Why or When should porters be tipped?

[VentureMan_2000]

Someone posted the Porters are Union workers who work for the Port, not the cruise lines. That they are the ONLY PEOPLE ALLOWED to move your luggage to the ship (Union... don't you know).

 

This same person posted that they gave their bags to a Porter who carried them 10 feet behind a rope to a luggage collection station at the check-in, that passengers are not allowed into. And that he tipped them $1 per bag for this. The Porters then load these pieces of luggage onto a luggage trolley train (like you see at airports when loading the luggage onto planes) and drive them to the ship for loading.

 

If this is true, why do they deserve a TIP? These guys are getting Union wages to do a job. I don't remember any other Long Shorement getting tips.

 

Now, if Porters are waiting at the parking garage and cart your bags a distance to the check-in, then yes, a TIP is earned.

 

The Porters at the terminal can't be the folks delivering your bags to your cabin as this would have to be accomplished before the ship leaves. All bags don't arrive to your cabin for up to 4 hours after the ship leaves. Seems that the folks delivering your bags to your room are the real workers and the ones who deserve the TIP.

 

So... I pose the question: Why should a Porter receive a TIP?

[Cotton]

Yes, they are port authority personnel. They assure your luggage going to the proper place for delivery to the ship. Of course they should be tipped, and I think $1 per bag is appropriate.

[tef43]

So... I pose the question: Why should a Porter receive a TIP?

To make sure that your luggage actually makes it onto the ship? :p:eek:

[GoinCruisin]

Same reason I tip the porters at the airport... to insure my bags get to the right place :D Carnival recommends $1 per bag, so that seems fair enough.

[SallyMay]

I agree with Cotton. I want to know that my baggage is properly taken care of and will be safe until they arrive at my cabin. $1.00 a bag is not too much to ask and only common courtesy.

[artsytart]

When we sailed on the Conquest we watched from the Lido deck as we ate our lunch the porters wheeling luggage a great distance from the curb where passengers were arriving to the drop off point. In New Orleans at least, the distance was more than worth the $1 per bag tip.

[VentureMan_2000]

A Porter at the airport is different. They are at the curb and truely provide a service as you can check in your luggage at the curb and not wait in counter check-in lines.

 

And I'm not talking about a Porter taking your luggage from the passenger unloading point, or a parking garage, to the check-in. A TIP is earned here.

 

"Yes, they are port authority personnel. They assure your luggage going to the proper place for delivery to the ship. "

 

Isn't that their job? Do you get a TIP for performing your job correctly? If I stand in a check-in line for a cruise and (have to) hand my luggage to a Porter at the check-in station, who then walks a few feet to place my baggage on a cart, why should this Porter be tipped? This would be akin to tipping the airline worker at the check-in counter a $1 per bag.

[GoinCruisin]

The luggage does not walk itself from behind that rope to the ship ;) Why argue it? They are doing the same thing as the airport porters... I will continue to pay the guidelines Carnival has posted, and would do it even if they did not recommend it... I have always tipped people that help with my baggage, customary or not.

[hstrybuf]

Try not tipping and see what happens. :eek: However, I'd really recommend that you do tip. They expect it and we expect to do it. Consider it another cost of cruising.

[tef43]

Try not tipping and see what happens. :eek:

Especially if cruising out of NYC. :p The "recommended" tip there is $2/bag.

 

Stiff the stevedores, and you might could just see your luggage floating out to sea as you leave the pier.

[Cotton]

 

Isn't that their job? Do you get a TIP for performing your job correctly?

As I am sure you know - there are a LOT of occupations where folks DO THEIR JOB correctly, and tips are extended:

Restaurant servers

Hotel busboys/maids/room service

Parking valets

Taxi drivers

The paper boy

...and the list goes on...

The porters at the pier are no different. :rolleyes:

[VentureMan_2000]

So... the answer seems to be (regardless of distance or help provided):

 

1) Because, that is the way it has always been done.

 

2) Intimidation. They will throw your bags over the side of the pier if you don't! (Clearly the biggest reason)

 

3) It's not fair that they do the (well paid Union) job they are getting paid for, they deserve more!

 

4) Porters expect to be TIPped.

 

5) Doing the "right" or "nice" thing.

 

6) To hell with the cheap folks.

 

7) If you were only picked to work 2 or 3 days a week wouldn't you appreciate a tip?

 

8) Ft Lauderdale terminal had signs posted by the Port Authorities all over the place stating that tipping porters wasn't allowed. (Wonder Why? Maybe they have rules against throwing luggage over the side of the pier)

 

Any others?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

$1 minimum.... even more when an extra effort/distance is involved (or if I did well at the CASINO...lol):D

 

When you do the right/nice thing (as the OP has kindly added to his list after THIS post was first made!), you at least know that you did your part! And to hell with the cheap folks...;)

 

Did everyone see the BACK TO THE FLOOR show on PBS recently (with our guy Bob)?... I was amazed that the base pay for many Carnival employees who rely on tips is $48 per MONTH.... though some who provide exceptional service can do quite well - up to $4,000 in a month! (was that what she said???)

 

Hey, perhaps when I retire, I could take their place... well, maybe not... LOL

 

 

Tom

[Bunkie103]

Years ago my father worked for the Grace Line which sailed to South America out of NYC. There were "stories" about passengers not tipping the baggage porters and luggage found floating in the river. Coincidence? Hmmm...although they are union workers, I believe they are lower paid than longshoremen and years ago, at least, they had to go to the hiring hall in the morning and sign up to work. Nowadays based on the lesser number of cruise ships out of NYC, there is no doubt even less work. If you were only picked to work two or three days a week wouldn't you appreciate a tip?

[Cruising89143]

quote:

 

So... the answer seems to be (regardless of distance or help provided):

 

1) Because, that is the way it has always been done.

 

2) Intimidation. They will throw your bags over the side of the pier if you don't!

 

3) It's not fair that they do the job they are getting paid for, they deserve more!

 

4) Porters expect to be TIPped.

 

Any others?

How many more do you want? It is your choice to tip or not. To me it is expected and I always do it. Bt the way it is very easy for a luggage tag to be torn off of your luggage. Trying spending half of your day looking for luggage on the ship. No fun.

[GoinCruisin]

yup, $45 a month is what they make, IF they were to work all 30 days in a month. They get $1.50/day (although the porters are not Carnival employees and get paid US wages)... The worker referenced $4K, but also has to pay her assistant out of that, and works 7 days with no days off, a minimum of 12 hours a day... they aren't rolling in the dough. They may make $4K one month and next month make $1200, and they have to pay their help regardless of how much their tips are, so she would be stuck making $445 for the month. Amazing... but of course Porters are a different story. Tipping is customary for jobs like this in the United States...The porters are not making $50K a year, what is a couple of bucks? Geez.

[teedee]

Did everyone see the BACK TO THE FLOOR show on PBS recently (with our guy Bob)?... I was amazed that the base pay for many Carnival employees who rely on tips is $48 per MONTH.... though some who provide exceptional service can do quite well - up to $4,000 in a month! (was that what she said???)

 

Hey, perhaps when I retire, I could take their place... well, maybe not... LOL

 

 

Tom

I missed that show, do you know if it will be shown again? I'd love to see it!

Terri

[GoinCruisin]

It airs a couple times a year on PBS... great show and really gives you insight into "behind the scenes".

[Cruiser@Heart]

When I sailed RCCL at Christmas out of Ft Lauderdale the terminal they used had signs posted by the Port Authorities all over the place stating that tipping porters wasn't allowed. I had always tipped my luggage porter at the cruise terminal before. When I tried to hand him my tip money he actually refused taking my tip and pointed to the sign. I was traveling with my handicapped mother --full time wheelchair user and sister (both who didn't understand "Pack Light" ), so we had a lot of stuff. Now, granted all he had done was take the luggage that the cab driver had placed on the curb and lift it into the holding cage sitting right next to the luggage. I tried several times to tip him and each time he refused.

 

I ended up giving my planned "porter tip" to my room steward the first day since she lugged all of our luggage into the cabin for us.

[Guest Time2gocruzn]

I consider myself a good tipper but I can see Venture's point of view on this. I'm sure their union wage is a pretty good one, and if they are able to lose my luggage in the 10 steps they have to take to put it where it belongs, that is pretty pathetic. The whole mentality that I had BETTER tip or they will retaliate really pi*ses me off. Are you kidding me? Would somebody actually throw your luggage in the water for not getting a $4 tip? And are you all saying that's what is deserved if a tip is NOT given? I am not saying I'm not going to tip them, it's just the whole intimidation thing that rubs me the wrong way on this one.... :rolleyes:

[SevenVII]

Well, do you tip the captain for not sinking the ship, tip the laundrymen for cleaning your sheets, tip the port fuel boys for actually allowing you the privelage of sailing, tip the chef for not poisoning your food? You could break it down all sorts of ways so basically you tip all 1000+ people it takes to make a carnival cruise. Otherwise you are a dreaded smart consumer who actually questions things of that nature.:eek:

 

I get so sick of hearing people call others tightwads simply because they question the idea of tipping different people. It was a legitimate question and I really dont know if that person would be merited a gratuity, from what it sounds like to me, they dont. But if they do an excellent job, are very kind and curteous then by all means I will go out of my way, since they went out of theirs!:)

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

From what reports I have heard regarding the check-in and boarding fiasco that IS Ft. Lauderdale, I wish the folks who are in charge of the "organization" at that port were people who were working for tips --- no doubt the situation would improve ...:rolleyes:

 

Tom

[GoinCruisin]

I don't think anyone would throw luggage in the water after not receiving a tip... I know I have seen airport porters give some ugly looks after not getting a tip, same with the bell boy in a hotel... Bottom line is Carnival suggests $1 per bag for these porters, I don't see why anyone has a problem with this... They take our bags, then get them loaded up for transport... We are talking 2 bucks for 2 bags, I guess I don't get why this is such a big deal? To each his own...

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Just to clear things up.. I am in NO WAY being critical of the OP... NOR am I calling him a tightwad for putting a legitimate question out there!

 

When people receive a service for which a tip is customary (yes, there are many customs that most folks follow... lemmings that we are), I do not care what that individual makes (union or not).. I will tip them at least something (and NOT an INSULT tip... that would be even worse!) unless something was truly amiss, then a big fat NOTHING would greet them... this rarely happens.

 

ok... so I splice together thoughts and sentences poorly... but I hope the point gets across...:o

 

 

Tom

[Sailfish]

We were at the Port of Miami last December, and traveling with a group of 38 people. Two porters came by to take our luggage and demanded $2/bag! As we had been told $1/bag, that is what we had ready to go. Unfortunately, the two porters who collected our bags were quite obnoxious, and very demanding and said they would NOT load our bags onto the ship unless we paid them $2/bag. Not wanting to argue, I made my husband give one of the porters a few extra bucks. But none of the other people in our party wanted to surrender any more money. They stood there arguing with the porters until my husband called over a police officer, who also insisted everyone caugh up more money.

 

To make a long story short, the two porters our group had contact with were, in my opinion, not worthy of ANY gratuity. They should have accepted the $1/bag everyone was willing to give them.

 

As others watched our group's problems, people were handing over $5/two bags to keep the same thing from happening to them. I won't blame ALL porters, but the ones we were in contact with were quite obnoxious and down right scary. They demanded we give them $2/bag, and as a cruise passenger, I felt totally helpless. For crying out loud...even the cop sided with the porters!

 

Just my two cents worth.