Cancelled Port. Will there be a refund of any port fees?

[TomBeckCruise]

We are booked on Enchanted Princess 9-7-24.  We were originally going to visit Bar Harbor.  Bar Harbor is concerned about the negative impact of large cruise ships, and they are now limiting the number that can visit.  Princess changed to Rockland, and the same thing has happened there.  

So we now have two sea days on a 7 day cruise.

Any chance of receiving any kind of refund of port fees? Any other fees?

[Bemidji Ty]

Yes.  We've always had them refunded.  Don't remember if it was OBC or not. 

[TM]

Yes they will be refunded as onboard credit.  But typically it is literally only a few dollars per person per port.

[Arizona Wildcat]

Important to note a couple things.  The maximum you will be charged for port fees is fixed when you book.  Between that date and the cruise date fees can change (usually up). Missing a port will result in a reduction in fees that might be offset by increases (post your booking date) from remaining ports scheduled or replacement ports added.

In some cases port fees are paid ahead and are not refunded if a port is missed.

So to the OP, you likely will receive an OBC, possibly a reduction recruiter and possibly nothing.

Have seen all 3.

[skynight]

It look like your final payment isn't due until June. You probably will get a new invoice amount. If not there will be a few $$ credit on your on board account. Amount depends on the port. I have seen amounts from a few $$ to maybe $10. It's not a windfall.

Edited April 27 by skynight

[telecheck]

I actually think that in addition to lowering the port fees, they should also reduce the fare a little bit. Generally, this 5-port itinerary is priced slightly higher than other similar 4-port itineraries. Now that the 5-port itinerary has become a 4-port itinerary, the fare should be adjusted accordingly. The issue is that Princess may not want to do that.

[capriccio]

59 minutes ago, telecheck said:

I actually think that in addition to lowering the port fees, they should also reduce the fare a little bit. Generally, this 5-port itinerary is priced slightly higher than other similar 4-port itineraries. Now that the 5-port itinerary has become a 4-port itinerary, the fare should be adjusted accordingly. The issue is that Princess may not want to do that.

 

I think Princess, and all other cruise lines, would rather not cancel a port.  When doing so they lose the income from one of their biggest money makers:  ship's excursions.  Their costs increase significantly.  They need to feed lunch to all passengers because on a port day the MDRs are not open for lunch.  Adding lunch and filling the day with alternative on board entertainment and other events means big adjustments to on board staffing schedules can be an administrative challenge more so with a cancellation with little advance notice of course. 

[skynight]

10 hours ago, telecheck said:

I actually think that in addition to lowering the port fees, they should also reduce the fare a little bit. Generally, this 5-port itinerary is priced slightly higher than other similar 4-port itineraries. Now that the 5-port itinerary has become a 4-port itinerary, the fare should be adjusted accordingly. The issue is that Princess may not want to do that.

A few times I have received a small amount of OBC for a missed port in addition to the port fees. Don't expect it. It's not a standard thing.  

[ontheweb]

12 hours ago, capriccio said:

 

I think Princess, and all other cruise lines, would rather not cancel a port.  When doing so they lose the income from one of their biggest money makers:  ship's excursions.  Their costs increase significantly.  They need to feed lunch to all passengers because on a port day the MDRs are not open for lunch.  Adding lunch and filling the day with alternative on board entertainment and other events means big adjustments to on board staffing schedules can be an administrative challenge more so with a cancellation with little advance notice of course. 

OTOH, they do get to keep the casino open, and that is definitely a money maker for them.

[Crystaltipps67]

We recently missed a Spanish port (Cadiz) due to bad weather and instead we went straight to the next port (Gibraltar) and spend an extra night there. We received a refund (about $9) in OBC a couple of days later. I am guessing that this was the balance of the refunded Cadiz fees less the additional Gibraltar fees but it didn't specify the details.