Port fees and such for Nassau, CCay?

[SL6827]

Ok, could someone explain to me the factors associated with the refunding of port fees, or a drop in the actual prices of them and such? Do they only refund them when you are not able to dock at the ports? Or how much does DCL possibly overestimate the fees and then will refund them if they are lower? Does this happen a lot on the three and four night cruises? I have a final bill of right around 7.035 for two cabins and really don't want to go below the 7,000 mark as I would receive a OBC of $300 instead of $350. Right now I am thinking our fees, taxes, ect are right around $83 a person. But I guess if I were to get $50 worth of port fees refunded then it would all be squared away then. Just curious.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Ok, could someone explain to me the factors associated with the refunding of port fees, or a drop in the actual prices of them and such? Do they only refund them when you are not able to dock at the ports? Or how much does DCL possibly overestimate the fees and then will refund them if they are lower? Does this happen a lot on the three and four night cruises? I have a final bill of right around 7.035 for two cabins and really don't want to go below the 7,000 mark as I would receive a OBC of $300 instead of $350. Right now I am thinking our fees, taxes, ect are right around $83 a person. But I guess if I were to get $50 worth of port fees refunded then it would all be squared away then. Just curious.

When a cruise line makes a reservation to stop at a port, there are taxes and fees associated with doing so. Those taxes and fees vary, depending on how much fuel, electricity, tax percentages, staffing costs, etc. are from month to month.

Since most reservations for a specific cruise are booked months (even years) ahead, the cruiseline estimates what those port taxes and fees are going to be on the day the ship is actually in that port.

If the taxes and fees go down, typically, DCL will refund the difference. If they go up, you are not charged additionally.

If the ship does not port, the taxes and fees paid (the estimated price) will be refunded.

 

[SL6827]

If they go up, you are not charged additionally.

That is surprising.

 

[dclpluto]

That is surprising.

DCL tried that on the 08 Panama Canal cruises. It didn’t go over too good. DCL finally gave up and the passengers were not required to pay the extra if you were already booked. DCL ate a lot of the cost think it was 100 dollars a person.

 

[SL6827]

DCL tried that on the 08 Panama Canal cruises. It didn’t go over too good. DCL finally gave up and the passengers were not required to pay the extra if you were already booked. DCL ate a lot of the cost think it was 100 dollars a person.

Wow!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

DCL tried that on the 08 Panama Canal cruises. It didn’t go over too good. DCL finally gave up and the passengers were not required to pay the extra if you were already booked. DCL ate a lot of the cost think it was 100 dollars a person.

Yep. We were on that cruise. It was about a month out from the cruise and they sent us a letter telling us we'd have to pay the upcharge. There was a HUGE outcry to this, and then we received notification that we wouldn't have to pay the extra charge.

I think after that time, DCL has over- over-estimated port fees and taxes on some cruises just to cover themselves.

 

[hrhdhd]

Depending on the travel agent, OBC is usually based on only the cruise fare, not on the taxes and fees.

 

[lklgoodman]

Not sure how often refunds happen. We've done 5 Caribbean cruises(all 7 nights) and have received a refund twice. One was around $20, the other was around $45.

 

[bobbiwoz]

After the DVC Member Cruise that did not stop in Boston due to weather, we all got a $30 electronic gift card that will expire in 4/30/2021 If not used. It was a charter so there was no specific breakdown of taxes and port charges.

 

[lanejudy]

I have a final bill of right around 7.035 for two cabins and really don't want to go below the 7,000 mark as I would receive a OBC of $300 instead of $350.

Are you sure everything gets counted towards the OBC? At least some TAs only count the actual passenger “fare” because that is how the commission is based.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[SL6827]

Are you sure everything gets counted towards the OBC? At least some TAs only count the actual passenger “fare” because that is how the commission is based.

Enjoy your cruise!

Yes, they are the ONLY TA I found that did this. That there makes them a step above the rest.

 

[disneylove69]

Only refund I had was back in the day they had gas surcharges.

 

[disneylove69]

Only refund I had was back in the day they had gas surcharges. Also it's based on fare and not port or taxes. So you should be at $300.

 

[SL6827]

Depending on the travel agent, OBC is usually based on only the cruise fare, not on the taxes and fees.

Dreams Unlimited it is based on all of it.

 

[SL6827]

Only refund I had was back in the day they had gas surcharges. Also it's based on fare and not port or taxes. So you should be at $300.

 

[disneylove69]

Cool. Then no worries. Port changes wont happen.

 

[SL6827]

Cool. Then no worries. Port changes wont happen.

No, but they could be overestimating the fees right now?? I am assuming the port fees and taxes may have not been included in the past with Dreams, but they are now? I don't know, but I didn't see any other TA that includes them in their OBCs. Now very rarely I guess will most people be barely just over the "hump" with their cruise fares but we are so I really do value Dreams doing this.

 

[disneylove69]

No, but they could be overestimating the fees right now?? I am assuming the port fees and taxes may have not been included in the past with Dreams, but they are now? I don't know, but I didn't see any other TA that includes them in their OBCs. Now very rarely I guess will most people be barely just over the "hump" with their cruise fares but we are so I really do value Dreams doing this.

What you paid in port fees wont change. They are not estimates.

 

[lizzyb]

We received a small refund last year.

 

[SL6827]

We received a small refund last year.

Any idea how much? Was it on the Dream?