What are the taxes associated with booking a cruise? Should it be 18.3%?

Question

It is a cruise with NCL. Also, should I be paying taxes for a 1 year old??

Answer 1

`There should not be a % tax but some ports have terrible port taxes--MIAMI.  Since NCL loves Miami you may get hosed like I am--about $320 for 2 in tax for a 5 days cruise on the Norwegian Jewel.  The cruise itself was a good deal so look at the final total.  Sorry the port authority is ripping you off for your baby but a body is a body and these greedy slime down there will try to grab every nickel they can--its not NCL's fault.  Have fun!

Answer 2

this site has good useful info

http://allcruiselines.info

Answer 3

For a cruise costing  $1400 each cruise taxes, port charges, and government fees total around $200 per person.

Now For North America reservations, a fuel supplement of $5.00 per day per person for the first two occupants of a stateroom (Subject to a maximum of $140 per Stateroom) will apply to all sailings departing on or after February 1, 2008).

If there are 3 of you going on a 7 day cruise using the figures above , your tax cost would be $740 after February next year on a cruise costing $1400 each.

On most cruise websites the taxes are included in the cruise  price, it is only when you get the invoice, you find out how much you are paying in charges and taxes.

Answer 4

Each line figures it differently. This high percentage is a phenomena of booking a cruise on NCL. It is a way that they can show a really competitive rate in their ads and on the booking engines. Also, "port fees" and taxes are not commissionable to a travel agent.

Check out a trip with the same ports of call as the one you are planning with another line using one of the internet booking engines. Their final price may the same, even more, but I'll bet the taxes/fees are less. It's because the port fees are included in their published fare. On some TA's invoices,  they'll break it out anyway because they're not commissionable.

As far as the child goes, yes you pay taxes. And, for taking them along, be advised that the child will not remember it and taking them along will greatly affect the quality of your trip and possibly the trip of others. FWIW, I'd look for alternatives, maybe a short stay at aunt's or grandma's...

Answer 5

A piece of the taxes are port charges and they are usually fixed and not a percentage of the cost. I just went on a cruise out of Miami (June of this year) and the taxes were $107 for the $1600 rooms and and $107 for the $1200 rooms. So I'm not quite sure where these tax numbers are coming from but they do seem to be high.