If youre travelling from the UK, youll know that tipping isnt always something that were used to. Its still a separate charge, but this means you can get it paid for upfront and then you dont have to worry about it later. Of course, some people choose not to tip any extra, and are still happy with the service they receive. reach us at parking@portofgalveston.com or 409-766-6163 But the look on the porter's face when he lifts my wife's bag is priceless! They always work on tips alone. interested to hear if this is not enough.i actually have no idea how much is enough. Many cruise lines automatically add a gratuity to your onboard account that covers stateroom and dining services, so you don't have to tip at the end of the voyage. As a vent here, do we all need to live in fear if we do not tip? UK lines such as Fred. There are two different types of tips on a cruise ship that which youre expected to pay, which are referred to as the gratuities, and then extra tips that you may want to give to the people helping you to enjoy your cruise. Powered by Invision Community. Make sure your luggage tags are affixed to every piece of luggage before you get to the terminal. Cruise line employees work their butts off to earn those tips. How disappointing. Porters are a convenience meant to simplify the process of getting your belongings on a cruise ship. However, extra tipping and being a jerk do not go hand in hand. Why don't the dock managers do anything? The fact is, the tips that crew get from passengers make up a good part of their wage. I think they just don't care if the tags get torn off or the luggage damaged. We used a porter once getting off a ship and tipped $20 but he didn't get us through the line any faster so we don't bother with that service any longer. That is salary only, exclusive of benefits and cash tips. For 2018 the cruise lines are scheduled to use the following: Cruise Terminal 1: Royal Caribbean International Oasis of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas Cruise Terminal 5: Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Liberty My old aunts would have given him $1 and think it's fine. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. Not only will it improve your cruise experience, but youre also allowing the cruise ship staff the opportunity to make things right. Don't forget to factor those charges. Most ports have "Tipping not required" signs. The porter takes the suitcases out of our trunk and puts them on the luggage cart. Below, we cover everything to know about gratuities on a cruise. My daughter and I took my mother on Freedom for her 80th birthday. If it's raining, snowing or over 90 degrees and you get good service, tip towards the $2 per bag side of the scale. 1$per bag because I'm afraid it will land at the port of Miami and not the ship. However, while the longshoremen may only move your bags 15 feet to that crate, that is the essential last step. Cruise tipping is always a topic up for debate! My daughter and I were capable of doing that ourselves so we thanked him and said no to that. A tip of 15%-20% is common, so check the bottom of your bill before adding an additional amount. We tipped the Porter $10.00. . With your Royal Caribbean cruise right around the corner, you might be wondering what time should I get to the cruise, Embarkation day on any Royal Caribbean cruise is an exciting and busy day, and it appears Royal Caribbean is trying to, Royal Caribbean is now offering an expedited arrival option on about a half dozen of its ships that aim to get guests, Royal Caribbean is inviting select guests to try out a new way to board the ship that aims to improve the embarkation, Many aspects of the cruise experience are going to change, including the check-in process at the pier.Between what has, The first day of your Royal Caribbean cruise is areallyfun moment in any cruise fan's vacation, because it is when. When this is the case, people are less likely to tip waiters in cash as they probably wont see them again during the cruise. The cruise industry has worked this way for a long time, although the automatic gratuities are only the last few years. Folks, please tip a . Amazing places deserve to be shared with others - why not Write a Review! Cruise Gratuities - Guide to Tipping on a Cruise Ship All rights reserved. I can't remember ever leaving a tip to the porters getting on the ship. What if you "over-tip" by a dollar, two, or even five. Tip about $5 a Bottle of Booze or Rum Runner ! :rolleyes: I always give the porter $20. It is proper to tip the porter $1-2 a bag when unloading at the port. Here's a guide to help you navigate ways to show your appreciation for these hard workers. If I have my 2 large suitcases taken out of the trunk of my car I normally give $10. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Some cruise ships like Disney and Royal Caribbean will give you a receipt to sign for every drink. Main Dining Room waiting staff tend to be covered in daily gratuities, but for people who like to tip extra, an average is usually $100 per week. Thanks! I have to say, we simply prepay or leave the tips as is, so I really dont pay attention these days. Note that paying in cash does not necessarily circumvent the pooling system -- attendants are officially required to turn in any cash gratuities to put toward the pool. Sometimes, your gratuities are already included in your fare. While not obligatory, there are some of the workers you may want to recognize with a tip when cruising. Anyway, the last cruise we tipped according to how much I wanted to tip and the porter seemed surprised and thanked us very politely for the tip. However, there are a few common practices and guidelines. One of these differences is that cruise gratuities are included. Must-Read Guide on the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal Do you have a favorite bartender? You might feel that room service is more effort for the crew, since they arent just pouring you a drink at a bar where theyre working, but theyre delivering it all the way to your stateroom. How much should you tip the porters in med locations like rome? Share this: Twitter; Facebook; Like this: Usually $5 for two bags (short cruises), because I would be miserable on a cruise without my luggage. The Ultimate Guide to Cruise Gratuities - Life Well Cruised This post contains affiliate links which means if you click and buy that I may make a commission, at no cost to you. #1 Posted September 13, 2007 We'll be sailing from San Pedro, CA. If you wait to the end to tip, then the servers wont know and you possibly missed out of knowing how wonderful the cabin steward or others could be. Most of the time we handle our own bags but if we use a Porter, we tip no less then $2/bag. Add Cruise Critic's Community Forums to your iPhone's Home Screen! LovetheSea, July 24, 2016 in Ask a Cruise Question. We tip $1 a bag but usually $5 for 3 bags. I go into more detail about this topic in this post:Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? First time cruisers: What time to get to the cruise port for your Royal Caribbean cruise? As I started to walk away, he said not so softly CHEAP! The only difference would be on an excursion, where its best to either tip in the local currency, or in US dollars, which are accepted more widely. Cruise lines have implemented automatic gratuities, options to prepay gratuities and some popular cruise lines have begun including tips in your cruise fare. Some cruise lines point out that you may wish to tip the kids club staff. Though automated gratuities are the easiest and most common way to tip, some passengers prefer to instead tip their attendants in cash, either in addition to the automated gratuity or in place of it. It's extortion! :). (Want to get the most from your cabin steward? tipping the luggage handlers at the cruise terminal Norwegian Cruise Line charges a daily service fee of $15.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $18.50 per person per day for guests in suites and The Haven. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. .css-18jw8gc{-webkit-appearance:none;-moz-appearance:none;-ms-appearance:none;appearance:none;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;position:relative;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:middle;outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;line-height:1.2;border-radius:var(--chakra-radii-md);transition-property:var(--chakra-transition-property-common);transition-duration:var(--chakra-transition-duration-normal);height:auto;min-width:var(--chakra-sizes-10);font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);background:none;border:0;color:black;display:inline;margin:0px;padding:0!important;font-family:var(--chakra-fonts-Roboto);font-weight:500;padding-top:0.625rem;padding-bottom:0.625rem;-webkit-padding-start:1rem;padding-inline-start:1rem;-webkit-padding-end:1rem;padding-inline-end:1rem;}.css-18jw8gc:focus-visible,.css-18jw8gc[data-focus-visible]{box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-outline);}.css-18jw8gc:disabled,.css-18jw8gc[disabled],.css-18jw8gc[aria-disabled=true],.css-18jw8gc[data-disabled]{opacity:0.4;cursor:not-allowed;box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-none);}.css-18jw8gc:active,.css-18jw8gc[data-active]{border:var(--chakra-borders-none);background:none;}.css-18jw8gc:hover,.css-18jw8gc[data-hover]{border:var(--chakra-borders-none);background:none;}.css-18jw8gc:focus,.css-18jw8gc[data-focus]{border:var(--chakra-borders-none);outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-none);}Cookie Consent. You can also adjust your gratuities up or down. Luxury cruise lines have a higher upfront cost than most popular cruise lines, however theyll often include many valuable extras. What do you think about cruise line gratuities and service onboard? I'm a usually generous tipper, but, right now, I'd like to stick to the dollar a bag I think. Butlers are also used in suites on some other cruise lines, including Celebrity Cruises and P&O Cruises. A family of two cannot net more then 16k a year to qualify for snap (it hasn't been called food stamps in many years) A family of four cannot have a net income of more then 25k to qualify. We have been cruising for a number of years and have found "normally" it is a good idea to use porters to get through customs and the crowds a bit faster. Or you might take the view that youve paid your daily gratuities and this service is included as part of that. They are not necessarily cruise employees. Last cruise was this Spring out of Port Everglades,Fort. (have seen this happen!). We already pay for these things with our port fees. . Keep in mind that cruise crew members live in tight quarters, so small (and edible) gifts are preferred. The guys onboard who deliver (and pickup) the luggage to your cabins are the ones that do the most work. One bag would get $2. Most cruise lines allow guests to remove automatic gratuities. Thanks so much for sharing your experience! Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. Most are experienced cruisers and, as a group, theyre very well-liked. P.S. It has long been said that porters are unionised long shoremen making very good cash. Big difference in those two services. We have never tipped the longshoremen and have noticed no difference in how the bags are handled and when they get to our cabin. CruisingNewb on the Royal Caribbean Blog forum suggests this was plenty to ensure proactive service. We would not pay $30 for 3 bags but usually pay between $5-10 depending on what they have to do. The one with the whole tag missing wasn't found for us by our steward until about 7:30 pm. The gratuity is $15.50 per person, per day for guests in mini-suites and $16.50 per person, per day for guests in suites. Youll then really notice just how good their service is they will usually remember you and your preferences, and be able to make dinner feel like a really special occasion each night. You also have the option to prepay your gratuities before your cruise. Hi this was helpful, thank you. He suggested we go down to the lobby to look at the luggage that had no tags. I would imagine wed see prices increase overall if they did this, but perhaps it amounts to this anyway. We usually cruise for 14+ days so we have twice the luggage than you would for a one week cruise. Royal Caribbean offering guest expedited arrival options to speed up check-in process, Royal Caribbean testing expedited boarding, Royal Caribbean's online check-in requires a negative covid test before arriving to the cruise terminal, What to expect on embarkation day on a Royal Caribbean cruise. But God forbid someone have a decent salary. My guess is that they get a cut of all that money people give. I have a real issue with someone who basically demands a tip from you. Just cking to see if we had missed something - would appear not :), Asking for $30 was too much but maybe there was more to his service. We must be cheap. By Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week. Thats the case with: Many other cruise lines let you prepay your gratuities too. Given that most , all ? Yes . With five main terminals, you do need to ensure you know where your ship will be docked. You will give them anything you will not need for the first few hours after getting onboard. Anything extra is just to say thank you to crewmembers for looking after you, or a way to get a slight edge in the service they provide. 3 Tips for Port of Seattle Cruise Terminals This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. This is a good question. They are still living in the 60s. At any rate when we attempted to do that at Ft Lauderdale cruise terminal last week the porter offered his services for $30 for 3 bags - when I bristled at that he immediately dropped the price to $25. P.S. But this was at the end of the cruise, because the porter was handling carryons. If youre going on a cruise, you can expect daily gratuities to be charged automatically to your onboard account. ;). Thats a funny thing that weve experienced in the past as well. What else can you do to show the crew your appreciation? Want to give something beyond cash? But $10? Porters: $1-5 per bag Room service delivery: $2-4 per tray Bus drivers (for cruise line provided shuttles): $2-3 per person Child care staff: varies by time utilized, length of sailing, etc Now we are not cheap people or at least didn't think we were. It just may take longer if you don't tip. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Q&A with James Rodriguez, President & CEO of Atlas Ocean Voyages, Q&A: Cruise Insurance with Steve Dasseos of the TripInsuranceStore.com - Summer Session '23. It is the ship's crew who get it from steerage to your room. After 50 cruises I know they really mean it! We had two large suitcases and two carry-ons. Use your best judgment. Just try not to tip with coins. Beyond that, consider writing a heartfelt note of thanks or a drawing from your child (many have children they do not see for months at a time). With Princess Cruises, for instance, the current tip amount for each passenger staying in interior, ocean-view, and balcony staterooms is $16 per day; for mini suites it's $17 per day; and for suites it's $18 per day. If you go on a tour or shore excursion, its nice to tip the driver or shore excursion staff if youve appreciated their service. We had 9 bags (family of 6), easier just to tip $10. If I heard that I sure would have said something back and definitely got his name. Carnivals daily gratuities are $13.99 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. Average extra tips vary, with most cruisers averaging $1-2 for drinks or room service, and $10-20 per day for cabin stewards. If you choose to pay tips in cash, there are usually some envelopes available at the guest service desk. 1-2 dollars a bag is ok. When we embark we drop off three large and 2 carryons and tip. NO sign of her large suitcase. If youre a novice with tipping, dont worry. Especially when they make more money than I do as a nurse. Sorry to offend anyone. The average suggestions for cruise tips amount to between $12 and $16 per passenger, per daywhich for a standard seven-night cruise comes to between $84 and $112 extra per person, or $336 to $448 extra for a family of four. We waited until about 8:00 pm then finally asked the cabin steward. Of course, pounds sterling, Euros or any other currency will also be welcomed by crew members as they often travel the world and can always change it ashore if needed. ZERO! $40,000 and a family of 2 is poverty level. While each cruise line is different, many include alcoholic drinks, soda and specialty coffee, gratuities, specialty dining and some shore excursions. Your cruise in April sounds amazing! Passengers tend to tip cruise butlers more than other crewmembers, because they tend to offer more services and are more hands-on in making your cruise special. We have used Porters for years at the cruise ports. We were literally next to the metal carrier that the luggage was being placed in and for that matter, could have put it in ourselves. When and How Much to Tip on a Cruise - AFAR We always tip $2/bag. Having worked in the service industry, if people want to extra tip, then doing it at the beginning is the way to go. Luxury lines like Azamara, Ponant, Regent, Silversea, Seabourn, Sea Dream, Virgin Voyages include gratuities in the cruise fare. and the next thing we know there is a knock and it is the same guy w/ the rest of our luggage. I think $10 is fair. The worst thing you can do is wait until you are home from your cruise to address it. aeonix01, July 14, 2011 in Ask a Cruise Question. Can I put our bags in the luggage bin myself? These guys are paid to load your luggage. 2. My prior cruise had been out of Galveston which had the worst wait line I've ever seen (I think it took an hour to get through), and I was not willing to do that again just to save $40. Do I need to tip on a cruise or pay service charges, is a question that comes up often. I know we can't completely insure that our luggage will arrive safely and in a timely manner to our cabin but I would like to tip generously so perhaps our 2 large pieces of luggage will be handled with care. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. He insisted on going with us to the car. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. (Admit it: You tend to miss those nightly pillow chocolates and towel animals after you get home.) They are paid by the port and work to earn tips. Ive got you covered! that is what is is in 2016. Everyone that goes on a cruise is affluent compared to the rest of the world. $200 to 300 per cruise is average although some may prefer to tip more. Cruises in Europe are charged in Euros. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. As for tipping above and beyond prepaid gratuities, I agree completely that there is no expectation. By This really depends on the cruise line and which country your ship departs from. Service charges for guests ages 4-14 are half of the adult rate. But I also feel like people will think Im rude for not doing so in reality tho, they are already being tipped 18%. (??). Actually someone making under $48,000 and a family of 3 to be exact! As the previous poster mentioned, these workers are well paid and not working for tips as those in the service industry must do.:). Any chance of that? A kind word or a drawing costs nothing and is always appreciated. I find it frustrating also, but if you try to load it on yourself, they will likely stop you. Tipping your guide or driver wont tend to get you better service, and so its normally done at the end of the day more as a thank-you. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and twitter. Itas funny if I heard that I would said that to the guy and made sure the other porters heard it.. and also removed my bags from the stack and took them to another porter farther down the line :), You will be able to leave a comment after signing in. Is baggage 'examined' before it goes on the ship, while it's being loaded, or just before it's sent to the stateroom? How much to tip baggage handlers at cruise terminal? Our last few cruises on Celebrity and Princess, we actually had lots of interaction from the Maitred and we did appreciate the work they did. Many cruise passengers will tip their bartender on a per-drink basis, usually $1-2 per drink ordered. And recently how much do you tip your cruise porter? Is a hot topic. Though cruise lines usually state up front that tipping is still at the discretion of the passenger, keep in mind: As with most employees in the service industry (at least in the U.S.), most of the wages cruise employees make come from these tips. gr1634, May 15, 2016 in Ask a Cruise Question. Was this embarking or disembarking. But you should be aware that for many cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, NCL and Carnival, the crewmembers rely on the tips that passengers are expected to pay. By Celebrity Cruises now includes daily gratuities in its Always Included cruise fare. My husband always get a thank you. When on a cruise excursion, its normal to tip the guide to thank them for their efforts in showing you around this can vary from $5 per person up to $30 per person for longer tours. We must be cheap. I give my room steward $5 at the very beginning of the cruise. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Viking Cruises gratuities are $15.00 per person, per day for all staterooms. Are they even the ones to check the baggage? Tipping on a Cruise Ship: What You Need to Know About Cruise Gratuities That wage works out to less than $25k a year. When we get off the ship we rarely use anyone since we can manage our own. That way they remember you better. If I take out my own, I will smile, load them on the rack and walk away. Tipping the Porters. - Royal Caribbean Blog Generally, one dollar per bag is appropriate. $1 per bag is what my parents taught me 40 something years ago to tip porters in the airport, hotels and cruises. And don't go saying "but I'm on a fixed income" Most everyone here has tons of cruises on their signature and makes a choice to cruise. When I went on the Breakaway out of NYC, getting on the ship, I handed the guy money for my bag and he was yelling at another couple who tried to give him their bags without a tip. Plus, I have found porters to be invaluable on the final day to get through customs faster. We have consistently tipped $2 a bag - so question is where did the $30 come from?? This lovely gentlemen even offered to help load the car. I think its pretty bad when thats the only night they make their presence be known. (we are sailing out of SF on tuesday:) We can hardly wait). Don't lie to prove your point. If you were hard up for money, you would not be cruising. Your bags will get to your room if you tip or not. And if you believe other threads runs the risk of luggage being "misplaced" for under tipping, well in that porters opinion it was under tipping. I let him pile up the luggage. (we are sailing out of SF on tuesday:) We can hardly wait). We will pay a porter post cruise $10 to $15 since they wait in line with you and go farther. If you book a suite, expect the cost to be closer to $20 per person, per day. To this day, I still wonder if it happened on accident or if the porter did it. How much extra should you tip on a cruise? Most of the porters have never experienced a cruise. Its up to you if you decide to tip extra, but your automatic gratuity charge covers all the essentials. Sure enough, her suitcase was there minus all tags (her personal nametag and the cruiseline tags). :rolleyes: By the way, porters are not stevedores. Its the same reason you never tick off your waitstaff at a restaurant or you will end up with extra "presents" in your food you don't even know about. We got our other 3 bags before 5. The porters will assist with your luggage and its customary to tip for their service. Ive been cruising for over 15 years, and the practice of tipping on a cruise has certainly evolved. If you want to give an additional tip to your cabin steward (or two), Im sure its very appreciated. This amount varies by cruise line, however the average daily gratuity is $14-15 US per day, per passenger for a standard cabin and $17-18 a day for guests in suites. Have the tips gone up or was he just being rude? Luggage may not be delivered until the evening, so keep anything important with you (medicine, sunscreen, swimsuits, anything you need for dinner).
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