tipping porters, tour bus drivers and guides, etc. (Royal)

[Sunshine3601]

3 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

could of just handed him the $40 bucks in cash

Since he specifically asked for Nyquil I wanted to fulfill his request and it was something he couldn't get at the crew store. 

[billslowsky]

6 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

could of just handed him the $40 bucks in cash

And pass up the savior complex?

[LGW59]

8 minutes ago, billslowsky said:

Several people have posted things like that.  They must look at crew members as downtrodden and helpless, like animals in a petting zoo.

 

Never mind the ease of ordering such mundane items via the internet...  they must not have hear of such a wonder in their poverty stricken homelands.

Just my opinion but the GUMPTION to even think it is OK to ask questions like this of the crew.  To your point, these folks absolutely feel like they are rescuing someone, someone who has a good job that they want to do, make good tips (hint hint, that is what they want) when a busy body asks them and guilts them into if they need something from the store, WTH do you expect them to say, no thanks lady just give me a wad of cash!   

[Amberle3]

15 hours ago, mcatmcat said:

I wonder why people in the port of Miami don't use the self luggage drop area ( I can't remember the exact name) but as I get to the terminal I roll my luggage to that area next to the entrance and drop the luggages myself and I say good bye to them as the move away from me in the conveyor belt while the other that people paid  over 5$ still exposed to strangers outside the terminal  

Having not sailed out of Miami before, could you please tell me where this is located so I can direct the Uber driver there?

[time4u2go]

3 hours ago, ThirstyCruiser said:

They are not going to show any displeasure no matter what you hand them to avoid the risk of insulting you.

Bingo!

[wake74]

But....but.....we are Americans.....everyone not like us must need our charity and saving.

 

The crew isn't interested in your charity any more than they are interested in being your friend.  It's their job to be friendly.  Don't confuse it for friendship.  They have a job, and families and friends no different than any of the rest of us, and just see another random batch of strangers every 7 days.  They forget you 10 minutes after you leave, when the next batch arrives.  That's by no means an excuse to be rude, but it's equally as rude to cross the line and treat the crew like they are your prodigal child that needs to kiss the ring for some care package.

 

I'm sure it does make for some laughs in the crew mess though.  

[LGW59]

14 minutes ago, wake74 said:

But....but.....we are Americans.....everyone not like us must need our charity and saving.

 

The crew isn't interested in your charity any more than they are interested in being your friend.  It's their job to be friendly.  Don't confuse it for friendship.  They have a job, and families and friends no different than any of the rest of us, and just see another random batch of strangers every 7 days.  They forget you 10 minutes after you leave, when the next batch arrives.  That's by no means an excuse to be rude, but it's equally as rude to cross the line and treat the crew like they are your prodigal child that needs to kiss the ring for some care package.

 

I'm sure it does make for some laughs in the crew mess though.  

wait, wait, don't you get their personal contact information so you can keep in touch with them, send birthday greetings, anniversary wishes.  Cruisers know the lines do not want them to do this, and it can and has gotten some trying to be pleasing/keep the customer happy crew member in trouble because pretend Mother Theresa  swooped in to save.  Folks, it is a cruise, wonderful hardworking folks who make our vacations relaxing and special, leave it at that, let them do their jobs, tip generously for good service, Say thank you as you leave and let them get ready for the next round or cruisers.  

[Cigar King]

5 hours ago, ThirstyCruiser said:

Trust me, a $50 bill will be more appreciated than Summer's Eve. Every. Single. Time.

My man!  😉

[Ocean Boy]

On 1/14/2022 at 1:49 PM, RoyalC said:

I've found most of them to be unfriendly and pushy to say the least. I've found everyone I see that tips is up to $5 max total for their luggage. Cruise critic always evolves into who says/claims they tip more. 

Yes they are pushy and unfriendly, at least I have found that to be true at Port Everglades. Two weekends ago when I arrived the porter gave me a line about how tips were not required but he was going to get my bag all the way to my cabin. Lie to me and you are very unlikely to get the response that you are looking for.

[Ocean Boy]

On 1/10/2022 at 8:01 PM, LGW59 said:

Scare tactics, LOL.  Don’t tip if you don’t want to, I was offering my reasons for doing so.  If one wants to be cheap, no problem at least you own it.

You offer your reason for your behavior then have to call someone names who doesn't do the same as you. Yeah, got it. 😏🙄

[Rusty_lock]

6 hours ago, LGW59 said:

OMG, no words...

 

6 hours ago, billslowsky said:

Several people have posted things like that.  They must look at crew members as downtrodden and helpless, like animals in a petting zoo.

 

Never mind the ease of ordering such mundane items via the internet...  they must not have hear of such a wonder in their poverty stricken homelands.

I can't, in my wildest imagination, see myself handing my cabin attendant a package of tampons.

[Rusty_lock]

6 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

When on our recent Anthem sailing I asked our wait staff, casino bartender and room steward if they needed anything while we are onshore.      One asked for Nyquil as he likes to take to help him sleep like a baby and another one asked for Tums as they are hard to get in their store or charge a fortune when they do have them.    No problem finding tums but my first 2 islands I stopped in several different shop and everyone had Dayquil but not Nyquil.    finally found Nyquil in Barbados but it cost $19.50 a bottle.     bought him 2 since he asked for it and apparently is hard to find.      He was so Thankful.     We will be back on Anthem end of march and will be on the same floor and he said he should be working our cabin as he has been since he started on Anthem.     I plan on bringing him a couple bottles from home, much cheaper here. 

Now this I can get on board with.  I would still tip him/her at the end of the cruise but getting something along the way is a very nice gesture.

[Ocean Boy]

13 minutes ago, Rusty_lock said:

 

I can't, in my wildest imagination, see myself handing my cabin attendant a package of tampons.

Me either, on most of my cruises they were guys.

[LGW59]

50 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

You offer your reason for your behavior then have to call someone names who doesn't do the same as you. Yeah, got it. 😏🙄

I offered all of my reasons for why I tip the way I do.  You don't have to like it or agree with it, I don't really care.  Never told anyone what THEY should tip, just offered why and how I do for me.  Also, did not call ANYONE names, just pointed out my personal perspective of cheap.  

[Ocean Boy]

4 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

I offered all of my reasons for why I tip the way I do.  You don't have to like it or agree with it, I don't really care.  Never told anyone what THEY should tip, just offered why and how I do for me.  Also, did not call ANYONE names, just pointed out my personal perspective of cheap.  

Ok, got it.... again.

[wake74]

50 minutes ago, Rusty_lock said:

 

I can't, in my wildest imagination, see myself handing my cabin attendant a package of tampons.

 

It makes you wonder what little Johnny and Sally get for Christmas from Grandma.   Sally is getting Tampons and Johnny some anti-fungal itch cream.  Makes Clark's Jelly of the Month Club look pretty good 🙂

[Sunshine3601]

50 minutes ago, Rusty_lock said:

Now this I can get on board with.  I would still tip him/her at the end of the cruise but getting something along the way is a very nice gesture.

Yes, we did leave a cash tip and end of cruise as well as a bag of reese peanut butter cups.  

[Old Fart Cruisers]

1 hour ago, Rusty_lock said:

 

I can't, in my wildest imagination, see myself handing my cabin attendant a package of tampons.

Maybe I'll carry a large box of tampons around with me so I can just hand out a few to the Uber drivers, the porter that take my luggage, the bartenders & bar servers, dining room staff. . . .

[Rusty_lock]

3 hours ago, wake74 said:

 

It makes you wonder what little Johnny and Sally get for Christmas from Grandma.   Sally is getting Tampons and Johnny some anti-fungal itch cream.  Makes Clark's Jelly of the Month Club look pretty good 🙂

And my grandkids think I'm weird 😱

[PTAngel]

To me tipping the porters makes sense.  My husband used a mobility scooter & I usually push his rollator on board.  It makes it impossible to handle luggage.  When we disembark, I usually get a porter & he puts all our checked luggage, carry-ons, backpacks & CPAPS in a cart & pushes it to the car & unloads into the car.  Is it worth $20.00?  You bet!!  I sometimes feel like it is not enough if he puts the scooter & rollator in the car too.  I have them very accommodating.  

 

[neverbeenhere]

No better reading then a tipping thread.

 

I will say, that we are friends with the crew members that have come to stay with us when traveling the Western US.

 

Sure the crew like cash, but like anyone else they also appreciate folks that put out an extra effort to be friendly. 
 

Keep cruising, do what makes you happy. 

[boscobeans]

It's hard to imagine what chaos there would be with no porters unloading baggage from car to trolley..

 

[billslowsky]

1 hour ago, boscobeans said:

It's hard to imagine what chaos there would be with no porters unloading baggage from car to trolley..

 

It would be like an airport.

[little britain]

20 hours ago, LGW59 said:

could of just handed him the $40 bucks in cash

What part of he cannot get the items onboard the ship, and they are not allowed off the ship do you not understand?

The crew members are unable to get specific items. Dishing out cash like Daddy Warbucks would not be appreciated as much as someone going to the effort to find these specific brands for them.  It is the thought that counts.

 

 

[Ocean Boy]

9 hours ago, PTAngel said:

To me tipping the porters makes sense.  My husband used a mobility scooter & I usually push his rollator on board.  It makes it impossible to handle luggage.  When we disembark, I usually get a porter & he puts all our checked luggage, carry-ons, backpacks & CPAPS in a cart & pushes it to the car & unloads into the car.  Is it worth $20.00?  You bet!!  I sometimes feel like it is not enough if he puts the scooter & rollator in the car too.  I have them very accommodating.  

 

So I think what you are showing is that we all have different needs. For you a porter is essential and I can see tipping for their service. I don't have such a need. I would prefer to deliver my own bags to a drop off or put them on the trolley myself. Why should I have to use a service that I neither want nor need and have to deal with an attitude, fishing for a tip, and lying about the actual service that is going to be provided and then tip on top of it all for something I did not want in the first place?