FLL porters will REQUEST a tip. They didn't even unload our bags from the car - I had to do that (DH hurt his back). I went to close the trunk and was reaching into my pocket for the $5 tip that I had put in there before we arrived at the port. I barely turned for a second and the porter said "Don't you have a tip for your porter??!!"

[Elise17]

Yes ,we always tip the porters at the dock!! I have seen some not tipping, sad! They work soooo hard! 
And........you DO want to see your bags on the ship! Right? 
Enjoy your cruise!

That's why I asked. I admitted in the OP that I'm new to this and don't know how things work regarding tips.

[Elise17]

I barely turned for a second and the porter said "Don't you have a tip for your porter??!!"

See, now that's just rude.

[Hawaiidan]

the guys who are porters are members of the long shoremens union some making over $50 an hour. Id a saturday time and a half so $75 an hour They are not members of Holland american company and do not get tip pools.
These guys proably make more than most of the passengers.

I tip what I do in a hotel $1.50 a bag.

[Gonzo70]

Yes ,we always tip the porters at the dock!! I have seen some not tipping, sad! They work soooo hard!

Really? :confused: They are union longshoremen earning upper middle class salaries (at U.S. ports). There are signs up at all U.S. ports saying they do not need to be tipped. They do not work as hard as you think; they put your luggage on a cart that is right next to them, push the cart a few yards and others take over from there. They have your luggage for all of 5-10 seconds. You are already compensating them for this basic service through your port fees. They do not deserve a tip any more than a flight attendant deserves a tip for serving you a beverage. IMHO save the money and use it towards extra tips for the hard working staff on board the ship - the amount the longshoreman earn in one hour take many people on the ship a month to earn in salary (and the room stewards and waiters work much longer hours).

[Tricia724]

Dealing with the dockside luggage handlers can be either disgusting or hysterical.....depending upon how you want to look at it.

On one of our cruises, we arrived at the port in a van from the hotel, and there were 7 or 8 of us and our luggage. The van driver unloaded the luggage and placed it on the curb. There were huge "NO TIPPING" signs posted on the wall behind the luggage bins, so some of the passengers headed for the check-in area.

A great big fella with a booming voice blocked their way and announced that he wanted all the passengers who just got off the van to gather around him. He then proceeded to tell everyone that they had to identify their luggage and "show a little appreciation" to the men who "take good care of loading their bags on the ship!" As he said "show appreciation" he waved the greenbacks he had in his hand, so there was no misunderstanding. I was standing there with a $5 bill in my hand, and he just reached over and pulled it out of my fingers before I could blink.

We always tip the baggage handlers, but it seems like some of them have been trained in the Tony Soprano school of charm and finance.

[kazu]

We have never had any incidents, hints on tipping or rudeness from any porters. We do tip, however, quite often we are embarking from a European port and there are no 'no tipping' signs there. I doubt these people make the same money as those in Fort Lauderdale, but who knows?

[whogo]

the guys who are porters are members of the long shoremens union some making over $50 an hour. Id a saturday time and a half so $75 an hour They are not members of Holland american company and do not get tip pools.
These guys proably make more than most of the passengers.

I tip what I do in a hotel $1.50 a bag.

Really? :confused: They are union longshoremen earning upper middle class salaries (at U.S. ports). There are signs up at all U.S. ports saying they do not need to be tipped. They do not work as hard as you think; they put your luggage on a cart that is right next to them, push the cart a few yards and others take over from there. They have your luggage for all of 5-10 seconds. You are already compensating them for this basic service through your port fees. They do not deserve a tip any more than a flight attendant deserves a tip for serving you a beverage. IMHO save the money and use it towards extra tips for the hard working staff on board the ship - the amount the longshoreman earn in one hour take many people on the ship a month to earn in salary (and the room stewards and waiters work much longer hours).

I have long suspected that the porters are well paid members of the International Longshoremen's Association, but this is the first time I have seen it published. I wasted a couple of hours once trying to find this out. It is probably common knowledge to locals living in Ft. Lauderdale or Miami. Do you have any links to confirmation of this information?

I have never seen the "no tipping" signs.

[Gonzo70]

I have long suspected that the porters are well paid members of the International Longshoremen's Association, but this is the first time I have seen it published. I wasted a couple of hours once trying to find this out. It is probably common knowledge to locals living in Ft. Lauderdale or Miami. Do you have any links to confirmation of this information?

I have never seen the "no tipping" signs.

E-mail or call customer service at the Port of Miami (or another U.S. port) and ask who works as "porters" at cruise terminals. They will tell you it is longshoremen (here is a link to the website: http://www.miamidade.gov/portofmiami/). You can also Google and some articles are out there about this. The no tipping signs are at a couple of ports (I believe San Diego and Port Canaveral). The other U.S. ports have signs saying that tipping is optional or not required.

[FLACRUISER99]

I have long suspected that the porters are well paid members of the International Longshoremen's Association, but this is the first time I have seen it published. I wasted a couple of hours once trying to find this out. It is probably common knowledge to locals living in Ft. Lauderdale or Miami. Do you have any links to confirmation of this information?

I have never seen the "no tipping" signs.I have someone posted a photo a while back but I could not find it. However again I have seen the sings!

[photomikey]

The guys who have loaded my bags in the past in San Diego are neither unioneers nor well paid, they look a step above homeless and appear to have responded to a job flyer that said "can you move bags from here to there?". There are no signs that say "no tipping".

I don't generally tip aboard above and beyond the auto-tip and the 15% at the bar. But I do generally tip $1/bag to people who have to shlep my stuff - be it at a hotel or onto a ship.

If I witnessed some of what some of you have talked about, I consider that extortion, and I'd be either looking for someone in charge or writing the port authority (or calling the news).

[whogo]

The guys who have loaded my bags in the past in San Diego are neither unioneers nor well paid, they look a step above homeless and appear to have responded to a job flyer that said "can you move bags from here to there?".Can you identify a union man by his looks? How do you know they are not union?

[Himself]

If someone went over and above what would be expected, it would be aprapro to tip them. However, do NOT tip the Priest Chaplain.

[terrierterror]

Was he the van driver or the porter at the dock? Your description seems vague. If he was the van driver, he is probably not included with the union long-shoremen described earlier. He may have been lumping himself in with the "hardworking" men who put your bags on the ship -- which is misleading. He has nothing to do with them.

As for everyone's characterization of these workers -- yes, they are union, yes they make a lot of money, and no, they do not do one piece of work over their written job description. If the sign says NO TIPPING, I don't tip.

[terrierterror]

Dealing with the dockside luggage handlers can be either disgusting or hysterical.....depending upon how you want to look at it.

On one of our cruises, we arrived at the port in a van from the hotel, and there were 7 or 8 of us and our luggage. The van driver unloaded the luggage and placed it on the curb. There were huge "NO TIPPING" signs posted on the wall behind the luggage bins, so some of the passengers headed for the check-in area.

A great big fella with a booming voice blocked their way and announced that he wanted all the passengers who just got off the van to gather around him. He then proceeded to tell everyone that they had to identify their luggage and "show a little appreciation" to the men who "take good care of loading their bags on the ship!" As he said "show appreciation" he waved the greenbacks he had in his hand, so there was no misunderstanding. I was standing there with a $5 bill in my hand, and he just reached over and pulled it out of my fingers before I could blink.

We always tip the baggage handlers, but it seems like some of them have been trained in the Tony Soprano school of charm and finance.


Was he the van driver or the porter at the dock? Your description seems vague. If he was the van driver, he is probably not included with the union long-shoremen described earlier. He may have been lumping himself in with the "hardworking" men who put your bags on the ship -- which is misleading. He has nothing to do with them.
As for everyone's characterization of these workers -- yes, they are union, yes they make a lot of money, and no, they do not do one piece of work over their written job description. If the sign says NO TIPPING, I don't tip.

[serendipity1499]

Thanks, everyone. I just didn't know if, say, the person who takes our bags when we arrive gets tipped from the pool or do I need to tip him - that sort of thing. I doubt my teens will be using the kids club; that's not usually their thing, but I'll keep the info about them in mind just in case.

Oh Yes..Suggest you tip the Porters!

We give the pier porters $6 for two bags, $10 for the rare times that we have three. Just about everyone in the ship Hotel Department except officers is included in the pool, but we think you should tip extra for extra services such as in the Spa, room service, and Club HAL.

We do the same as you do...For our normal three bags plus a 4 small bottle box of wine/tonic we give the porter who checks our luggage at the dock $10.00..Also give those who take our luggage on disembarkation through customs & to the car rental shuttle bus $10 to $15 depending on how much we have..

<SNIP>

As for everyone's characterization of these workers -- yes, they are union, yes they make a lot of money, and no, they do not do one piece of work over their written job description. If the sign says NO TIPPING, I don't tip.

Ohhh..IMO that's taking a very big chance:eek:..Having worked in the Airline Industry & knowing how many Porters work, I would never take a chance that our luggage will perhaps go into the "drink" by mistake or worse yet missing :eek::eek:...

Cheers....:)Betty

[kazu]

If someone went over and above what would be expected, it would be aprapro to tip them. However, do NOT tip the Priest Chaplain.

Love it Himself - a little humour in the hour of need :)

[Texas Tillie]

If someone went over and above what would be expected, it would be aprapro to tip them. However, do NOT tip the Priest Chaplain.

What about buying him a drink??:eek::D:p;)

[Boytjie]

FLL porters will REQUEST a tip.

In four cruises from Port Everglades I have not once had a porter ask for a tip (1 Princess, 3 HAL cruises).

[jtl513]

In four cruises from Port Everglades I have not once had a porter ask for a tip (1 Princess, 3 HAL cruises).In five HAL sailings from FLL we never have either.

[GeriatricNurse]

In four cruises from Port Everglades I have not once had a porter ask for a tip (1 Princess, 3 HAL cruises).

In five HAL sailings from FLL we never have either.


And all your luggage arrived (dry) and intact?:eek: Gosh, I should give it a try, (whether I am asked or it is "suggested" to tip)! It just might become the start of a trend (and save a bit of money in the process)! ;)

[catl331]

And all your luggage arrived (dry) and intact?:eek: Gosh, I should give it a try, (whether I am asked or it is "suggested" to tip)! It just might become the start of a trend (and save a bit of money in the process)! ;)Of course we tip the porters. Read what was said:
I have not once had a porter ask for a tip

[Gonzo70]

And all your luggage arrived (dry) and intact?:eek: Gosh, I should give it a try, (whether I am asked or it is "suggested" to tip)! It just might become the start of a trend (and save a bit of money in the process)! ;)

Absolutely. They are SALARIED!!!!! No tip is expected or warranted if all you do is hand them your luggage as you enter the terminal. They earn upper middle class salaries - the senior ones as much as $90 per hour. All they do is push your luggage a few yards on a cart where others take over. If you want to tip a highly paid union worker (after already paying for their service in your cruise fare) for doing 10 seconds of work, be my guest. I'd much rather save that money for the hard working staff on the ship that needs to work for six weeks to earn what the longshoremen earn in an hour. Take a look around you next time (if sailing from a U.S. port); there are signs up indicating that you do not need to tip them (or even that tipping them is not permitted in a couple of ports).

[whogo]

Absolutely. They are SALARIED!!!!! No tip is expected or warranted if all you do is hand them your luggage as you enter the terminal. They earn upper middle class salaries - the senior ones as much as $90 per hour. All they do is push your luggage a few yards on a cart where others take over. If you want to tip a highly paid union worker (after already paying for their service in your cruise fare) for doing 10 seconds of work, be my guest. I'd much rather save that money for the hard working staff on the ship that needs to work for six weeks to earn what the longshoremen earn in an hour. Take a look around you next time (if sailing from a U.S. port); there are signs up indicating that you do not need to tip them (or even that tipping them is not permitted in a couple of ports).You are describing hourly wage earners, not salaried individuals. The difference is pointed out here: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/salary

[Boytjie]

And all your luggage arrived (dry) and intact?:eek: Gosh, I should give it a try, (whether I am asked or it is "suggested" to tip)! It just might become the start of a trend (and save a bit of money in the process)! ;)

I did not say I never tipped, I said I was never asked for a tip. ;)

We have always gotten all our luggage, dry, early and intact - except for a bottle or two of wine that broke the first time we took a case onboard.

[aaerobear]

Tipping is always a touchy subject. That being said, I work at the piers (27 and 35) in San Francisco (not a porter or union employee) and i can tell you one thing for certain. The porters there are a pretty tough crowd and have no compunction whatsoever in asking for tips, many times even harassing you for them. HOWEVER, if you feel you were harassed or treated unfairly, remember his/her number (it is on their dayglo vests) and when you get in the terminal, report it to one of the check-in supervisors who will relay the information to the union shop steward and the person will be sent home.

That means they will lose 4 or 5 hours of pay, and at $48-$55 an hour, that is a lot. I have seen it happen many times and it does work. Don't tell them you are reporting them, just remember the number of the vest.

[Gonzo70]

You are describing hourly wage earners, not salaried individuals. The difference is pointed out here: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/salary

You are playing semantics and detracting from the overall point being made. By salaried I am referencing that the people serving as porters at cruise terminals are being paid generously by their employers and not receiving a reduced wage expected to be compensated by tips. I am not using technical HR language to differentiate between exempt and non-exempt employees and what not. If you want to be technical, than yes, the longshoremen are hourly wage earners, typically earning roughly $40 to $60 per hour, and while serving as "porters" are often doing overtime and taking in $60 to $90 per hour. Because so many people throw $5 to $10 in tips their way for performing 10 seconds worth of work, they are taking in massive amounts of money. Meanwhile the myriad of people who do the behind the scenes work in getting your luggage to your stateroom do 99% of the work, do not receive tips, and many earn a tiny fraction of the money the longshoremen take in.

[earl_m]

Also if you take the bus from the airport or Hotel to the ship, they will expect a tip.

[NMLady]

Thanks, everyone. I just didn't know if, say, the person who takes our bags when we arrive gets tipped from the pool or do I need to tip him - .

If you're talking about the porters outside the ship, they are not Cruise Line employees but are subcontracted, so YES, give them a tip.
When you arrive on the ship, no one takes your carry-on. You carry it yourself until you get to your cabin.

[photomikey]

Ohhh..IMO that's taking a very big chance:eek:..Having worked in the Airline Industry & knowing how many Porters work, I would never take a chance that our luggage will perhaps go into the "drink" by mistake or worse yet missing :eek::eek:...

And all your luggage arrived (dry) and intact?:eek: Gosh, I should give it a try, (whether I am asked or it is "suggested" to tip)! It just might become the start of a trend (and save a bit of money in the process)! ;)

Generally, when you're paying a bribe to someone to do what they're already paid to do instead of doing harm to person or property, it is referred to as "extortion".

When someone goes above and beyond their duty and you show your appreciation with a few dollars, that is a "tip".

What the above posters are referring to are their extortion payments, not tips.

[Hawaiidan]

No one handles anything on the docks unless he is Union... NM lady saud they are sub-contractors. Well they are in as much they dont work for the ship.
They are not on salary...it is by the hour . Depending on the port and the local contract if they even show up for work they are guaranteed a min of 8 hours pay. On a saturday they will get 1.5 Xtimes the hourly, On a Sunday or Holiday 2X times hourly. :D

Lets say, for fun they handle a car every 5 min ( proably better than that and thats an average of 3 bags per car Ok and each car gives him an average of $5 So thats 12 cars an hour from 10 to 4 = 5 hours. Are you with me? SO thats $60 an hour in tips for 5 hours + $75 an hour for 8 hours .( even if there are no bags or work to do... Holland has to pay them)
So.... for 5 hours "work" these folks get paid $ 600 in wages and $300 in tips..... $900 !!! That, folks is $180 an hour... and over $200 an hour for sundays. Many earn well over $150,000 a year.

Gonzo has it right.... to a tee. These poor souls earning hourly wages more than doctors, lawyers. pilots, scientists even more than the Captain of the ship you are getting in!!! They may dress like bums but they drive BMW and Benzes.
As to your bag ending up in the water... these guys are too lazy to carry it that far, and the $$$$ they would loose chucking your bag would not be worth it.
What their job entails is handeling you bag from the car to a hand truck and then wheeling it to a Holland america baggage skid. Thats it 100 ft at most At that point another Union Guy picks up the skid load with a fork lift and puts in on the ship.... ( The porter cant do that its not his union job. )
So Holland crew handle all the bags , do the hard work and these union folks get the dough.........
It is organized crime .... extortion. If you do tip make it a few bucks to get away from the goon squad.... Protection

[vbmom87]

This has been a very informative thread regarding the porters at the docks. I had no idea they were so well paid.

[kazu]

This has been a very informative thread regarding the porters at the docks. I had no idea they were so well paid.

Neither did I. My eyes have opened

[taxmantoo]

Neither did I. My eyes have opened

Do not believe everything you read on Cruise Critic :D There was a thread a while ago trying to prove that room stewards actually made as much money as described above !

[jkrislc]

Aren't we presuming in this thread that the porters work everyday? In less busy ports, they may only have he opportunity to work a couple of days a week. I'm not by any means trying to defend them; I'm just trying to add another perspective.

Personally, I think the expectation of tippin has gone to the extreme given the number of tip jars I see springing up all over the place.

[whogo]

In the US, we tip those who handle our luggage; bellmen, shuttle drivers, and skycaps. We don't ask to see their tax returns to judge if they are already making too much.

I go through life in a daze and have not seen the "no tipping" signs at ports. I would love to see a hidden camera sting of the blatant appeals for tips, though, and to see if the luggage or luggage tags of non-tippers go missing.

[drcpa]

...at how ugly and seemingly complex the subject of tipping becomes.
If someone at a dock or airport or platform handles my bags I give them a couple of bucks. When someone brings food to my cabin or hotel room I give them a couple of bucks. When I conclude a shore excursion I give the guide a couple of bucks. When a dive master handles my tanks I give them a couple of bucks (okay, more than just a couple)
Why do we insist on turning this subject into some sort of gut wrenching, socio-economic, class warfare, judgmental, personal, name calling, insulting thread each time someone asks a question?
Tip. Don't tip. Some do. Some don't. It's your call. But enough already.

[GeriatricNurse]

Aren't we presuming in this thread that the porters work everyday? In less busy ports, they may only have he opportunity to work a couple of days a week. I'm not by any means trying to defend them; I'm just trying to add another perspective.

Personally, I think the expectation of tippin has gone to the extreme given the number of tip jars I see springing up all over the place.


Yes, especially at "take-out" counters where all that the staff do is hand you your take-out & take your money! Supplementing their (minimum wage, I guess)! :mad:

[Gonzo70]

In the US, we tip those who handle our luggage; bellmen, shuttle drivers, and skycaps. We don't ask to see their tax returns to judge if they are already making too much.



Absolutely incorrect. In the U.S. we tip people in the service profession who receive a reduced wage that is expected to be supplemented by tips - not everybody in the service profession. For example we tip a waitress or bartender for serving us a drink, but do not tip a flight attendant for serving us a drink. We tip a shuttle driver for his service, but do not tip a city bus driver for their same level of service. Bellmen and Skycaps receive reduced salaries that are meant to be supplemented by tips, longshoremen do not.

[Gonzo70]

Yes, especially at "take-out" counters where all that the staff do is hand you your take-out & take your money! Supplementing their (minimum wage, I guess)! :mad:

I am thinking about adding a link to my signature so Cruise Critic members can tip me for my posts. :D

[Hawaiidan]

I am as gonzo so well described not against tippping for those people we know depend on tips and are paid crummy wages. NO.

What the thrust of my and I think Gonzo would agree total point was is that some people , notably the teamsters and longshoremen and associated unions have snuck in under the raydar and put themselves in a position to take advantage of we who tip the really hard working souls who make minimum wage.
That I and you should find pretty wrong....and liken it to organized crime.
And the Union makes darn sure only their members get the jobs and actively exclude any one who trys to diminish their racket and will resort to violence to keep others out! And it is a racket and it borders on criminal that being a porter/longshoremen is a closed shop... others need not apply.
As to" gee they might only work 2 days a week" I would reply they dont have to work more than that earning an easy $2000 a weekend thats $8000 a month a paltry $96,000 a year...Not bad for 2 days a week... or $48,000 a year working 1 day a week... What do you make?
And it get better... These Union guys are in positions where they are not assumed to get or declare tips, unlike the waiters etc. That means up to 1/3 of their income never gets declared !!! How would you like a cool $30,000 a year tax free skim? Nifty huh.
If you doubt for a min these facts are false... go look up labor rates for port union agreements. They are public record . This is facy not fantasy.

The point of all this is know who you are tipping, realize there are people who deserve tips and work hard. for it
Realize too there are others who seek to capitalize on that assumption.
Would you tip Donald Trump and Bill Gates if they helped you pull your suitcase from the trunk and put it on the curb. ?

[HamOp]

Would you tip Donald Trump and Bill Gates if they helped you pull your suitcase from the trunk and put it on the curb. ?

Yep, I'd pay just to see that!:D

[Hawaiidan]

As Pt barnum put it so well.... you will never go borke under estimating a persons intelligence
What would you tip Donald or Bill , so as not to be insulting? $500, $1000. a bag?
I am still laughing .

Hey...would you tip the Pope if he blessed you !

I am with Gonzo, we both wrote a lot ....we need to be tipped for the time we took under the rationale of some. If you would tip Donald Trump that says a lot.

[jkrislc]

Yes, especially at "take-out" counters where all that the staff do is hand you your take-out & take your money! Supplementing their (minimum wage, I guess)! :mad:

Agreed. Although, when I do get something specially prepared and they don't charge extra for it, I will tip.

I'll admit I'm much more generous at tipping now than when I was younger, but there are still some places where I just scratch my head and wonder what the tip jar is for.

[jkrislc]

As to" gee they might only work 2 days a week" I would reply they dont have to work more than that earning an easy $2000 a weekend

I'm not sure if you replying to me or not, but I did offer this as a perspective. I don't know enough about the porters, but do we know for sure that they're scheduled for a full day's work and receive a full day's pay? While I believe that some veteran workers probably do make this, I don't believe all of the workers are making $2,000+ a weekend.

Personally, I've never been harassed to provide a tip and I've always had friendly porters who have taken my bag and loaded it onto the carts without money in hand and seemed grateful when I offered a token of gratitude.

[drcpa]

...about people whose signature blocks are replete with all the multiple cruises they've taken, and are scheduled to take, proudly rationalizing who and why they stiff when it comes to tips.

[Gonzo70]

...about people whose signature blocks are replete with all the multiple cruises they've taken, and are scheduled to take, proudly rationalizing who and why they stiff when it comes to tips.

So it is "stiffing" someone if you do not tip a person earning a generous salary for providing basic, expected service? I take this to mean you tip city bus drivers, policemen, mayors, dental hygienists, flight attendants, baggers at the grocery store, cruise directors on the ship, chefs, teachers, etc.? I tip people generously who are in jobs where they are meant to be tipped. I do not tip people earning generous salaries for performing their most basic job duties. Apparently the longshoremen have fooled you good.

[drcpa]

...proudly rationalizing.

[Gonzo70]

...proudly rationalizing.

It takes no rationalization to not tip somebody who is not supposed to be tipped. I will gladly give extra money (above the normal recommended gratuities) to the hard working staff on board the ship. I will not give money to overpaid union workers for doing 10 seconds of work for which they are already being paid big bucks to carry out. If you'd rather give your money to the wealthy rather than to the hard working staff on the ship, so be it.

[Boytjie]

Funny how 'union' has become a four letter word.

[Hawaiidan]

Yes it is sad to see what unions that used to work for people have evolved to the exact opposite of what they began.

The figure $50 an hour is not for a Sr 20 year guy.....its for an entry level...first day on the job guy! Somehow I thinks thats overpaid..but thats me.

Thanks Gonzo for you plain english, simple statement on who you tip and who you are not wise to. I do not consider it rationalizing when one identifies real and common situations

Say did anyone have a chance to see "On the Waterfront" with Brando?
might be fun to watch...

[Willem Ruys]

The guys who have loaded my bags in the past in San Diego are neither unioneers nor well paid, they look a step above homeless and appear to have responded to a job flyer that said "can you move bags from here to there?". There are no signs that say "no tipping".

I don't generally tip aboard above and beyond the auto-tip and the 15% at the bar. But I do generally tip $1/bag to people who have to shlep my stuff - be it at a hotel or onto a ship.

If I witnessed some of what some of you have talked about, I consider that extortion, and I'd be either looking for someone in charge or writing the port authority (or calling the news).

They belong to the late Harry Bridges' International Longshoremen's Workers Union and are testier by far than the East Coast's ILA men. The ILWU make San Diego and San Pedro (Los Angeles) among the two most difficult ports for any ship operator, passenger OR cargo.

[Randyk47]

I can remember when there were terminal staff floating around in front of the terminal telling you not to tip the porters...even coming on the buses before you unloaded to tell you not to tip them. I can't remember that happening for the last two to three cruises. :) We do tip, usually a couple of dollars per bag depending on the situation. When we got to the terminal on Monday, 28 March, to board the Maasdam the taxi driver drove right to the drop off for the bags and the porter moved them all of ten feet to the cage for loading. He didn't get quite $2 per bag but he got a tip.

[cruzingmissy]

I have long suspected that the porters are well paid members of the International Longshoremen's Association, but this is the first time I have seen it published. I wasted a couple of hours once trying to find this out. It is probably common knowledge to locals living in Ft. Lauderdale or Miami. Do you have any links to confirmation of this information?

I have never seen the &quot;no tipping&quot; signs.


I live in FLL and had no knowledge of this. These men are the ones we are trusting to get our luggage onto the ship. With all the money we are paying for our cruises, does it really break the bank to slip them a five dollar bill? Come on now....

[agabbymama]

I live in FLL and had no knowledge of this. These men are the ones we are trusting to get our luggage onto the ship. With all the money we are paying for our cruises, does it really break the bank to slip them a five dollar bill? Come on now....

It very well could break the bank. When I cruise, I'm usually on a pretty tight budget, having just forked over $1000-2000 for the cruise, hotel and airfare.

My friend and I were totally surprised at how fast $100 in one dollar bills goes. That's $200 between the two of us, and when we returned home, it was totally gone. That's just tipping the taxi driver, porters, room service, tour guides, hotel maids etc.

It became the standing joke for the trip, we'd look at each other and just say tip????

[photomikey]

I love the "break the bank" argument. Would adding another $100 to the cruise fare break the bank? Don't you know that the money you pay for cruise fare goes to all those people you rave about, from the stewards to the longshoremen to the people who answer the phone calls. So naturally, you add a few dollars on to your final cruise payment, right? Or are you just cheap, and making excuses?