Port charge question
George Fenzil
Does anyone know how port charges work?
My cruise (Celebrity Meridian to Bermuda) was supposed to be in Bermuda
from 10:30AM Tues until 5:00 PM Fri. We were only in Bermuda from
1:30PM Tue until 8:00AM Thu. I was wondering if I would be able to get
any port charges back. Do you have any idea?
Thanks,
George
Cruise review:
http://www.netcom.com/~gfenzil/celebrity.html
Barbara Arendt
I
>My cruise (Celebrity Meridian to Bermuda) was supposed to be in
Bermuda from 10:30AM Tues until 5:00 PM Fri. We were only in Bermuda
from 1:30PM Tue until 8:00AM Thu. I was wondering if I would be able
to get any port charges back. Do you have any idea?
sorry George,
Port taxes help (among other things) get the ship in and out of the
dock areas. Since you did indeed dock in Bermuda, there is no
recooping the tax.
-barbara
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email: bjcr...@ix.netcom.com
Web Page: http://www.csn.net/cruises/
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itsmarge
Barb, one would think anyone who squeaks so tightly ought to consider
staying home and doing the local Mickey Dee's Playground. Oops, may
have to purchase a cola and some fries though.
In <50i4hu$1...@dfw-ixnews7.ix.netcom.com>
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(o o)
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Living: cruise, sun, fun
itsm...@ix.netcom.com
mar...@usa.pipeline.com
itsmarge
George, perhaps you can answer yourself this question. If the ship
stayed one hour and offered round trip tendering and another ship
stayed ten hours and also offered round trip tendering would the
distance from ship to shore for each ship be any shorter, assuming they
both dropped anchor in approximately the same distance from shore?
Another point here. Figuring the total port charges you paid for this
cruise, do you really believe your refund, if any, would really be
significant?
Just me here, wondering if room stewards' tips were discounted also,
due to short port visit.
In <50i1b4$4...@dfw-ixnews3.ix.netcom.com> gfe...@ix.netcom.com(George
Fenzil ) writes:
>
>Does anyone know how port charges work?
>
>My cruise (Celebrity Meridian to Bermuda) was supposed to be in
Bermuda
>from 10:30AM Tues until 5:00 PM Fri. We were only in Bermuda from
>1:30PM Tue until 8:00AM Thu. I was wondering if I would be able to
get
>any port charges back. Do you have any idea?
>
>Thanks,
>
>George
>
>
>Cruise review:
>http://www.netcom.com/~gfenzil/celebrity.html
>
--
smy...@popmail.voicenet.com
ItsMarge --
They left a day early. Since Bermuda charges (in cash) $60/person/day, they
****** well should get that money back. The customer should have the travel
agent appeal to the cruise line.
--Steve
Mr. Hans
itsm...@ix.netcom.com(itsmarge) wrote:
>George, perhaps you can answer yourself this question. If the ship
>stayed one hour and offered round trip tendering and another ship
>stayed ten hours and also offered round trip tendering would the
>distance from ship to shore for each ship be any shorter, assuming they
>both dropped anchor in approximately the same distance from shore?
Wait a minute....... Is this another quiz? But if one tender
held 100 people and made the trip in 30 minutes and the
second tender held 150 people and made the trip in 45
minutes, would that mean that if you stayed for one hour the
cost of the 100 passenger tender should be less than the 150
passenger tender even if that 150 passenger tender was
running for ten hours. However,if that 150 passenger tender
was only half full 50% of the time and 75% full the other
50%, and the 100 passenger tender was at 100% capacity three
quarters of the time and only a third full that remaining
quarter would that make a difference and as you said they
both would have to be anchored the same distance from shore.
If they weren't, it would be a different story and George
still wouldn't get his money back.
Hans
The Unofficial Holland America Homepage
http://www2.cybernex.net/~bustem/index.html
lind...@ibm.net
Port taxes help (among other things) get the ship in and out of the
>dock areas. Since you did indeed dock in Bermuda, there is no
>recooping the tax.
>-barbara
We'll have to see what comes out of the florida attorney general's report,
but in Ft. Lauderdale, the port charges are composed of (at least) pilot
charges, line handler charges, and a time charge for the time alongside.
So, if you stay for a week, you may more than if you stay for a day.
The guy has a point. But the cruise lines treat port charges like
collision damage wavier. They're not really supposed to cover the
actual costs, they to get back revenue after discounting the actual fare.
smy...@popmail.voicenet.com
The port charges are quested on a per day basis. The ships typically stay there
3 days, for $180. They are also quoted per person. Since it seems to me
that the fixed costs (pilot fees, line handling, and so on) are independent of
the number of people on the ship, they should be broken out. I think the
people that got trimmed a day should get a day's worth of these outrageous fees
back.
--Steve
GeorgieFL
test
Georgette
Brad
We all know Port Taxes have become a rip-off. Costa proves this with
their $49 3 night Nassau, Key West Itinerary on this November sailings.
Everyone else charges over $80. What happens to the extra $30+? Who
knows? The pending law suite may force cruise lines to give you (and us
TA's) a breakdown, but don't count on port taxes going down. Your
cruise fare on a 7 night cruise could be $99, port taxes $24, and
service fees $900. TA's get commission on the cruise fare only. Not
many would be pushing cruises for $9.00.
--
Brad
E-Cruise, Elgin, TX
ecr...@earthlink.net
Web Page http://www.earthlink.net/~ecruise
Beavis
On 3 Sep 1996, itsmarge wrote:
> Barb, one would think anyone who squeaks so tightly ought to consider
> staying home and doing the local Mickey Dee's Playground. Oops, may
> have to purchase a cola and some fries though.
And what about overcharging the passenger more than the actual port
costs, huh marge? i suppose thats beyond your wildest dreams, how some
cruise companies can be so capitalistic...
George Goetz
this is a test
ast...@usa.nai.net
How do you Know what the port charges are, they are variables that
include tugboat charges, pilot, longshoreman,water to be loaded, sewage
hookup on longer stays,taxes,fire/police etc.
Mike Hall
> How do you Know what the port charges are, they are variables that
> include tugboat charges, pilot, longshoreman,water to be loaded, sewage
> hookup on longer stays,taxes,fire/police etc.
WRONG ... those are EXPENSES that the ship occurs and ought to be
considered as part of overhead in fixing the cost of operations. Then
with a reasonable profit margin added on they should be included in the
price of the cruise. When a ship specifies something to be a "port
charge" and charges it to each passenger, the passenger ASSUMES that it is
a per-capita charge actually levied by the port, just like the airport
fees charged each passenger by many US airports. When the ships figure it
any other way they are misleading, if not actually defrauding, the
passenger (and incidentally the TA by not making it commissionable...).
Mike
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George in NY
Though the discussion about port charges has raged for sometime
complete with lawsuits etc. I find it hard to see the significance
when looking for a bottom line. Whether a line calls something a port
charge, fuel tax, or whatever the end result is the same. I don't know
about anyone else but I would presume we all add up all these costs
and TOTAL out what a cruise will be costing us. If the line eliminates
port charges in total and just adds it to the price what difference?
If the line breaks out each charge and presents us with a long laundry
list of what they are paying, ie $30 tug charge, $15 freight costs,
$10 island tax, $ 1 feeding island reps breakfast and lunch etc what
difference? I don't really need to know all the details, I'm not
looking to run the company. All I have to know is what it all comes to
when you add it all up and if I'm comfortable paying that price for
the product provided. If the line or any company derives it's profit
margin from this or that is not my business. Cost of cruise in total
is.
George in NY
Derek Ott
On Sep 12, 1996 15:56:20 in article <Re: Port charge question>,
'geor...@ix.netcom.com (George in NY)' wrote:
>Though the discussion about port charges has raged for sometime
The person who should be complaining is your Travel Agent. Cruise Lines
(as well as Air Lines, Hotel Chains, etc.) don't pay commission on "Taxes".
By charging $100.00 plus for Port Fees instead of adding on to the price
the Lines are beating the agents out of between $10 to $15 worth of
revenue. On the other hand if the lines raised the fare and lowered the
tax, the fare increase would have to be adjusted upward to include the
extra commission!
Derek
George in NY
On 12 Sep 1996 17:48:04 GMT, caldw...@usa.pipeline.com(Derek Ott)
wrote:
>The person who should be complaining is your Travel Agent. Cruise Lines
>(as well as Air Lines, Hotel Chains, etc.) don't pay commission on "Taxes".
> By charging $100.00 plus for Port Fees instead of adding on to the price
>the Lines are beating the agents out of between $10 to $15 worth of
>revenue. On the other hand if the lines raised the fare and lowered the
>tax, the fare increase would have to be adjusted upward to include the
>extra commission!
>
>Derek
Derek, Your absolutely correct and I do understand the argument from
the the travel agent end, I have previously been in the business. I
was really addressing the consumer end of it since the commission
question probably is not on thier mind when evidencing port charge
concerns. Your point is well taken though.
George in NY
Lee
My objection to the port charges is that the cruise lines can
falsely advertise two for one fares by not including the port
charges in the base fare. These charges are getting to be a
greater percentage of the total fare each year. Its like buying a
suit for 50% off and then having to pay extra for the sleeves.
Cheryl Fuller
Lee...I agree about the port charges. When you multiply the number
of passengers that sail into a port in any given week by the amount
of the port charges, you realize that those ports are making a
killing. We as tourists are going to spend a fortune on souvenoirs
restaurants, and sightseeing, which is more than likely the major
source of their econonmy, and then we have to pay an exhorbant
amount to go there and spend our money. Go figure!!
Cheryl
Terry Steinford
Don't assume that all of the $ your cruise line changes you as a "port
charge" actually goes the the port authority. The cruise line does not
have to make an accounting to anyone to substantiate the amount they tack
on to your fare.
The class action lawsuits and the Florida Attourney general's
investigation have already let out this dirty little secret.
The attorney for one cruise line (a day tripper to the Bahamas) was quoted
in the newspaper that they were including the Social Security tax and
other payroll taxes for their reservation agents in the "port fee." Even
then, the numbers still did not add up. They basically were including any
common expense for the ship as a whole, like tugs, pilots and
linehandlers, not just the per person charge made by the port authority.
Their current advertising now calls it a "cruise line service charge", not
a port fee or tax.
Cheryl Fuller (Cheryl...@worldnet.att.net) wrote: :
: Lee...I agree about the port charges. When you multiply the number
Derek Ott
On Oct 01, 1996 20:09:28 in article <Re: Port charge question>,
't...@gate.net (Terry Steinford)' wrote:
>They basically were including any
>common expense for the ship as a whole, like tugs, pilots and
>linehandlers, not just the per person charge made by the port authority.
>
>Their current advertising now calls it a "cruise line service charge", not
>a port fee or tax.
Dear Terry,
Consider this, you are going to have to pay for cruise lines employees
entire salaries, taxes, longshoremen, pilots, tugs, fuel, "free" drinks at
the Captain's cocktail party, etc. NO MATTER WHAT! The lines are in
business to make money, not to subsidise your vacation. The person who is
being ripped-off is your travel agent, they don't make commision off these
"fees". If the lines were to drop these surcharges, the cruise fare would
not go up by $1 for every dollar that the "taxes" dropped, your fare would
increase by $1.10 (to cover the increase in commision)! I do the pricing
and quality control at a large travel wholesaler, and this is how we
opperate; I don't think the cruise lines are any different!
Yours,
Derek
Rob Heape
Derek writes:
> Dear Terry,
> business to make money, not to subsidise your vacation. The person who is
> being ripped-off is your travel agent, they don't make commision off these
> "fees". If the lines were to drop these surcharges, the cruise fare would
>
Please.... gimme a break. I think what the Airlines did with travel agents fees
is great. Personally I never use TA's for any domestic travel and I feel
cruises compare favorably to domestic airline travel. That is both methods
of travel are straight-forward to arrange and a TA's added value is limited
at best.
International travel is much different. Understanding the necessary visa's,
customs, problems, etc. is something a TA can offer to a customer that has
added value. The more you travel internationally, the more added value they
can provide, so I don't have a problem there.
The port charge business is definetly deceitful and in my opinion will benefit
the traveler after the current class action lawsuit is settled. In no way
do I feel the travel agent is being cheated out of commissions.
In fact, I would recommend to everyone that they save TA fees and book with
a discount cruise specialist. The one I've found to be reputable is Deerwood
in Miami. I know others have gone out of business and took passengers
deposits with them. Caveat Emptor....
I always laugh at people on cruises who get a complimentary bottle of wine
from their TA and say, "oh wasn't that nice.." Bah, the cruise customer
is paying through the nose for the bottle of wine in TA charges.
-Rob