So_Tweetie Posted December 16, 2023 #1 Share Posted December 16, 2023 I was just about to check out for an Alaska cruise next October, then the port fees and taxes were added to the booking...$419.29 each on a 9-day sailing! The itinerary is roundtrip out of Seattle with stops in Sitka, Glacier Bay (scenic cruising), Skagway, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, and Victoria. I don't remember fees being that high the previous two times that I cruised Alaska, it seems absolutely ridiculous. Does anyone know if this is because of a certain port or if it is to be expected of all Alaska cruises these days? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_And_K_gocruising Posted December 16, 2023 #2 Share Posted December 16, 2023 Check another line and see what they have for similar itinerary. But not surprised Alaska fees are going up as popular as it is. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Anoynmous Phoenix Posted December 16, 2023 #3 Share Posted December 16, 2023 That sounds like the normal; we are doing Seward to Vancouver in April and they are NZD428 (USD265) each; just 7 days one way. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davencl Posted December 16, 2023 #4 Share Posted December 16, 2023 This is far from alaska but my Prima Caribean 11 day cruise that only stops at 4 ports the fees are $475.38 each. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mugtech Posted December 16, 2023 #5 Share Posted December 16, 2023 Panama Canal still has Alaska beaten, over $500 on some. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LatinaInTexas Posted December 17, 2023 #6 Share Posted December 17, 2023 4 hours ago, So_Tweetie said: I was just about to check out for an Alaska cruise next October, then the port fees and taxes were added to the booking...$419.29 each on a 9-day sailing! The itinerary is roundtrip out of Seattle with stops in Sitka, Glacier Bay (scenic cruising), Skagway, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, and Victoria. I don't remember fees being that high the previous two times that I cruised Alaska, it seems absolutely ridiculous. Does anyone know if this is because of a certain port or if it is to be expected of all Alaska cruises these days? Our 7 day is $349.50 per person. First Alaska cruise so just assumed it was the norm. Excursion prices were a little shocking to me though lol. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallux Posted December 17, 2023 #7 Share Posted December 17, 2023 2 hours ago, mugtech said: Panama Canal still has Alaska beaten, over $500 on some. Yup, mine were $514, but there are 10 'port days' on a 15 day cruise. 42 days, but who's counting? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare debenson0723 Posted December 17, 2023 #8 Share Posted December 17, 2023 2 hours ago, mugtech said: Panama Canal still has Alaska beaten, over $500 on some. Was just going to say this...it's expensive to go thru the Canal. Alaska is expensive. Their season is just over 6 months or so plus goods and services are high. Those ports have to get what they can, while they can. $420 for 9 days sounds pretty reasonable to me. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
So_Tweetie Posted December 17, 2023 Author #9 Share Posted December 17, 2023 4 hours ago, Anoynmous Phoenix said: That sounds like the normal; we are doing Seward to Vancouver in April and they are NZD428 (USD265) each; just 7 days one way. $265 is along the lines of what I would expect. $420 though... 🤯 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
So_Tweetie Posted December 17, 2023 Author #10 Share Posted December 17, 2023 46 minutes ago, LatinaInTexas said: Our 7 day is $349.50 per person. First Alaska cruise so just assumed it was the norm. Excursion prices were a little shocking to me though lol. Oh yeah, excursion rates are wild! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Anoynmous Phoenix Posted December 17, 2023 #11 Share Posted December 17, 2023 @So_Tweetie Oh yeah, excursion rates are wild! Not only in Alaska!! Try New Zealand, Iceland, Norway!! Probably right round the world 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfwyn Posted December 17, 2023 #12 Share Posted December 17, 2023 We are on the Encore for April 2024. 7 days port fees $349 pp. Majestic Princess for a 2 day Seattle to Vancouver port fee $94pp. Wulfwyn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisingrob21 Posted December 17, 2023 #13 Share Posted December 17, 2023 While the more affluent ports tend to have higher port charges, there have been rumors that the cruise lines sometimes do pad the port charges with their own "fees". Certainly the panama canal is not really a port but it does have charges, which have gone up considerably in the last 20 years for vessels to transit it. Based on anecdotal stories, various harbor pilots charge exorbitant rates, but it's the price to visit a specific port I suppose. There are theories that cruise lines are also padding those fees somewhat it might be true. We have occasionally noticed an on board credit "refund" for port charges and fees even though there was no change to the itinerary. Makes you wonder if the cruise lines estimate the charges and if it's calculated after the ship leaves and is less, the cruise line then gets a credit. It's hard to say since there is no explicit breakdown of those port charges 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruiser2015 Posted December 17, 2023 #14 Share Posted December 17, 2023 8 hours ago, mugtech said: Panama Canal still has Alaska beaten, over $500 on some. Sailing in 3 weeks. $841 pp for 15 night Canal 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DominicAUS Posted December 17, 2023 #15 Share Posted December 17, 2023 My Panama Canal cruise next month is just over $500US for 15 days. I expected it to be more with the cost of the transit and many stops. To be honest I rarely look at the fees, it is what it is, either the cost to the trip is too high or it’s not. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallux Posted December 17, 2023 #16 Share Posted December 17, 2023 5 hours ago, cruiser2015 said: $841 pp for 15 night Canal Yikes!! Yours is $300more pp than my cruise going the opposite way!! 1 hour ago, DominicAUS said: My Panama Canal cruise next month is just over $500US for 15 days. I think we're on the same one - January 27... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruiser2015 Posted December 17, 2023 #17 Share Posted December 17, 2023 5 minutes ago, hallux said: Yikes!! Yours is $300more pp than my cruise going the opposite way!! I think we're on the same one - January 27... Oops. Actually $537 pp I read that figure from my TA's latest statement. Although the words "shore excursions" does not appear, they added them to the taxes and fees on their billing summary, unlike NCL which shows them separately. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseMH Posted December 17, 2023 #18 Share Posted December 17, 2023 It is not important what you expect to be reasonable,it is only important what the ports/governments actually demand. So you can either accept them or choose another kind of holiday. My private special tip: Just look at the total price of your cruise.Are you satisfied with it then book it and have fun. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
So_Tweetie Posted December 17, 2023 Author #19 Share Posted December 17, 2023 9 hours ago, cruiser2015 said: Sailing in 3 weeks. $841 pp for 15 night Canal Brutal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
So_Tweetie Posted December 17, 2023 Author #20 Share Posted December 17, 2023 5 hours ago, DominicAUS said: My Panama Canal cruise next month is just over $500US for 15 days. I expected it to be more with the cost of the transit and many stops. To be honest I rarely look at the fees, it is what it is, either the cost to the trip is too high or it’s not. When booking with Princess and Royal, the fees are shown on the page where you browse sailings. I find it easier to scroll past and not consider cruises with high fees that way. On NCL though, I got my heart set on a birthday cruise and thought I had found a fantastic price all the way until I got to checkout and the fees were revealed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
So_Tweetie Posted December 17, 2023 Author #21 Share Posted December 17, 2023 3 hours ago, CruiseMH said: It is not important what you expect to be reasonable,it is only important what the ports/governments actually demand. So you can either accept them or choose another kind of holiday. Wow, thank you for the enlightening information. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruiser2015 Posted December 17, 2023 #22 Share Posted December 17, 2023 4 minutes ago, So_Tweetie said: Brutal! Please note my correction. $537 pp The summary statement that I pulled the first figure from had paid shorex included. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted December 17, 2023 #23 Share Posted December 17, 2023 14 minutes ago, So_Tweetie said: Brutal! The total fees and tariff for a Canal transit for a Panamax cruise ship will be about $400k. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DominicAUS Posted December 17, 2023 #24 Share Posted December 17, 2023 8 hours ago, hallux said: Yikes!! Yours is $300more pp than my cruise going the opposite way!! I think we're on the same one - January 27... I’m on the LA to Miami on 12th. I have some friends on the 27th. I can’t promise I won’t the ship dry of Champagne or Grey Goose lol 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruiser2015 Posted December 17, 2023 #25 Share Posted December 17, 2023 1 hour ago, DominicAUS said: I’m on the LA to Miami on 12th. I have some friends on the 27th. I can’t promise I won’t the ship dry of Champagne or Grey Goose lol I'll be there with you. I grant you my allotment of bubbly. 🤪 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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