Thread: Porter tips

I read tipping is automatic for the ship crew - your room steward, waiter, etc. But now people are saying tip the "porter" when I get off the ship. Can someone explain this one?

The tips that are not included in your automatic tips, room service, you need to tip in dollars. When you arrive before you even board the ship, just like when you fly, if you give your suitcase to a porter to check, you need to tip. .. same when you get off the ship, if you want help.

Mostly its getting on the ship as you have to check larger suitcases when you board, but when you disembark, you can carry everything off yourself, or put it out the night before and go and get it in the port.

Some people tip a porter when they get off, as the porter can cut thru lines you might have to wait in otherwise at customs.

You might take shuttles at the ports, they will expect a tip in cash too. iv even tipped excursion guides, especially private ones who did a great job.

Go and get a envelope of one dollar bills, a couple fives or even a ten before you leave for these tips.

The porters (like redcaps at airports) work for the port and not for the individual cruiselines. If you give them a suitcase to check in, also give them a dollar or so per bag. Same thing if a porter helps you after the cruise between the baggage room and the taxi stand/shuttle stop.

I'm guessing you won't be doing the self-disembarkation process as you have to be able to handle all of your stuff off the ships. That's more for a passenger who may have just one suitcase or so and can take it down stairs,etc.

I also find that getting a porter and tipping him on debarkation saves me a lot of time getting thru customs. At the NY port I left way after those carrying their own bags off the ship and even with time to find our luggage, the porter took us to a seperate line and we passed a lot of pasengers who left the ship earlier. Well worth the $5 tip to take the luggage to the curb.