newbie w/question on port charges

[bubbles1209]

I searched around, and did not see this question anywhere, so here goes:

What are port charges, and when do you pay them? Are they paid for when you book a cruise through a TA? Or do you pay for them once you are on the ship, also how much do they normally run? (ballpark):confused:

[Cotton]

When you book a cruise, taxes and port charges are added at that time.

[cruiseco]

I searched around, and did not see this question anywhere, so here goes:

What are port charges, and when do you pay them? Are they paid for when you book a cruise through a TA? Or do you pay for them once you are on the ship, also how much do they normally run? (ballpark):confused:

 

Since you're a new cruiser you can just put the term "port charges" out of your mind as Carnival does not refer to any portion of your total fare that way any more.

 

As a consumer, your total cost is now broken down into:

 

1) Cruise fare

2) taxes and fees

 

From a travel agent's point of view they want to know what portion of the cruise fare they will be paid a commission on so they get an additional breakdown of the cruise fare into:

 

1) Commissionable cruise fare

2) Non-commissionable cruise fare

 

The non-commissionable cruise fare consists of whatever Carnival wants. Some of it may be charges that originate with the various port authorities/governments that your ship is scheduled to visit and some of it may not. Nobody but Carnival knows.

 

The only part of your total cruise cost that won't be paid at the scheduled final payment date is the possible additition to the "taxes and fees". A gov't may slap on a $5 fee for whatnot and you have to pay it even if you otherwise paid in full. If you don't pay up before you board the ship they'll put it on your shipboard account. It's rare and usually only a matter of a few dollars so don't sweat it.