Port charge refund?

[Meredith22]

With hurricanes causing changes in ports of call for recent Caribbean cruises, I've been reading about what happens if a port is skipped entirely with no replacement port offered. According to Carnival, in such a situation a $20 shipboard credit is issued to every passenger. Does anyone know if part of the port charges already paid by those passengers are refunded, as well?

[ddonalds]

Based on your note, the $20 probably is a part of the port charge. The ship has already paid the port to have them there, so even if they can't get in, they have already paid money to have the port ready to receive them. I think that's pretty nice of Carnaval since it's really clear in the contract you get that the ship line has the right to change/cancel ports....

[sandy toes]

Any line that offers an OBC when a port is missed or even arrived very late, is doing a nice thing of future PR. Their contracts are very clear, they can change the itinerary at any time for any reason and they do not need to give any refund. We are still on ship, still having a much better time than we would be at a land based holiday stuck in the dining room with windows boarded shut, only P&J sandwich and nasty linp chips and warm iffy water...oh and NO toilets!!!!

[firefly333]

Not that it matter, but I thought I read on some other Carnival information you get $25, no biggie for $5 more I guess. Its only if the port is skipped. No money if the port is substituted.

[newmexicoNita]

WE have missed ports because of weather several times. The only time anything was done: RCI did give us a 2 hour free cocktail time but we could only get Bloody Mary's or rum punch and only from 2 bars, one being the casino bar. NCL gave us a 1 hour cocktail party, we could use any bar and many were getting 4 ond 5 drinks at once. (greedY) We also all had a OBC on our bill at the end that was the amount of the port charges. What is done seems to be a gray area.

 

Nita

[Meredith22]

Thanks for the input. Because port charges are several hundred dollars per person per cruise, I was wondering if the cruiseline would refund the appropriate portion. Hopefully, I'll never have the opportunity of finding out. It does seem strange, though, that the line would have to pay the charges to a port if the port is unavailable for some reason. It's not as if the ship would skip a port arbitrarily, especially since the cruiseline makes so much money on shore excursions and shopping kickbacks.

[maddiesky]

We missed three ports on the Sea Princess last Feb., and got $150.00 credit per person.

[megr1125]

On Navigator during Wilma we missed one and subbed another.....we got a couple hours of rum punch and something else, and i think soda or plain punch for the kiddies....

 

it was on the promenade...they had servers walking with trays, OR you could go to the air. SOme servers were like...hey, you have 2 hands, have 3 or 4 drinks....if you can carry more, great! I think I had 4, took 2 to the cabin for mom and then I went to the towel folding class...:o

[cruiseco]

Thanks for the input. Because port charges are several hundred dollars per person per cruise, I was wondering if the cruiseline would refund the appropriate portion. Hopefully, I'll never have the opportunity of finding out. It does seem strange, though, that the line would have to pay the charges to a port if the port is unavailable for some reason. It's not as if the ship would skip a port arbitrarily, especially since the cruiseline makes so much money on shore excursions and shopping kickbacks.

 

That would be true if Carnival did in fact charge for port charges. Go to their web site and go through the booking process. There's the cruise fare and miscellaneous charges that include taxes and fees. There is no separate item for "port charges."

 

This is the result of a class-action lawsuit seven or eight years ago. The point was to stop advertising $499 fares with -- in small print -- "port charges $249 additional." Carnival agreed to fold what used to be "port charges" into the cruise fare itself.

 

Since they don't charge you for "port charges" any more they're not obligated to refund anything if a port is missed.

[henepup]

On a Celebrity cruise 9yrs ago, we missed 1 port due to hurricane weather. They didn't give us anything. I questioned the port charge thing, and they said they could change the ports at any time. Oh well we still had a great time.

[skittl1321]

I think it's a bit distressing that so many lines use free alcohol as a way of "smoothing things over" rather than giving a small OBC.

 

What sort of compensation do those who do not drink, or children get? I imagine they aren't giving KIDS rum punch, and they missed the port too!

[newmexicoNita]

I think it's a bit distressing that so many lines use free alcohol as a way of "smoothing things over" rather than giving a small OBC.

 

What sort of compensation do those who do not drink, or children get? I imagine they aren't giving KIDS rum punch, and they missed the port too!

I felt it was more than fair on NCLs Jewe. they added activities, gave us back our port charges as I mentioned and opened the bars. since when do non alcohol drinkers and kids not enjoy a free soda or two? Not always do thinks work out perfectly for everyone.

 

Nita

[RSGS315]

That would be true if Carnival did in fact charge for port charges. Go to their web site and go through the booking process. There's the cruise fare and miscellaneous charges that include taxes and fees. There is no separate item for "port charges."

 

This is the result of a class-action lawsuit seven or eight years ago. The point was to stop advertising $499 fares with -- in small print -- "port charges $249 additional." Carnival agreed to fold what used to be "port charges" into the cruise fare itself.

 

Since they don't charge you for "port charges" any more they're not obligated to refund anything if a port is missed.

 

 

The above is not entirely correct. Cruise lines DO include the port charges in their fare to the general public now, but they break it down to travel agents by calling it a "non commissionable fare". This represents the port charges AND other services the cruise lines charge for. They are vague about the OTHER items when questioned

Ginnie

[Happy ks]

Thanks for the input. Because port charges are several hundred dollars per person per cruise, I was wondering if the cruiseline would refund the appropriate portion. Hopefully, I'll never have the opportunity of finding out. It does seem strange, though, that the line would have to pay the charges to a port if the port is unavailable for some reason. It's not as if the ship would skip a port arbitrarily, especially since the cruiseline makes so much money on shore excursions and shopping kickbacks.

 

 

Not all of those charges are port charges, some of the charges are taxes and definitely not refundable!

 

You would have to find out from someone in the port business if any of the charges were waived if a ship could not get into port.