CruisingKat(Kathy) Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 It has been quite a of years, since my last Royal Caribbean Cruise, 2007 to be exact. I don't remember what we tipped the porters that helped us with our bags last time. Can someone give me an idea, what I'm expected to tip the porters? I want to make sure to treat them right, and to have that amount ready. Thank you, in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 Minimum of $5 total, but $1 to $2 per bag. I am a little more generous if we use them to disembark and they get us past all the lines and straight to customs. I am interested to see what other say as I am hoping I am not being cheap. CruisingKat(Kathy) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BugsyCruiser Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 Minimum of $5 total, but $1 to $2 per bag. I am a little more generous if we use them to disembark and they get us past all the lines and straight to customs. I am interested to see what other say as I am hoping I am not being cheap. I usually tip 5 as well but will tip more if the porter seems very sociable. I appreciate someone with a positive attitude. Sometimes on embarkation day I'll tip a little more than 5, but 5 is my usual amount so nope, you are definitely not being cheap ;) CruisingKat(Kathy) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michel Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 Oups ! I guess I will be the cheap guy here. I gave the porter at Port Everglade 3 $ for two pieces of luggage. But he actually didn't do much, the taxi driver got them out of the truck and put them right in front of the porter on the curb, so...but he seems ok with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sulross Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 I give $3 to $5 when getting on the ship as all I do is stop, give bags to porter and go on. Getting off the ship I give a little more as they pick our bags from floor, put on cart and get us near the front of the customs line, so like that part. CruisingKat(Kathy) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 I hate to be political here, but it really depends on which port it is. I am with the majority here and feel that $5 is probably enough. I usually give a little more but I don't really think it's necessary. ....UNLESS you are going out of Bayonne. That is the one and only port where I have had very BAD luck with the "porters". Actually, the porters aren't the problem and (at least in Bayonne) the guys that meet you at your car to get your bags AREN'T porters. They are longshoremen....and they are big time Union. When we went on our Explorer repositioning out of Bayonne I gave [the guy who appeared to be "the boss"] $20. He seemed to be collecting the money....for whatever that's worth. When we got onboard and our bags were delivered, 2 were missing. We had to go to GS to try and find them and sure enough, they were in the "lost and found" along with MANY other bags. There were NO tags on either bag...and we have metal tags with a metal attachment so they HAD to have been cut off. I was extremely mad that this happened. It would have been different if we hadn't given the guy a very generous tip...but we did. Knowing that the tags were intentionally CUT really infuriated me. While on the cruise we learned, from some "locals", that the Union had been in a scuffle with the port about renewing their contract or some other ridiculous thing and that many people had suffered the same fate. There's not much you can do, really. It's not like you can carry your own BIG bags on. You are forced to use them and if they are determined to cause a problem, then it's going to happen. Very disappointing reality but the truth, nevertheless. Now...for those who are going to say "that is the reason why I always put another set of luggage tags on the inside of my bags"....we did. They will not open your bags unless you are present, so in THIS particular case (no tags), that action was useless. I expect if the bags had gone unclaimed for some period of time then they have provisions for opening the bags eventually but on the first day, they will not open your bags...they expect you to come looking for them. We did. We found them and all was well, but it really irritated me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 Minimum of $5 total, but $1 to $2 per bag. Nailed my philosophy michelle, CruisingKat(Kathy) and DunkelBierJay 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 Perhaps I'm cheap, but if I have to take my luggage to them or the luggage bin, I think a $1 per bag is more than sufficient especially if I have to wait. If they come to me and collect my bags, then that's another story. Michel and CruisingKat(Kathy) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcarney Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 I tip a buck per bag to the porters bringing the bags onto the ship (especially since I just had to tip the taxi driver to pull them out of the trunk...). For the first time I used porters at disembarkation on my last cruise - I will always do so again. After we locate the luggage we were zoomed to Customs (where we basically waited long enough for a 'high five' and go on our way) and into a taxi in less than 5 minutes. He earned his generous tip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatMe Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 Minimum of $5 total, but $1 to $2 per bag. I am a little more generous if we use them to disembark and they get us past all the lines and straight to customs. I am interested to see what other say as I am hoping I am not being cheap. Nailed my philosophy I agree $2 per bag and round up to the nearest denomination in $5 increments. Also, In regards to an unrelated post about bringing soda and water on board, it never hurts to tip the porters a little more if you have affixed a luggage tag to a case of water or diet pepsi. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunkelBierJay Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 That is the one and only port where I have had very BAD luck with the "porters". Actually, the porters aren't the problem and (at least in Bayonne) the guys that meet you at your car to get your bags AREN'T porters. They are longshoremen....and they are big time Union. When we went on our Explorer repositioning out of Bayonne I gave [the guy who appeared to be "the boss"] $20. He seemed to be collecting the money....for whatever that's worth. When we got onboard and our bags were delivered, 2 were missing. We had to go to GS to try and find them and sure enough, they were in the "lost and found" along with MANY other bags. There were NO tags on either bag...and we have metal tags with a metal attachment so they HAD to have been cut off. Yikes...this give me a very bad taste in my mouth for sailing out of this port Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judeeastman Posted April 24, 2016 Report Share Posted April 24, 2016 So I need to tip the porters--good to know (newbie here). Since they are adding a $13.50 daily gratuity charge I would have assumed that was covered. So you can brink water on board? I read somewhere that you can not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerel Posted April 24, 2016 Report Share Posted April 24, 2016 So I need to tip the porters--good to know (newbie here). Since they are adding a $13.50 daily gratuity charge I would have assumed that was covered. So you can brink water on board? I read somewhere that you can not.Many people don't tip but it's good practice too, it's your luggage! I'm paranoid about that stuff.official answer is no water but they do allow it, iv never seen anyone refused. Just make sure you carry it on, if you check any liquids you go to the naughty room to get your bags, so they can inspect to make sure its not alcohol. judeeastman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royal Blue Posted April 25, 2016 Report Share Posted April 25, 2016 San Fran is also a longshore closed shop. That is one union way to powerful for the job they do. Maybe changed now but we specifically were told not to tip or give into the " we make sure your luggage gets on the ship" scam story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Vitale Posted April 25, 2016 Report Share Posted April 25, 2016 with all the money that's spent on a cruise, what with $12 cocktails and $100 excursions that last just a few hours, to hand a porter $20 for a trunkful of bags seems appropriate. but hey, that's me CruisingKat(Kathy) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted April 25, 2016 Report Share Posted April 25, 2016 I never resent tipping the porters. I just resent when you tip and then they STILL vandalize your luggage. It's only happened once. Otherwise, extremely reliable and appreciated ! CruisingKat(Kathy) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted April 25, 2016 Report Share Posted April 25, 2016 I love porters because I really, really hate lugging my luggage all around. I'm on vacation and I want someone else to do it! CruisingKat(Kathy) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floski Posted April 28, 2016 Report Share Posted April 28, 2016 I learned from last year that, when getting off the ship, porters are the way to go! My back was hurting before we got onboard last week, and the terribly disappointing bed in my stateroom certainly didn't help, but I was completely happy to tip $15 to get a porter when we got in on Sunday. Best money I spent all week! I couldn't imagine standing in that serpentine hell just to save a little cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted April 28, 2016 Report Share Posted April 28, 2016 I learned from last year that, when getting off the ship, porters are the way to go! My back was hurting before we got onboard last week, and the terribly disappointing bed in my stateroom certainly didn't help, but I was completely happy to tip $15 to get a porter when we got in on Sunday. Best money I spent all week! I couldn't imagine standing in that serpentine hell just to save a little cash. I pulled my back on embarkation day when I was on Freedom of the Seas so I know exactly what you mean! Floski 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd Posted April 30, 2016 Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 I learned from last year that, when getting off the ship, porters are the way to go! Why would you not just have good luggage with rollers? If seems anyone who travels should invest in bags with good rollers and not need to lift bags, or use porters. While not against porters not also available and it is best to have options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted April 30, 2016 Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 Why would you not just have good luggage with rollers? If seems anyone who travels should invest in bags with good rollers and not need to lift bags, or use porters. While not against porters not also available and it is best to have options. My problem is not the luggage itself, it is the amount of luggage I have. And I enjoy being lazy on vacation PRC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floski Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 Why would you not just have good luggage with rollers? If seems anyone who travels should invest in bags with good rollers and not need to lift bags, or use porters. While not against porters not also available and it is best to have options. We do have new(-ish) luggage and they roll just fine. However, with my back hurting as it was (and still is), paying for a porter was a no-brainer for me. Standing is when it hurts the most, so even though I coulda saved a few bucks, utilizing the porter eliminated my having to stand in that very long line and go straight through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Porters upon leaving the ship allow you to bypass the Customs' line and usually have their own taxi line. Thus, it's worth the tip regardless of how good (or bad) your luggage is. Floski and bcarney 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice L Smith Posted June 6, 2019 Report Share Posted June 6, 2019 Going on the ship we have 2 luggage so we give them 5 and are bag get to are room early. Now coming off is a different thing, (2 luggage) I point two the big is guy with a smile and give him my tickets and tell him that to look for the luggage with color ribbons and he get it and then he gets us thru with passports and then to are bus to the airport he will get us on the right bus and put the luggage right up front so he will get $10-15 depend on how much trouble it is to get to the bus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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