Tipping Currency

[noggy1980]

Hi Everyone, first post here, been lurking for a while and gained lots of great information so Thank you, My wife and I are off on our first ever cruise on the Eclipse sailing from Southampton next weekend.

 

We have prepaid our gratuities I assume this doesn't include the people we give our luggage to upon arrival? I was planning to tip about £5 for our cases, is it going to be ok to tip in pounds Sterling or in Euros? and if so which is preferable? I haven't changed any currency into dollars as this seems to be the only time I will need any as everything on ship will go on the credit card I assume.

 

When would I give this money? at the time of handing them the cases?

 

Thanks for your help

Tim

[Wine-O]

When you drop your bags off at the port, you don't have to tip. It's not necessary. When you return, if you are assisted by a porter to take your luggage from the terminal to your transport, then I think it would be appropriate to tip.

 

On board the ship, most folks will tip in dollars for room service, but it is not mandatory. I'm sure if you decide to tip anybody that goes above and beyond in service, any currency would be acceptable.

[noggy1980]

Thanks very much :)

[sandancer]

Porters at Southampton are employed by the port authorities so will be happy with tips in £. I don't think they expect tips like they do in US ports where it is almost mandatory to tip a couple of dollars for each case. Enjoy your cruise. The Eclipse is a beautiful ship.

[Phxazzcruisers]

We always give a tip to the porters when we drop off our luggage. As stated, it is not mandatory, but it is appreciated by the porters. They would appreciate tips at Southampton in GBP. Easiest currency to use. All of your on board purchases will go on your card as you thought. We do bring extra dollars to tip extra for any crew members that go "above and beyond" when serving us on the ship. We have always found the crew on Celebrity and Azamara going above and beyond. Again, not mandatory, but greatly appreciated.

What is also appreciated is mentioning the name of any crew members that give you great service on the comment card at the end of the cruise. That is how they get promotions and raises.

Enjoy your cruise !!!

[Wine-O]

Porters at Southampton are employed by the port authorities so will be happy with tips in £. I don't think they expect tips like they do in US ports where it is almost mandatory to tip a couple of dollars for each case. Enjoy your cruise. The Eclipse is a beautiful ship.

 

Yeah, the union porters in the U.S. who are making a great wage for what they do, will have their hands out for a tip. Certainly not required. I never do, and my luggage always makes to my stateroom.

[Honeybearhollow]

I would be afraid NOT to tip porters at cruise ships or airline terminals. I've heard too many stories about luggage being "lost". I tip them well and then stand and watch them while it is put on the cart.

[Islandgirl4242]

We cruised on the Solstice out of Sydney last December and when I tried to hand the porter some money he smiled and said something like, "no tips, this is my job...have a great cruise." He was in his 20's and seemed to genuinely enjoy helping passengers. Nothing at all like we encounter at US embarkations. ~~Judy

[sandancer]

Yeah, the union porters in the U.S. who are making a great wage for what they do, will have their hands out for a tip. Certainly not required. I never do, and my luggage always makes to my stateroom.

 

Like Honeybearhollow, I would not be brave enough to not tip them. Some of them are pretty scary.

[jomf]

We cruised on the Solstice out of Sydney last December and when I tried to hand the porter some money he smiled and said something like, "no tips, this is my job...have a great cruise." He was in his 20's and seemed to genuinely enjoy helping passengers. Nothing at all like we encounter at US embarkations. ~~Judy

 

The culture in Australia is against tipping. They are well paid so therefore people don't tip and don't need to tip. Refreshing!

[HappyTvlr]

We cruised on the Solstice out of Sydney last December and when I tried to hand the porter some money he smiled and said something like, "no tips, this is my job...have a great cruise." He was in his 20's and seemed to genuinely enjoy helping passengers. Nothing at all like we encounter at US embarkations. ~~Judy

This is exactly why this Yank loves living down under! No offense to my fellow Americans, but I cringe at all the hands that are put out when I visit the US. My all time favorite being the young man at the Ritz in New Orleans showing me how to flip a light switch and then sticking his hand out. I too tip in the US when I drop my bags at the cruise terminal because I want that extra insurance that my bags will turn up. Is it necessary? Who knows, but I don't walk away from the porters worried.

[helpthejuggler]

The OP asked about tipping porters at Southampton.

 

Many responses are accurate for common practice with porters in the US so miss the important distinction and differences.

 

We have embarked at UK ports (Southampton and Dover) 9 times and have not tipped the porters when embarking. I only recall seeing others do so once or twice. It really is not expected or common practice.

 

Your bags will reach your room in the UK, there is no protection racket.

 

Wine-O was quite correct about when returning. Porters are available to assist taking your bags to your car. When I have asked them for help and the car is some distance (RCI and X sailings) I tipped a few GBPs.

 

Onboard Celebrity in Europe I mainly use Euros since I need them anyway and have no good reason to specifically obtain USD. If I have some already I take them along.

 

If you use the Casino then USD are needed to play, but we don't so not a factor.

[noggy1980]

Thanks everyone some very useful information, I hadn't realised the porters at the port would be employed by the port and thus uk staff and not the cruise ship. I likely won't tip them unless they go above and beyond and that is possible since I'm in a wheelchair and so it's likely to be a struggle for Andrea (my wife) with me and the cases.

 

I hadn't thought about needing USD for the casino so thanks for that, might be worth getting a couple hundred after all. We arn't big gamblers but 100USD each and when its gone it's gone would probably add to the trip.

 

So excited 9 days to go, a little nervous but mostly excited.

[Jack_Tar]

Hi Everyone, first post here, been lurking for a while and gained lots of great information so Thank you, My wife and I are off on our first ever cruise on the Eclipse sailing from Southampton next weekend.

 

We have prepaid our gratuities I assume this doesn't include the people we give our luggage to upon arrival? I was planning to tip about £5 for our cases, is it going to be ok to tip in pounds Sterling or in Euros? and if so which is preferable? I haven't changed any currency into dollars as this seems to be the only time I will need any as everything on ship will go on the credit card I assume.

 

When would I give this money? at the time of handing them the cases?

 

Thanks for your help

Tim

 

Noggy1980,

 

Are you sailing on the Eclipse, if you are, have a look in Roll Calls under Celebrity "connections" roll call, 'Eclipse Roll Calls' then you will see a thread for the 8th September, it quite a few pages but worth the read.

 

Dickie

[noggy1980]

Thanks Dickie, yes we are on the Eclipse on the 8th. I'll check out the roll call ty