Port fees

[Ravenne]

I'm just curious, really... I know port fees fluctuate, but I've only ever seen it drop as it gets closer to the sail date, and of course, a refund is issued or the total cruise cost is adjusted. I assume it can increase as well, and they'd do the same: adjust the cruise cost. I also assume that if you're PIF (before the PIF date) they'll notify you that you still owe that amount? What happens if it increases after PIF date? Or does that not happen?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm just curious, really... I know port fees fluctuate, but I've only ever seen it drop as it gets closer to the sail date, and of course, a refund is issued or the total cruise cost is adjusted. I assume it can increase as well, and they'd do the same: adjust the cruise cost. I also assume that if you're PIF (before the PIF date) they'll notify you that you still owe that amount? What happens if it increases after PIF date? Or does that not happen?

There are cruise lines that will tell you that you have to pay more if port fees/taxes increase.

But, DCL doesn't (or hasn't yet, to my knowledge) charged extra for increased port fees. They tend to overestimate the port fees & taxes when you book a cruise.

If fees go down, they will usually give you it back as OBC.

 

[lanejudy]

I’ve never seen DCL charge an increase if port fees go up. I have always assumed they overestimate to avoid that situation, though I suppose they could be either covering the increase or charging (but i’m sure someone would have mentioned it around here). An overage will be refunded as DCL has no legal right to that no matter how small.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I’ve never seen DCL charge an increase if port fees go up. I have always assumed they overestimate to avoid that situation, though I suppose they could be either covering the increase or charging (but i’m sure someone would have mentioned it around here). An overage will be refunded as DCL has no legal right to that no matter how small.

Enjoy your cruise!

Only time I've had experience with was our first Panama Canal cruise (DCL). There was an increase in the transit fees between the time reservations opened and the actual cruise. We all received a letter from DCL saying they were going to be charging everyone $100 more for the increased fee.

Yeah, that went over well......

After MUCH outrage and being contacted by people holding reservations saying they were extremely unhappy about this, DCL wound up rescinding the charge.

 

[lanejudy]

Yeah, that went over well......

I can imagine! I don’t recall reading about that; it must have been before I started reading here.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I can imagine! I don’t recall reading about that; it must have been before I started reading here.

Well, that cruise was in 2008.

 

[dclpluto]

Only time I've had experience with was our first Panama Canal cruise (DCL). There was an increase in the transit fees between the time reservations opened and the actual cruise. We all received a letter from DCL saying they were going to be charging everyone $100 more for the increased fee.

Yeah, that went over well......

After MUCH outrage and being contacted by people holding reservations saying they were extremely unhappy about this, DCL wound up rescinding the charge.

August 2008?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

August 2008?

No WBPC in May.