How much do you tip a baggage handler on a cruise?

Tipping on a Cruise Begins Before Sailaway Savvy cruisers know that gratuities begin before you board your ship. Why? If you plan to drop off your larger pieces of luggage, be prepared to give the portside luggage handler a $2- $5 tip per bag. The amount can depend upon size, weight and amount of luggage.



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Your auto-gratuities will cover all waitstaff in the main dining room, buffet restaurants and specialty dining venues alike. If you dine at the same table and enjoy regular service from one or two particularly excellent waiters, consider leaving an additional $10 to $20 at the cruise's end.

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In general, plan on giving $16–$23 in gratuities per day for each passenger. Note that the amount should be tabulated for each individual in your party—don't try to tip once per couple or group. So if you're planning to go on a 7-day cruise, expect to give a total of between $112 and $161 per person in gratuities.

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Often the captain is doing an impressive amount of leg-work on day charters, from route planning and navigation to welcoming the passengers and preparing the ship for guests ahead of time. Tip between 10% and 20%, based on how long your charter is, your itinerary, and how well it's executed.

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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.

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On cruises of 6 days or longer, no more than two bags, per person. Each checked bag and carry-on bag should not weigh more than 50 pounds and, when lying flat, bags must not exceed 16 inches high, by 24 inches wide (the length of the bag is not a factor). For security screening purposes, all luggage should be unlocked.

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Senning recommends tipping bellhops $1 to $2 per bag, like baggage handlers. He suggests similar amounts for staff who deliver items upon request, like extra towels. For housekeepers, he suggests leaving $1 to $2 per guest, per day that housekeeping is provided, which may not be daily.

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Luggage attendants take your bags from reception up to your room. Whether they carry bags themselves or use a luggage cart, a small tip per bag is the norm. Recommended tip for luggage attendants: $1 per bag.

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Your auto-gratuities will cover all waitstaff in the main dining room, buffet restaurants and specialty dining venues alike. If you dine at the same table and enjoy regular service from one or two particularly excellent waiters, consider leaving an additional $10 to $20 at the cruise's end.

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Usually, tipping 10-20 percent of the charter's total cost is proper charter fishing boat tipping etiquette (and 15 percent is generally considered the norm.) Additionally, note that the captain will likely share those earnings with their crew!

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Do cruise ship employees actually get the gratuities? The automatic gratuity pool onboard cruise ships covers the housekeeping staff (cabin stewards) and wait staff. If a passenger is staying in a suite which includes butler service, the automatic gratuity is increased to include their butler.

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Though this is a great advantage for the guests, oftentimes it devalues the work of housekeepers due to people forgetting that they're even doing work or should be tipped. Despite this, you should definitely tip your housekeeper if you're staying at any kind of hotel, even if it's just for one night.

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Although TSA are able to open luggage with a TSA key, baggage handlers have no need to open bags.

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