Port Charges on Back-to-Back Cruises

[plane2port]

If you take a series of back-ta-back cruises, do you have to pay port charges on each one, even ones that leave from the same port?

 

For example, you leave from Miami, so obviously you would pay the port charge for that day. When you come back to Miami on the turn-around day, would you have to pay port charges twice for that day?

 

Anyone know?

[LHT28]

do not know & not worried about it

 

I just pay the bottom line & enjoy my cruises ;)

[Kamloops50]

If you take a series of back-ta-back cruises, do you have to pay port charges on each one, even ones that leave from the same port?

 

For example, you leave from Miami, so obviously you would pay the port charge for that day. When you come back to Miami on the turn-around day, would you have to pay port charges twice for that day?

 

Anyone know?

 

Disembarkation day usually doesn't have port charges. Your not double paying for the turnaround day . The same thing with gratuities that are calculated by the night on board.

[Clarea]

If you take a series of back-ta-back cruises, do you have to pay port charges on each one, even ones that leave from the same port?

 

For example, you leave from Miami, so obviously you would pay the port charge for that day. When you come back to Miami on the turn-around day, would you have to pay port charges twice for that day?

 

Anyone know?

You would pay the same port charges as anyone else on those cruises. The port charges don't change because you are taking consecutive cruises.

[fishywood]

From the context I assume you are asking about the government taxes and fees rather than the port charges which is travel agent-speak for the non-commissionable portion of the cruise fare.

 

When taking a back-to-back cruise from a USA turn around port you are process thru customs and immigration as if you are disembarking and re-embarking as a new passenger. And if the port calculates the berthing fee for that ship in part based on head count there is no discount to the cruise line for how many such heads are the same one counted twice. So no rebate on the taxes and fees for you.

[zqvol]

If you take a series of back-ta-back cruises, do you have to pay port charges on each one, even ones that leave from the same port?

 

For example, you leave from Miami, so obviously you would pay the port charge for that day. When you come back to Miami on the turn-around day, would you have to pay port charges twice for that day?

 

Anyone know?

 

 

Yes you do, the cruise lines are charged based on many factors including how many passengers are on the ship at a given port. Fess are paid to all ports not just the port of embarkation and debarkation.

[zqvol]

Disembarkation day usually doesn't have port charges. Your not double paying for the turnaround day . The same thing with gratuities that are calculated by the night on board.

 

Disembarkation day always have port charges associated with them, which include among other things the stevedores who work the dock.

 

Port fes are not on a per day basis they are calculated for each port and a re lumped together as a single charge.

[plane2port]

From the context I assume you are asking about the government taxes and fees rather than the port charges which is travel agent-speak for the non-commissionable portion of the cruise fare.

 

When taking a back-to-back cruise from a USA turn around port you are process thru customs and immigration as if you are disembarking and re-embarking as a new passenger. And if the port calculates the berthing fee for that ship in part based on head count there is no discount to the cruise line for how many such heads are the same one counted twice. So no rebate on the taxes and fees for you.

 

So when you miss a port due to weather, etc, the refund you get is from a portion of the government taxes and fees you have paid?

 

Who then is the recipient of the "port charges?" Do these go to the cruise line itself or some other entity?

[Kamloops50]

So when you miss a port due to weather, etc, the refund you get is from a portion of the government taxes and fees you have paid?

 

Who then is the recipient of the "port charges?" Do these go to the cruise line itself or some other entity?

 

All the port Fees and Taxes are collected . They pass them off to the appropriate port authorities and governments .

[Keith1010]

Yes, if you cruise ends in Miami and the next one begins in Miami you pay both port charges.

 

Keith

[sail7seas]

If you take a series of back-ta-back cruises, do you have to pay port charges on each one, even ones that leave from the same port?

 

For example, you leave from Miami, so obviously you would pay the port charge for that day. When you come back to Miami on the turn-around day, would you have to pay port charges twice for that day?

 

Anyone know?

 

Yes

 

[sail7seas]

So when you miss a port due to weather, etc, the refund you get is from a portion of the government taxes and fees you have paid?

 

Who then is the recipient of the "port charges?" Do these go to the cruise line itself or some other entity?

 

I cannot say for sure it happened each and every time we missed a port on HAL ship but I know for sure, we have many times gotten a refund of port fees when we missed a port. They credited our ship board account and a notice was given to every cabin.

 

Edited March 2, 2016 by sail7seas

[Clarea]

I cannot say for sure it happened each and every time we missed a port on HAL ship but I know for sure, we have many times gotten a refund of port fees when we missed a port. They credited our ship board account and a notice was given to every cabin.

 

We have experienced the same thing on Royal when we miss a port.

[GUT2407]

If you take a series of back-ta-back cruises, do you have to pay port charges on each one, even ones that leave from the same port?

 

For example, you leave from Miami, so obviously you would pay the port charge for that day. When you come back to Miami on the turn-around day, would you have to pay port charges twice for that day?

 

Anyone know?

 

Yes.

 

The port charges the ship. The ship charges you.

[GUT2407]

do not know & not worried about it

 

I just pay the bottom line & enjoy my cruises ;)

 

That's how I look at it too.

[Hlitner]

The answer to the OP is yes! But one needs to understand Port Charges and fees. Each port has their own fee schedule which are assessed on the ship/cruise line. These fees theoretically cover the costs of using the port facilities and the Pilot plus perhaps some additional local fees. They can be assessed on the tonnage of the vessel, number of passengers, time in port, etc. So when you do back to backs...or back to back to backs, or whatever..that is not relevant. What matters are the ports your ship enters.

 

A few years ago there was a class action lawsuit about so-called Port Charges which resulted in the cruise lines being somewhat more honest and even refunding port charges/fees for missed ports.

 

But to answer the OPs specific question, every time a ship enters the Port of Miami (or any other port) there are fees. The ports are expensive to build and operate, and the ships are expected to pay their fair share. Even cargo vessels have to pay various port fees. Perhaps it helps to think about parking your car in paid parking garage. Every time you enter that garage you have to pay the fees. If you enter that garage every Saturday you are going to pay the parking fees each and every Saturday.

 

Hank

Edited March 3, 2016 by Hlitner

[plane2port]

The answer to the OP is yes! But one needs to understand Port Charges and fees. Each port has their own fee schedule which are assessed on the ship/cruise line. These fees theoretically cover the costs of using the port facilities and the Pilot plus perhaps some additional local fees. They can be assessed on the tonnage of the vessel, number of passengers, time in port, etc. So when you do back to backs...or back to back to backs, or whatever..that is not relevant. What matters are the ports your ship enters.

 

A few years ago there was a class action lawsuit about so-called Port Charges which resulted in the cruise lines being somewhat more honest and even refunding port charges/fees for missed ports.

 

But to answer the OPs specific question, every time a ship enters the Port of Miami (or any other port) there are fees. The ports are expensive to build and operate, and the ships are expected to pay their fair share. Even cargo vessels have to pay various port fees. Perhaps it helps to think about parking your car in paid parking garage. Every time you enter that garage you have to pay the fees. If you enter that garage every Saturday you are going to pay the parking fees each and every Saturday.

 

Hank

 

If you are charged when you ENTER the port then the port is only charging the fee once per cruise. That makes sense, and it doesn't matter whether or not you are taking a single cruise or many B2B's. Thanks for that explanation.

 

I'm trying to put together a larger picture on what costs actually are when you are a long-term cruiser (you should know!) The port fees and taxes make up a significant proportion of the cruise fare, and I am trying to gain more of an understanding of how these work.

[Ashland]

B2B or B2B2B etc. cruises aren't lumped together...they're each an individual and separate cruise with their own booking #, documents, onboard charges etc....at least on RCI.