Taxes and Port Fees

I just noticed our port fees, etc. have gone down by $10 pp. Will we get that back at some point and time? If we do will it be before final payment or on the ship as OBC? Doesn't really matter, but I was curious.

In past cruises I have received as credit to my sail/sign account.

In past cruises I have received as credit to my sail/sign account.

BonVoyage

Dawna

Thank you!

Was just about to ask the same ing...that's great to hear!

Just remember, what goes down sometimes goes back up.:cool:

In past cruises I have received as credit to my sail/sign account.

How did you receive this credit?

I booked a cruise for about $3,000 through a travel agent. Their invoice listed a base cruise fare, non-commission fee line, a discount line and a taxes and fees line. They all added up to within a dollar of my mock booking on the RCL website.

A few months later, before final payment, I noticed the total cruise mock booking was about $2,500 so I called the travel agent and got the lower cruise rate except, they said they could Not decrease the taxes and fees line. I pressed them and they said it was an RCL policy. It amounts to let's say $25 difference, between what the TA price now is vs. the new mock booking. I was happy because I'm paying less, but it just didn't sit right in my head.

This morning I called RCL directly and they confirmed that they don't change the T&F amount when repricing an existing booking. She said the taxes have nothing to do with the cruise price.

So I came on cruise critic to find if other people complained about this, found this thread, and am wondering how to get my $25 OBC.

Thanks!

When taxes and fees have decreased I've always received a credit on my Seapass account automatically. I always book direct with RCI.

My understanding is that the taxes and fees collected beforehand are just an estimate as bookings can be made months in advance. The difference from actuals is refunded.

It was shown on my folio onboard the ship as a refund - credit. This has happened more then once on CCL, RCL, Princess and HAL cruises over the years. It is true that the taxes/fees do not have anything to do with the base cruise fare. Once the actual fees/taxes are settled for your particular cruise prior to boarding then an adjustment is made. For many years now, if the taxes/fees went up you were not charged additional. However, if the actual amount drops then you are credited. This computation has nothing to do with whether you booked straight with cruise line or with a travel agent. Full disclosure, I am in the travel business.

How did you receive this credit?

I booked a cruise for about $3,000 through a travel agent. Their invoice listed a base cruise fare, non-commission fee line, a discount line and a taxes and fees line. They all added up to within a dollar of my mock booking on the RCL website.

A few months later, before final payment, I noticed the total cruise mock booking was about $2,500 so I called the travel agent and got the lower cruise rate except, they said they could Not decrease the taxes and fees line. I pressed them and they said it was an RCL policy. It amounts to let's say $25 difference, between what the TA price now is vs. the new mock booking. I was happy because I'm paying less, but it just didn't sit right in my head.

 

This morning I called RCL directly and they confirmed that they don't change the T&F amount when repricing an existing booking. She said the taxes have nothing to do with the cruise price.

 

So I came on cruise critic to find if other people complained about this, found this thread, and am wondering how to get my $25 OBC.

 

Thanks!

Thank you all. It seems that nobody did anything.

But I went ahead and saved a screenshot of the new taxes/fees rate shown on the mock booking for backup when I get on board. I'll go to guest services with my backup if the credit doesn't automatically show after Day 2.

Thank you all. It seems that nobody did anything.

But I went ahead and saved a screenshot of the new taxes/fees rate shown on the mock booking for backup when I get on board. I'll go to guest services with my backup if the credit doesn't automatically show after Day 2.

The tax/fee portion of the cruise can change at any time, even when you are on the cruise. It could go back up by the time you board. You can go the one of the computer terminals while on board and recheck the tax/fee portion at the RCI web site (free, don't need internet package) - this assumes there's a future sailing with the same ports which you can check.

I have been in communication with "my" person at Royal Caribbean on a slightly different matter, but part of the issue was taxes/port charges.

She confirmed that ANY time you have paid more than those are on the day that you sail, you will receive an account credit while on board on your SeaPass account for the difference.

Just to follow up on my experience. I appreciated the confirmations on this thread. On the third day on board, I noticed there was no credit. The guest relations desk said it would appear towards the end of the cruise. I took that to imply that it meant after the last port. So that they can verify the true cost of the cruise port fees. I neglected to check on the last day of the cruise to see if the credit had been applied, and I did not receive a statement in my check out. So the day after arriving home I called Royal Caribbean to get an email of the statement. I noticed that there was no credit for the difference in port fees so I called again. The lady on the phone, and this is the normal RCL 800 number, had no idea what I was talking about so I asked her to talk to somebody who might know. She put me on hold for about 5 minutes and came back and said she had spoken with a "resolution specialist" who confirmed what I was saying and she issued me a credit of the difference on to my credit card which appeared on my statement about 8 days later. But on day 4 of waiting, I had already contacted RCL again and been told no way, no refund. And then I got my travel agent involved but I'm not sure that they were able to help because I never received a positive reply from them.

But because of all the positive feedback here, I stood my ground and got the credit. Thanks!

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