Taxes and Port Charges with TA vs Celebrity

[S&B]

I am finding that I get a cheaper tax and port charges rate through the Celebrity website than through my TA quote on a SA cruise. Does this make sense? About 180.00 less. (TA did not add the Chile airport tax) Has anyone else had this experience? Or am I just not reading all the fine print.

 

Do most travelers book through their TA or directly through the cruise line. I have always used a TA but am thinking twice about it. :confused:

 

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Sky Sweet]

I am finding that I get a cheaper tax and port charges rate through the Celebrity website than through my TA quote on a SA cruise. Does this make sense? About 180.00 less. (TA did not add the Chile airport tax) Has anyone else had this experience? Or am I just not reading all the fine print.

 

Do most travelers book through their TA or directly through the cruise line. I have always used a TA but am thinking twice about it. :confused:

 

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

Hi S&B :)

 

When a cruise line quotes a price for a cruise it usually includes port charges, but not taxes, while many TA's quote a price without any port charges or taxes. That is why you have to be very careful when comparing cruise prices from more than one source.

 

In my opinion, a TA is like marriage. A good marriage (or partnership) is better than being single, but it is better to be single than unhappily married. Similarly, a good TA is probably better than booking directly with the cruise line, but I would rather book directly with the cruise line than work with a bad TA.

[Tracyr]

As a cruise specialist I agree with Sky Sweet. Most on line agencys and cruise lines will give you a price that does not include the taxes in the original price. It looks like the lowest price and then when you book there is the added taxes. I have had clients come back to me in the end because I gave the entire price up front. It is important to ask when you are getting a price if it includes ALL port fees and TAXES. Happy sailing.

[iv18-Diane]

When free insurance is offered, I would check coverage. I recently heard a sad story of someone receiving free insurance , and all it covered was cancellation. The person had to be airlifted at the cost of $50,000. That they will have to pay out of their own money, since their insurance did not cover it, and neither did their own US health insurance. Remember, when you step on a ship you are automatically out of the country.

 

Diane G

[newmexicoNita]

Absolutely there is no way you can save on taxes and port charges, no matter how you book: these are set prices. As for any company throwing is whatever, that is a different story, even then they can not advertise this, especially when dealing with RCI and Celebrity. Have you even thought to take the price you were quoted to a cruise specialist company in your area and see what they can get you? You may be surprised. NMNita

[CaribbeanBound]

cruiseco...

 

Thank you. You may be right. My experience is that "Travel Protection" is what is often offered by fly-by-night firms whereas "Travel Insurance" is offered by regulated insurance companies.

 

I went to the BerkleyCare website. I couldn't find their financial ratings anywhere. They obviously have a rating the cruiselines like, but it isn't easily viewable. Any idea what it is?

[Host Anne]

A quick reminder that the discussion of specific agencies is not permitted on the message boards. Thanks for your cooperation.

[cruiseco]

BerkelyCare uses Aon which is huge. For property and casualty underwriting (including travel insurance) in the US the division of Aon used is Virginia Surety which, the last I heard, was rated "A Excellent" by A.M. Best.

 

By the way, here's how Travelex describes what they sell:

 

"About Us: Travelex offers a variety of travel protection plans . . . Our core protection plans are Travel Plus and TraveLite . . . Travelex also offers Annual Travel Protection Plans . . ."

[xke_uk]

I am finding that I get a cheaper tax and port charges rate through the Celebrity website than through my TA quote on a SA cruise. Does this make sense? About 180.00 less. (TA did not add the Chile airport tax) Has anyone else had this experience? Or am I just not reading all the fine print.

 

Do most travelers book through their TA or directly through the cruise line. I have always used a TA but am thinking twice about it. :confused:

 

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

Hi S&B

Excuse me for butting in on your thread but we have lost your email address can you let us have it you can send it to xke at hotmail.co.uk ?

 

Regards

 

[xke_uk]

Hi S&B

Excuse me for butting in on your thread but we have lost your email address can you let us have it you can send it to xke at hotmail.co.uk ?

 

Regards

 

 

Sorry should have been xkeuk at hotmail