Tip Porters?

[davekathy]

Well, I thought that was the case in the US. Also in Costa Rica.

Thanks for confirming my doubts.

[lenquixote66]

$10 for 2 bags

[acapulco1922]

The last time we sailed from Florida the check-in was pure extortion. Pay up or maybe lose your luggage.

 

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[goldenrod]

We have never tipped the porters in all our 37 cruises, they are union and very well paid but we always tip the drivers who take us to the port $1 per bag.

 

 

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[davekathy]

The last time we sailed from Florida the check-in was pure extortion. Pay up or maybe lose your luggage.

 

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The check in process was pure extortion?:confused:

[remaxlu]

After two negative experiences we always carry our own bags onto the ship. The added bonus is being able to unpack immediately.

 

 

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[hate2shop]

After two negative experiences we always carry our own bags onto the ship. The added bonus is being able to unpack immediately.

 

 

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Never had a negative experience but we now also carry our own bags on the ship. We also don't bring much and like to board late.

[vulcan1971]

If that happened to me, in the future I would get a $1 bill with several blank sheets of paper and fold it over a couple of times so he thinks he's really getting a wad.

 

 

 

Good tip! (pun intended). [emoji12]

 

I’ll keep that in mind for the future.

 

 

Walter

 

 

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[vulcan1971]

I'm not going to argue if I should tip or not, I do.

 

We did a Carnival cruise out of Miami a month ago and didn't feel much pressure at all from our porter.

We did Uber from our hotel and a porter met us at the car and was actually quite kind. He asked if we had been to this port before and we had not. So he took a couple of minutes to explain the layout of the building, what paperwork to make sure we had handy and so on. It was nice.

 

 

 

How wonderful for you! That is worth a tip.

 

 

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[Fouremco]

Good tip! (pun intended). [emoji12]

 

I’ll keep that in mind for the future.

 

 

Walter

 

 

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Just make sure that your bag is well on its way before he goes to count the "generous" tip!:cool:

[cltnccruisers]

$5 for 2 bags if I have to move them more than 2 feet. $10 if a porter meets me at the back of the car.

[kathynorth]

Our experience with the porter for our last Celebrity cruise was a real turnoff. Before we even finished dropping off the luggages, the big guy held his hand out said "Time to pay up now!" We were taken aback and we should have reported his behavior to guest services but we totally forgot about it until we got home. Yes, we always tip and quite generously, but having someone demand it from you in that manner was totally unacceptable.

 

FYI, the porters don't work for the cruiseline, they work for the port authority for that specific port.

[bEwAbG]

I've also had the "tip or else" experience a couple of times in Miami. I like to think it was bad actors in both cases but it did feel like extortion, especially when I was already prepared to hand over a tip without the prodding. One did actually say "and this is the part where you give me a tip for my service." Very off-putting no matter what their wage. The port should do something about it because it creates a very negative impression and obviously happens quite often just based on the handful of reports here.

[fleckle]

I've also had the "tip or else" experience a couple of times in Miami. I like to think it was bad actors in both cases but it did feel like extortion, especially when I was already prepared to hand over a tip without the prodding. One did actually say "and this is the part where you give me a tip for my service." Very off-putting no matter what their wage. The port should do something about it because it creates a very negative impression and obviously happens quite often just based on the handful of reports here.

 

My suggestion is to report this to the Port of Miami

 

Contact PortMiami Customer Service at 305-347-5515

or by email.

pomservice@miamidade.gov

They say Your feedback is appreciated!

 

P.S. If you send them an email, please copy and paste the messages from the other people who had the same experience into your email, so they don't think it was just an isolated incident.

Edited February 9, 2018 by fleckle

[cltnccruisers]

My suggestion is to report this to the Port of Miami

 

Contact PortMiami Customer Service at 305-347-5515

or by email.

pomservice@miamidade.gov

They say Your feedback is appreciated!

 

P.S. If you send them an email, please copy and paste the messages from the other people who had the same experience into your email, so they don't think it was just an isolated incident.

 

Unfortunately, when weighed against a potential longshoreman's strike a few cruisers complaining about getting strong-armed won't amount to a hill of beans.

[thirstyman1]

We tried to tip them in Australia, and they refused to take it

[GerScot]

Never felt forced to tip in UK or

Europe, never asked if they were in a union either! I go on a cruise to enjoy and will not think of these things, if someone helps me with anything I will tip!

[Silkroad]

As a Brit, I must say that it appears to me that many Americans are a bit obsessed with tipping. When in the US, we tip waiters (20% when service is good, 15% if it’s a bit poor) because we understand that you have a different system to the rest of the world and they are only paid a small retainer by the restaurant. We know that the tip is essentially simply paying the wait staff for their service.

 

Individual Americans who tip all over the place, merited or not and having an impact on other cultures expectations.

 

I do not tip porters at cruise ports though and nothing bad has ever happened to my bags (and yes I have been through Fort Lauderdale). If one held their hand out to me, I might shake it!

 

Being an American who realizes customs vary, I try to learn what’s appropriate before traveling to a new area. I certainly don’t wish to waste my money on tips that aren’t customary. Nor do I wish to offend anyone by offering unwanted tips. As tourists, we’re all having an impact on expectations of other cultures.

Incidentally, in the US, I tip servers 20% for excellent service, but most certainly less than 15% if service is a bit poor. I suspect your impression of US minimum wages for servers is outdated. US minimum wages vary by state, but most states require servers to be paid considerably more than the $2.75 per hour vehemently quoted to me by a fellow (non-US) passenger on a recent cruise.

When next in the port of Miami, I do think I’ll try shaking the hand of any porter who holds his hand out to me after shoving my bag onto a mound of bags at the curb:D

[Gonzo70]

I go on a cruise to enjoy and will not think of these things, if someone helps me with anything I will tip!

 

Really?!? I have never heard of anybody doing this. I have always believed only service personnel earning reduced wages were meant to be tipped for routine service and others only if they go above and beyond (and some professions not even then). Curious, how much do you tip for the following help:

 

*A flight attendant when they serve you a beverage?

*The personnel who checks you in at the cruise terminal and gives you your sea pass?

*The person in charge of the tenders?

*The person leading your muster drill?

*Activities staff hosting trivia?

*A nurse assisting you at a doctor’s visit?

*All the people who at the port and on the ship that do 99% of the work in getting your luggage from the cruise terminal to your stateroom who you don’t see (after passing it off to the union longshoremen earning six figure wages who push your luggage a few yards on a cart and then move on to the next guest, leaving low paid, behind the scenes people to do all the work)?

[Jade13]

Really - is that a fact or an understanding; do they have 40 hours of work a week or just when ships are arriving or leaving port? After many cruises from multiple ports, I have never encountered a rude, disrespectful porter or anyone coming close to "extorting" money from me.

 

 

I will tip $5 per checked bag because I know there are a bunch of cheapskates out there who have rationalized that tipping someone who handles your bag and provides a service like this is some kind of rip-off and will tip zero to a dollar or two a bag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To put a bag on a cart or conveyer belt???

 

We pull our own bags but do have to hand them over to someone eventually.

 

 

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[jnckaufman]

To put a bag on a cart or conveyer belt???

 

We pull our own bags but do have to hand them over to someone eventually.

 

 

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Folks - the OP is boarding the ship today. I’ll be there to snap a picture of her smile when her bag arrives.

 

Seriously, this entire site is about vacation planning. Take a really big deep breath of sea air and relax.

 

 

 

 

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[Jade13]

Pathetic rationalization to not pay a tip; you have no idea how these people are compensated. And if I'm not mistaken, I believe that you're the sour-puss standing in front of me at Guest Relations on my last cruise insisting that the gratuities be removed from your bill. Sad

 

 

 

Are you saying that after pulling your luggage, and standing in line that you tip the people who you hand over your luggage to that place it into a cart (or conveyor belt)? There are two discussions going on here. One are true porters who take ones luggage and cart it through lines, to the terminal etc., and the other is where folks take their own luggage ( we are in that group), but at some point we hand it to someone - and on our last few cruises it was just a few seconds for someone placing the luggage on a cart with others luggage. We see no reason to tip in that scenario and didn’t notice anyone ahead of us tip either.

 

 

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[zonacruiser25]

Such a typical CC thread, I asked earlier specifically for Sydney if tipping is expected or appropriate there. It seems many Aussies make it known that tipping is not expected or in many cases appreciated in Australia. I always tip porters in the ports I have visited. This is our first trip down under and just want to do what is expected. So looking forward to enjoying Sydney and our cruise. Thanks in advance for any help

[WAMarathoner]

Yes, I do it my way, my way is to offer a tip, if others look down on that that's your or their problem. If there was signage that specifically said no tipping of course I wouldn't, but in my travels all over the world I have never seen such signage in resort areas.

We were surprised to see such a sign at the Port of Vancouver. We tipped anyway because we had left some paperwork in a bag that needed to be retrieved; the baggage handler was very appreciative, and it was clear it was not expected.

 

Last time we were in Japan, I left a tip on a resort restaurant table and the waitress came running after me to return it. I explained the American custom, but she refused to accept it.

 

On my Christmas list I added a backpack designed with carry-on luggage in mind. We've already test packed it for March. 2 full changes of clothes for each, bathing suits, all meds, cruise and port paperwork, cameras, cell phones, Kindle, assorted chargers, books - still have room. Always good to have a backup plan.

I think this is a great idea. My son just got back from a cruise where he packed everything in one carry-on satchel. Flew cheap-o air who said it was too large to be considered a personal item. He smiled warmly, started taking clothes out and putting them on, asking whether or not it was small enough now after each item. I think he said he had all five shirts and two pair of pants on before the terminal person would consider it small enough to be a personal item. We might try the backpack idea. Sure would be easier not dealing with baggage claim at the airport -- and we're flying into FLL. Y'all have me concerned.

Edited April 12, 2018 by WAMarathoner

[El_Rolfo]

To the post saying tip in every country; over here in Finland you'd probably get a look for trying to tip, it is not customary here nor do anyone expect it. And the total pay the porters would receive here yearly is way less than in the US. Another funny place to tip that seems customary in the US is in the casino at the tables (I've understood). And both at the port and in the casino they make 6 figures a year for that. That's just weird. Do people pay tax on the tips or do you make 100k for lifting some bags? I should just move over there and leave my IT job for that. :)