Port Taxes!
Nov 4th, 2013, 06:19 PM
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Port Taxes!
They're a part of life, or of travel, anyway, and I do expect to pay them. I know the spiffy fare is going to go up by 20% or more when they add in the lovely taxes and fees. You would think there'd be some percentage cap, though.
I've been looking at cruises, and it came to my attention that the one night "Escape from NY" on the Norwegian Gem was going down. And down. And then down some more. When it reached $39pp for an obstructed outside I decided it was absolutely unendurable, conferred with the family, and confirmed with Norwegian that we could put a 24 hour hold on it while we figured out who exactly was going.
So I start filling out the booking information and I get to the end, and I realize my $78 cabin is coming up at $260. My first thought was that I had done something wrong, and my second was that I had lost my fare while I busy typing and arguing with my sister. No. It was the "Gov't taxes and fees". They were a little over $90 pp, for one night, in and out of a single port. I knew $39 wasn't really going to be $39 but I figured worst case the taxes would be as much as the fare. I think the 12-day 4-port trip my Dad and I took in March was about $110 or $120 additional (plus tip, of course). I'm sure there's not a thing the cruise line can do about it, but no wonder they're having trouble filling the ship on this trip. It's really kind of crazy. I thought the Port of NY was trying to encourage the big lines to use its terminal.
I've been looking at cruises, and it came to my attention that the one night "Escape from NY" on the Norwegian Gem was going down. And down. And then down some more. When it reached $39pp for an obstructed outside I decided it was absolutely unendurable, conferred with the family, and confirmed with Norwegian that we could put a 24 hour hold on it while we figured out who exactly was going.
So I start filling out the booking information and I get to the end, and I realize my $78 cabin is coming up at $260. My first thought was that I had done something wrong, and my second was that I had lost my fare while I busy typing and arguing with my sister. No. It was the "Gov't taxes and fees". They were a little over $90 pp, for one night, in and out of a single port. I knew $39 wasn't really going to be $39 but I figured worst case the taxes would be as much as the fare. I think the 12-day 4-port trip my Dad and I took in March was about $110 or $120 additional (plus tip, of course). I'm sure there's not a thing the cruise line can do about it, but no wonder they're having trouble filling the ship on this trip. It's really kind of crazy. I thought the Port of NY was trying to encourage the big lines to use its terminal.
Nov 5th, 2013, 01:19 PM
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Thank you so much. We're probably going to skip it because it was clearly starting to come in around $600 or $700 for five people to take what's essentially a fancy Circle Line excursion.
I am likely taking another cruise with my Dad in the next few months though, and I will definitely write a trip report!
I am likely taking another cruise with my Dad in the next few months though, and I will definitely write a trip report!
My cruise is not until next year during New Year.
