tipping porters when dropping luggage off

[Henlady]

Should you tip the porters when you drop off your luggage at port before the cruise?. We normally do, but seldom see others tipping at that time.

 

[lorimay]

We always do, usually around $2 a bag.

 

[johnatthebar]

I do, and I think most do. I generally give a dollar or two a bag (usually just one for US cruises, we're light packers for those).

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I give a total of $5 or $10 for all our bags.

 

[CurtisB]

Yes! They are not Disney employees and that is how they make most of their money. They rely on those tips. Please do tip them!

 

[Scalemaster34]

When dropping off a few buck per bag is what we do.

But on return if we use the porters to get us back to the parking garage (or lot) we add a little more.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

Yes! They are not Disney employees and that is how they make most of their money. They rely on those tips. Please do tip them!

They are full-time, union employees of the port, they don't rely on tips for their income at all. Whether you tip or not is up to you, but, just so you know, they aren't working for minimum wage + tips.

 

[mmouse37]

Op, yes, it is customary to tip when you drop your bags off. There would be no other time to do it as you will not see the same porter again before your cruise.

MJ

 

[carmie3377]

I think we tipped $10 (4 bags) for Dh and I when we dropped our bags for our cruise 4 weeks ago. When we got back, we tipped $20 cause he had to wait on us while we were thoroughly checked by customs and then still was patient and gave us helpful advice.

 

[gigi1313]

I strongly advise tipping them... on one cruise we had a dozen bags between all of us and dh had only 3 singles and a fifty and so he gave the $3 and apologized for not having more $$ and the porter was really rude, asked dh "can you spare it?" and when our bags arrived at our stateroom one was soaked through with beer and had sand and gravel all over it like it was stomped in a beer puddle... coincidence? maybe... dh felt it was intentional... ironically, because we have worked for tips in the past, we are typically good/over-tippers and it was just that we accidentally got caught short on small bills. We will never let that happen again!

 

[Dug720]

I strongly advise tipping them... on one cruise we had a dozen bags between all of us and dh had only 3 singles and a fifty and so he gave the $3 and apologized for not having more $$ and the porter was really rude, asked dh "can you spare it?" and when our bags arrived at our stateroom one was soaked through with beer and had sand and gravel all over it like it was stomped in a beer puddle... coincidence? maybe... dh felt it was intentional... ironically, because we have worked for tips in the past, we are typically good/over-tippers and it was just that we accidentally got caught short on small bills. We will never let that happen again!

Wow. As soon as he was rude, I would have been pulling my bags from him and finding someone else. That is uncalled for. As someone else pointed out, the porters are unionized and are NOT working solely for tips.

Weirdly, when I cruised in February and took DCL transfers from MCO, the guys putting the luggage on the truck wouldn't accept a tip. I tried to give it to them, but they flat-out refused.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Wow. As soon as he was rude, I would have been pulling my bags from him and finding someone else. That is uncalled for. As someone else pointed out, the porters are unionized and are NOT working solely for tips.

Weirdly, when I cruised in February and took DCL transfers from MCO, the guys putting the luggage on the truck wouldn't accept a tip. I tried to give it to them, but they flat-out refused.

Maybe because they're Disney employees, not porters. Probably aren't allowed to accept tips.

 

[AudreyKThompson]

They are full-time, union employees of the port, they don't rely on tips for their income at all. Whether you tip or not is up to you, but, just so you know, they aren't working for minimum wage + tips.

Yes! Your shuttle driver otoh does need the tips--

 

[AudreyKThompson]

Fwiw, I tip $10 for 4-5 bags--

 

[ocspartan]

I strongly advise tipping them... on one cruise we had a dozen bags between all of us and dh had only 3 singles and a fifty and so he gave the $3 and apologized for not having more $$ and the porter was really rude, asked dh "can you spare it?" and when our bags arrived at our stateroom one was soaked through with beer and had sand and gravel all over it like it was stomped in a beer puddle... coincidence? maybe... dh felt it was intentional... ironically, because we have worked for tips in the past, we are typically good/over-tippers and it was just that we accidentally got caught short on small bills. We will never let that happen again!

Yes unfortunately this is why I tip the porters too, and I disagree with the argument that "b/c they expect it" as a reason to tip for service. Tipping is and should always be based on the level of service you received.

As an alternative if you don't want to tip and not have your bags mis-handled I thought I read somewhere that there was actually a location that you could drop off your bags yourself (couldn't find the thread) anyone with information or experience with this?

 

[IrishCowboy]

I strongly advise tipping them... on one cruise we had a dozen bags between all of us and dh had only 3 singles and a fifty and so he gave the $3 and apologized for not having more $$ and the porter was really rude, asked dh "can you spare it?" and when our bags arrived at our stateroom one was soaked through with beer and had sand and gravel all over it like it was stomped in a beer puddle... coincidence? maybe... dh felt it was intentional... ironically, because we have worked for tips in the past, we are typically good/over-tippers and it was just that we accidentally got caught short on small bills. We will never let that happen again!

Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode (The Airport) where Jerry and Elaine discuss tipping with the Skycap at the airport curb and her bag ended up in Honolulu

 

[mhconley]

I strongly advise tipping them... on one cruise we had a dozen bags between all of us and dh had only 3 singles and a fifty and so he gave the $3 and apologized for not having more $$ and the porter was really rude, asked dh "can you spare it?" and when our bags arrived at our stateroom one was soaked through with beer and had sand and gravel all over it like it was stomped in a beer puddle... coincidence? maybe... dh felt it was intentional... ironically, because we have worked for tips in the past, we are typically good/over-tippers and it was just that we accidentally got caught short on small bills. We will never let that happen again!

We tipped $20 on our cruise. We had 6 large bags, 3 backpacks and a beach bag. I don't know why you didn't just offer him $20 if he could have split the $50. I guarantee you he could have. Never met a porter, bellhop or skycap worth his salt that couldn't.

Martin

 

[Dug720]

I strongly advise tipping them... on one cruise we had a dozen bags between all of us and dh had only 3 singles and a fifty and so he gave the $3 and apologized for not having more $$ and the porter was really rude, asked dh "can you spare it?" and when our bags arrived at our stateroom one was soaked through with beer and had sand and gravel all over it like it was stomped in a beer puddle... coincidence? maybe... dh felt it was intentional... ironically, because we have worked for tips in the past, we are typically good/over-tippers and it was just that we accidentally got caught short on small bills. We will never let that happen again!

It could have been intentional, true. Then again, it could have been the result of someone being selfish and packing their drinks in their carry-on despite being told not to.

 

[princessmocha]

We generally tip $2 per bag. If they are extra nice/helpful then they get more!

 

[gigi1313]

We tipped $20 on our cruise. We had 6 large bags, 3 backpacks and a beach bag. I don't know why you didn't just offer him $20 if he could have split the $50. I guarantee you he could have. Never met a porter, bellhop or skycap worth his salt that couldn't.

Martin

It was hectic, a little overwhelming, unsure of where to go, late for our PAT due to major rental car drop off snafu, everyone was a tad frantic, dh was a bit frazzled, three kids running in three directions, etc etc etc... the guy heard dh tell me he only had three singles and a fifty/asking me and kids for $$ but I was busy juggling a car seat and making sure dh didn't give in the wrong bag w/our passports in it, ad nauseum and hearing dh's plea to me the guy didn't offer, he made a few snotty comments instead... it happens... and it's entirely possible it was a coincidence that it was due to a careless guest or perhaps a combo of a careless guest and a disgruntled porter taking full gross advantage. Who knows?! (But I know we will never not tip the porter well again!)