Tipping at the port? How much?

[LovetheSea]

Years ago in Florida we tipped a porter who helped with our luggage at the port. We gave him $5. for two bags. As we were walking away he said "cheap". It has been a couple years since we cruised. Stopped after Covid hit. Seattle RT port. What would be a fair tip for two bags? After the cruise. taking it through the terminal to outside.

[skynight]

9 minutes ago, LovetheSea said:

Years ago in Florida we tipped a porter who helped with our luggage at the port. We gave him $5. for two bags. As we were walking away he said "cheap". It has been a couple years since we cruised. Stopped after Covid hit. Seattle RT port. What would be a fair tip for two bags? After the cruise. taking it through the terminal to outside.

Ignore the comment. If it is a Red Cap porter they basically work for tips, but whatever you provide should be fine.

[Tak8]

5 seems reasonable to me.

[4hunters]

I usually give $5 per bag.  However, that porter was way out of line.

[donaldsc]

Here we go again.  I think that $5 was more than enough.  After all - all they are doing is picking up your luggage and carrying it 5 feet to a cart.  Figure that they can do it once every 5 minutes.  That is 12 pickup per hour so they are making $60 per hour for really easy manual labor.  Most of the work getting your luggage to your cabin is done by other people who are not making $60 per hours.  Are most of us making $60 per hour.  I don't feel sorry for them.

 

DON

[Dthomas1]

The porter's in Charleston are Union so I would imagine their paid pretty well.

I read an article where someone didn't tip because they were well paid and began

to walk away, One of the porter's made a comment, " I hope your luggage doesn't

get lost! He wound giving them a couple of bucks to not take the chance.

 

[tonit964]

10 minutes ago, Dthomas1 said:

The porter's in Charleston are Union so I would imagine their paid pretty well.

I read an article where someone didn't tip because they were well paid and began

to walk away, One of the porter's made a comment, " I hope your luggage doesn't

get lost! He wound giving them a couple of bucks to not take the chance.

 

This is exactly why I tip them about $3 per bag. I don’t want to take any chances, it’s a small price to pay for somewhat peace of mind.

 

[MissP22]

It's just as easy to take your own bags onto the ship and bypass the porters altogether. 

[Phantom of the Seas]

$10 two big bags.....don’t want the hassle with big bags...

[WatchHill]

11 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

It's just as easy to take your own bags onto the ship and bypass the porters altogether. 

Not all luggage fits through the scanners. Standardsized suit cases, like the ones we check in for a flight, will not go through. Tried it a few times and was sent to the back of the line.

 

The tipping at USA ports is one more reson I prefer leaving from Southampton UK.

 

Dacy

[ruimin]

11 minutes ago, WatchHill said:

Not all luggage fits through the scanners. Standardsized suit cases, like the ones we check in for a flight, will not go through. Tried it a few times and was sent to the back of the line.

 

The tipping at USA ports is one more reson I prefer leaving from Southampton UK.

 

Dacy

Do you tip them at Southampton port?

 Thanks 

[HappyCruiserettu]

3 minutes ago, ruimin said:

Do you tip them at Southampton port?

 Thanks 

I was wondering as well. (Asking for a friend.)

[memoak]

44 minutes ago, Dthomas1 said:

The porter's in Charleston are Union so I would imagine their paid pretty well.

I read an article where someone didn't tip because they were well paid and began

to walk away, One of the porter's made a comment, " I hope your luggage doesn't

get lost! He wound giving them a couple of bucks to not take the chance.

 

One year leaving from SF a couple of bags ended up in the water during a labor dispute

[donaldsc]

9 minutes ago, CarelessAndConfused said:

I said recently in another forum that I thought $5 was excessive per bag for the limited amount of work in carrying it a very short distance.  However, upon reflection, they are doing this for hours and so the wear must build up.  I don't know the answer but I would say $3-5 seems appropriate depending on the bag.  If it is a 50+ pound bag (22-25 KG for the non-U.S. folks), then $5 does maybe seems appropriate. 

 

They picked a job that paid a good hourly rate in exchange for doing hard work.  There are jobs out there that may pay less but are easier on their bodies.  There are also skilled labor jobs that pay more but require more skills.  They made that career choice.  It isn't my problem if they don't like the negatives of the job. 

 

BTW - I am waiting for someone to say "but they only work a few hours per week".  Again - not my problem.

 

DON

[Cruise Raider]

I've always thought that tipping the porters at the terminal should be $5 per large bag and $2 - $3 for each small bag given to the porters.  I believe this info came from a Trip Advisor tipping guide I used to have.  

Perhaps the ones that turn around and comment about people being cheap is from learned behavior ... they may try to guilt people into tipping more.  However, that seems sufficient to go by this standard.  I've not ever had one of the porters be rude in the past.  They always thanked me and off they went.  

[partybarbie]

We also tip $5 per bag, but they are 50 pounds each.  I don’t look at it as paying the porter for how far he takes it. It’s how far I don’t have to take it.

[KLM3164]

We tip $10 for 2 large suitcases.

[Lady Arwen]

Same….10.00 for two large suitcases.  Always received our luggage in a timely manner and in good condition.   I have heard about people who chose not to tip the porters and their luggage mysteriously disappeared.  I don’t know if it’s true, but I don’t want to test it out.

[CineGraphic]

I had a porter in Fort Lauderdale try to get me to believe that he was personally taking our bags to our cabin door. Sadly, I'm pretty sure that every day some folks believe him and tip accordingly.

[voljeep]

$5 for 2 bags - 25 inch - to take out of back of SUV and put on cart at embarkation

$20 for the same 2 bags to help us go thru customs and take to our SUV at the port - terminal 2 PE

[Mike45LC]

Voljeep made Ann important distinction.  Embarkation, the porter is just moving your bags a short distance to where the ship takes over.  For this, I tip $10.

 

Disembarkation, the porter takes all of your bags and escorts you through customs and immigration, and (in my case) drops your bags off at the parking lot pickup area.  $30 minimum.

[Thrak]

One more example of the idiotic "tipping culture" in the US. I will never understand why people expect to be tipped for simply doing their job.

[memoak]

22 minutes ago, Thrak said:

One more example of the idiotic "tipping culture" in the US. I will never understand why people expect to be tipped for simply doing their job.

Does that mean you don’t tip taxi drivers, waiters, bartenders etc ?  They are only doing there job. I tip my barber also

[voljeep]

tipping as a % of the 'bill' - that's what I don't understand and like

 

a 20% tip on a $1,000 bottle of wine - $200

a 20% tip on a $50 bottle of wine - $10

 

 

[sloopsailor]

27 minutes ago, CarelessAndConfused said:

 

I don't get your point.  Do you also not ever tip at a restaurant?  If so, then I get where you're coming from as your philosophy may be that tips are optional, and you choose not to.  But if you do tip when dining out, then it seems very inconsistent that you would (edited to add; "not") tip porters.

 

A major difference is that restaurant staff aren't union members earning $100,000 per year BEFORE tips. Cruise ship porters belong to the Longshoreman's Union in most US ports, and are already being paid high union wages to do those porter jobs. These positions are highly coveted and are seniority based. By handling 200 suitcases at $5 tip each, the most well paid union dock workers are also getting $1000 plus PER DAY in tips. Quite the scam.