NCCF And Taxes/Fees

What is the difference between these? It would seem that a port charge is a tax. No?

What is the difference between these? It would seem that a port charge is a tax. No?

I believe taxes must be fees paid to some governmental agency. NCF can be many different things.

Here's one explanation: http://outdestinations.com/news.php?controller=pjLoad&action=pjActionView&id=56

I thought NCCF was non-commissionable cruise fare. The higher this is as a proportion of total fare, the less likely you are to receive TA rebates.

The amount listed in addition to the fare and usually called something similar to 'taxes and fees' are projected amounts to be charged on an individual basis when the ship visits that port. The amount can be (and often is ) adjusted up or down by a few dollars upon boarding, when the currently charged amounts are known and may be different from what was listed when you booked or paid for the cruise.

NCF (frequently called 'port charges') must be included by law in the quoted fare, but can be anything the cruiseline chooses to include in this portion of the fare, including taxes and fees charged by the port (as long as they were not part of the individual T&F, above). These expenses are usually charged on per ship basis regardless of the number of passengers onboard. They are often estimated on a per person basis using an average passenger load. They are not adjusted upon boarding, and unless your TA tells you the amount, you will not usually know what portion of your fare is the NCF amount.

I thought NCCF was non-commissionable cruise fare. The higher this is as a proportion of total fare, the less likely you are to receive TA rebates.

Which makes sense as this would come out of the TA's pocket. Their commission is their income after all, which at 10 - 15% of the commissionable portion is somewhat restrictive to begin with.

The amount listed in addition to the fare and usually called something similar to 'taxes and fees' are projected amounts to be charged on an individual basis when the ship visits that port. The amount can be (and often is ) adjusted up or down by a few dollars upon boarding, when the currently charged amounts are known and may be different from what was listed when you booked or paid for the cruise.

 

NCF (frequently called 'port charges') must be included by law in the quoted fare, but can be anything the cruiseline chooses to include in this portion of the fare, including taxes and fees charged by the port (as long as they were not part of the individual T&F, above). These expenses are usually charged on per ship basis regardless of the number of passengers onboard. They are often estimated on a per person basis using an average passenger load. They are not adjusted upon boarding, and unless your TA tells you the amount, you will not usually know what portion of your fare is the NCF amount.

NCF is merely the portion of the basic cruise fare that the cruise line will not pay a commission to the travel agent on. The price quoted on the line's website includes the commissionable and non-commissionable portions of the fare together, since they are not paying a commission to anyone. When a TA quotes a fare, some will break out the NCF in order to advertise a lower base fare than the cruise line, but will then call the NCF a "port charge" (note not a tax or fee). Many reputable TA's do not break out the NCF, since they feel it is just misleading advertising.

TA's don't like the NCF, but have to live with it, and the amount of the NCF is simply whatever the cruise line decides to make it. It has nothing to do with charges or expenses for the ship, it is just a means of controlling the amount of commissions paid.