Rare mcatmcat Posted August 8, 2019 #1 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Hi is it true that giving a big tip to the porters will get your luggage faster to your stateroom? I dont know how a porter has any control on a luggage once its in the ship but Im reading it about it over and over and I was wondering if its something new now that I dont know or simply a rumor. In my case I wont pay more to get my luggage a few hours early but its always good to know what is trending now Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashland Posted August 8, 2019 #2 Share Posted August 8, 2019 This is absolutely incorrect.....it has nothing to do with it. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandebeach Posted August 8, 2019 #3 Share Posted August 8, 2019 No, never heard of it. Terminal porters are not the same as the ship staff who deliver the luggage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handbellplayer Posted August 8, 2019 #4 Share Posted August 8, 2019 2 minutes ago, Ashland said: This is absolutely incorrect.....it has nothing to do with it. Truth - there are some that will argue otherwise, but it makes no logical sense! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marci22 Posted August 8, 2019 #5 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Nothing to do with it. 50-50 I get it before muster. One time there were no porters around and we just stuck it on the cart ourselves. It was there pretty early. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George C Posted August 8, 2019 #6 Share Posted August 8, 2019 We always tip but this has nothing to do with when luggage gets to cabin , but waving money will get you a baggage handler quicker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not-enough-cruising Posted August 8, 2019 #7 Share Posted August 8, 2019 I never tip the porters, it's ludicrous to tip someone for doing the bare minimum in their job description, all the while making well north of $150,000 a year PLUS union benefits. My luggage comes about the same time as all the people around me. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palmetto Pilot Posted August 8, 2019 #8 Share Posted August 8, 2019 The earlier you drop your luggage off the the quicker you get your luggage. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare skyking Posted August 8, 2019 #9 Share Posted August 8, 2019 I do tip a tad more, and ask them to put in a full cart rather than start a new cart. The full bins get taken to the security area for screening while the new cart will sit, and wait to fill up. There is a little logic behind it 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbob7 Posted August 8, 2019 #10 Share Posted August 8, 2019 3 minutes ago, Palmetto Pilot said: The earlier you drop your luggage off the the quicker you get your luggage. I’m not even sure that is consistently true... bobj 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare h20skibum Posted August 8, 2019 #11 Share Posted August 8, 2019 5 minutes ago, Palmetto Pilot said: The earlier you drop your luggage off the the quicker you get your luggage. This is also not true. The one time we dropped off early AND gave the biggest tip, was the one cruise it took longest to get our luggage 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueridgemama Posted August 8, 2019 #12 Share Posted August 8, 2019 11 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said: I never tip the porters, it's ludicrous to tip someone for doing the bare minimum in their job description, all the while making well north of $150,000 a year PLUS union benefits. My luggage comes about the same time as all the people around me. Where did you get that figure of $150,000? That is so not true. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voyager70 Posted August 8, 2019 #13 Share Posted August 8, 2019 I'm a generous tipper and often don't get my bags until 5-6 o'clock. Don't believe it matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare skyking Posted August 8, 2019 #14 Share Posted August 8, 2019 it sounds crazy I know, but I tip about 5 bucks a bag, and ask them nicely to put it on a full cart. 98% of the time my bags have been at my door when the cabins open. We are alway at the port by 10:30am! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not-enough-cruising Posted August 8, 2019 #15 Share Posted August 8, 2019 (edited) 24 minutes ago, blueridgemama said: Where did you get that figure of $150,000? That is so not true. It most certainly is true. The porters at the terminals (USA Terminals) are part of the Longshoreman's union. Starting salary average $130,000. The guys working the cruise terminals are more senior members of the union, as this is a highly desired assignment (thus they are higher paid and are making an overtime and weekend differential as well) Tack on paid vacation, union medical and dental, and they are VERY well compensated for moving y bags 20 feet or so from the curb to the nearest trolley (where they then hand it over to RCCL staff) Edited August 8, 2019 by not-enough-cruising clarity 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted August 8, 2019 #16 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Rubbish, your luggage is given to a bloke on the dock (who stay on th3 dock after you sail away)who you may or may not tip. It is then loaded onto cages and thence the ship, then yet another set of hands (crew) who see none of your tip deliver it to your cabin. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not-enough-cruising Posted August 8, 2019 #17 Share Posted August 8, 2019 9 minutes ago, skyking said: it sounds crazy I know, but I tip about 5 bucks a bag, and ask them nicely to put it on a full cart. 98% of the time my bags have been at my door when the cabins open. We are alway at the port by 10:30am! Being early top the port probably has a bigger influence on luggage delivery than a tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nelblu Posted August 8, 2019 #18 Share Posted August 8, 2019 29 minutes ago, Palmetto Pilot said: The earlier you drop your luggage off the the quicker you get your luggage. Not necessarily so. It's just like airlines, you would think if you checked your luggage early, it should be one of the first, after priority labeled, off the carousel. The same applies to ship's luggage, as I've checked early and still get them at about 3-4 PM. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare skyking Posted August 8, 2019 #19 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Just now, not-enough-cruising said: Being early top the port probably has a bigger influence on luggage delivery than a tip. If you say so! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biomedbob Posted August 8, 2019 #20 Share Posted August 8, 2019 I've found (after 104 cruises) the earlier you give your luggage to the guys at the port, the later they arrive at your room. I think they get moved to the rear of the holding area to make room for the incoming luggage, thus handled later. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not-enough-cruising Posted August 8, 2019 #21 Share Posted August 8, 2019 (edited) 13 minutes ago, skyking said: If you say so! All I know is a dropped my bags at 1015 2 weeks ago on Freedom, and they were outside the door when I got to the room at 1315 But I agree with everyone else stating that there is no consistency. Back to the topic at hand, tipping the porter has zero influence. Edited August 8, 2019 by not-enough-cruising 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare skyking Posted August 8, 2019 #22 Share Posted August 8, 2019 2 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said: All I know is a dropped my bags at 1015 2 weeks ago on Freedom, and they were outside the door when I got to the room at 1315 But I agree with everyone else stating that there is no consistency. Back to the topic at hand, tipping the porter has zero influence. it is super nice to get that luggage early, that's for sure, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voyager70 Posted August 8, 2019 #23 Share Posted August 8, 2019 7 minutes ago, biomedbob said: I've found (after 104 cruises) the earlier you give your luggage to the guys at the port, the later they arrive at your room. I think they get moved to the rear of the holding area to make room for the incoming luggage, thus handled later. You may very well be true. I tend to get to the port early and usually get my bags late regardless of the tip. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baron Barracuda Posted August 8, 2019 #24 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Timing of luggage delivery is a crap shoot. Early arriving bags can end up on bottom of pile while being sorted below decks. Cabin stewards need to finish their regular work before starting on luggage delivery. The only benefit we see in tipping (and we never tip more than a buck a bag) is greater confidence our luggage won't get left behind or damaged and our luggage tags remain intact. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanderista Posted August 8, 2019 #25 Share Posted August 8, 2019 46 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said: It most certainly is true. The porters at the terminals (USA Terminals) are part of the Longshoreman's union. Starting salary average $130,000. The guys working the cruise terminals are more senior members of the union, as this is a highly desired assignment (thus they are higher paid and are making an overtime and weekend differential as well) Tack on paid vacation, union medical and dental, and they are VERY well compensated for moving y bags 20 feet or so from the curb to the nearest trolley (where they then hand it over to RCCL staff) Wow, forget working for Royal. How do I get that job? 😄 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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