What are port fees?

Question

I keep hearing people talking about port fees. I always thought that the ship stops at a port and you get off or not. I had no idea that they charged you to go in to port.

Answer 1

The cruise line has to pay each port to use the dock facilities.

Of course, the cruise line passes the cost along to the traveller.

Most of the teaser rates for cruises advertised on the web do not include these fees so when you say Yes! to the $250 fare, you are actually charged more than $300 because the travel agent failed to mention these fees.

It is like when you book a hotel room for $99 a night and you get a bill for $150...they add all of the taxes and other fees.

Answer 2

Cruise ships pay 3 tiers of fees: a wharfage or passenger charge of $5 per passenger at each port, a port-entry fee depending on size of vessel and harbor, and a dockage fee depending on size of vessel and length of stay. Hope that helps.

Answer 3

You do not pay these fees directly. The fees are charged to the ship for the use of the facilities and for services such as electricity and water hookups.

Answer 4

The price of your cruise will include taxes and port fees.  The port fees are a charge made to the cruise ship for docking priviledges.  Years ago the port fees were always listed by the cruise lines as a seperate charge.  However, now cruise lines do not break down the fees by port and most cruise lines no longer even list how much of the taxes and port fees added to your cost represents port charges.

The bottom line is the port fees are not something that you even need to worry about because it wil be included in your totaL cost and probably not even itimized.

Answer 5

this site has some info http://allcruiselines.info

Answer 6

Port fees are for the workers that work on the docks, water & power hook ups. If you look in the back of a brouchure they will list them. Also once you recieve you finally papers from the cruise line the are broken down. Just like you pay for that bus ride from & to the airport to ship. They are all spelled out unlike the taxes you pay when buying tires or jewelery.

They do not amount to that much.

Enjoy Your Cruise.