port fees in the Caribbean question

does anybody have any idea what they actually charge the cruiselines
per port in the Caribbean?

I know it varies from port to port but just looking for an approximate
figure.

TIA

Bill

On 4/16/2010 10:35 PM, wrote:
does anybody have any idea what they actually charge the cruiselines
per port in the Caribbean?

I know it varies from port to port but just looking for an approximate
figure.


No one knows and the cruise lines aren't telling. Port fees are
negotiated by each cruise line and based on the number of people they
bring, etc. In some posts, the cruise lines have paid to help build the
piers and in those situations, they get better docking privileges and
lower fees.

But no one knows exactly how much they are.

--

George Leppla

Countryside Travel http://www.CruiseMaster.com
Blog http://cruisemaster.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CruiseMaster

Last week I toured the island of Grand Turk and I mentioned to the guide
how beautiful all the palm trees were that lined the entrance to the
island. The guide said that Carnival paid to bring in all the trees.

On Apr 17, 7:42*am, George Leppla wrote:
On 4/16/2010 10:35 PM, wrote:

does anybody have any idea what they actually charge the cruiselines
per port in the Caribbean?

I know it varies from port to port but just looking for an approximate
figure.

No one knows and the cruise lines aren't telling. *Port fees are
negotiated by each cruise line and based on the number of people they
bring, etc. *In some posts, the cruise lines have paid to help build the
piers and in those situations, they get better docking privileges and
lower fees.

But no one knows exactly how much they are.

--

George Leppla

Countryside Travelhttp://www.CruiseMaster.com
Blog *http://cruisemaster.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/CruiseMaster

Thanks George. The new Carnival release about getting the actual port
cost refunded for missed ports started another debate on Cruise
Critic.

Some people think it's $50pp which is way too high IMHO. I'm thinking
it probably around the $15-$25 range pp.

Bill

On 4/17/2010 11:59 AM, wrote:
On Apr 17, 7:42 am, George wrote:
On 4/16/2010 10:35 PM, wrote:

does anybody have any idea what they actually charge the cruiselines
per port in the Caribbean?

I know it varies from port to port but just looking for an approximate
figure.

No one knows and the cruise lines aren't telling. Port fees are
negotiated by each cruise line and based on the number of people they
bring, etc. In some posts, the cruise lines have paid to help build the
piers and in those situations, they get better docking privileges and
lower fees.

But no one knows exactly how much they are.


Thanks George. The new Carnival release about getting the actual port
cost refunded for missed ports started another debate on Cruise
Critic.

Some people think it's $50pp which is way too high IMHO. I'm thinking
it probably around the $15-$25 range pp.

Bill


Back a few years ago, when you bought a cruise it looked like this:

Fare $500 (advertised)
Port charges $130
Tax $50
Total = $680

Then the cruise lines got investigated by the FL Atty. General as to
exactly what the "Port Charges" were and whey they weren't included in
the advertised cost. The cruise lines folded like a house of cards.
Now, you see this:

Cruise fare $650
Tax $50
Total $680

But the travel agent sees this:

Cruise fare $500
NCF $130
Tax $50
Total $680

"Port Charges" have now become "Non-Commissionable Fares" (NCF's). Why?
It is basically a way for the cruise lines to not pay commission on
part of the total cruise fare.

Assume a minimum of 10% commission. Average NCF for a 7 night cruise is
$165. The cruise lines save $16.50 per passenger on commission.

Now multiply that by 11 million passengers... and you have an increase
in profit of $181,500,000. That's a cool $181 million + a year.

If I had to guess, I think your estimate of $15 to $20 pp is right in
the ballpark.

Generally, this is a subject that our "partners in travel" don't like to
talk about. vbg

--

George Leppla

Countryside Travel http://www.CruiseMaster.com
Blog http://cruisemaster.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CruiseMaster

On 4/17/10 7:16 PM, in article , "George Leppla"
wrote:


Back a few years ago, when you bought a cruise it looked like this:

Fare $500 (advertised)
Port charges $130
Tax $50
Total = $680

Then the cruise lines got investigated by the FL Atty. General as to
exactly what the "Port Charges" were and whey they weren't included in
the advertised cost. The cruise lines folded like a house of cards.
Now, you see this:

Cruise fare $650
Tax $50
Total $680

Actually, most lines add "government taxes and fees". Port charges may very
well be considered use taxes as they are paid to governmental authorities.
These taxes and fees are still not included in the advertised cost.
But the travel agent sees this:

Cruise fare $500
NCF $130
Tax $50
Total $680

"Port Charges" have now become "Non-Commissionable Fares" (NCF's). Why?
It is basically a way for the cruise lines to not pay commission on
part of the total cruise fare.



Assume a minimum of 10% commission. Average NCF for a 7 night cruise is
$165. The cruise lines save $16.50 per passenger on commission.

The cruise line doesn't save anything as it never paid commission on the
amount labeled port charges. Lepper's example doesn't make sense.

Now multiply that by 11 million passengers... and you have an increase
in profit of $181,500,000. That's a cool $181 million + a year.

Cruise lines would be justified to reduce commissions. With e-ticketing,
online check-in and website cruise selection a lot of work that they used to
do is now automated or done by the customer. Small time agents really don't
add any value except in the case of inexperienced cruisers or people that
don't know how to deal with a computer.

"George Leppla" wrote in message
...


No one knows and the cruise lines aren't telling. Port fees are
negotiated by each cruise line and based on the number of people
they bring, etc. In some posts, the cruise lines have paid to
help build the piers and in those situations, they get better
docking privileges and lower fees.

But no one knows exactly how much they are.

--

George Leppla

Countryside Travel http://www.CruiseMaster.com
Blog http://cruisemaster.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CruiseMaster

Ground was broken on the Baja/Las Vegas Cruise Canal last week,
and several sites have been selected for the new pier facilities.
Right now, it looks like the 9400 acre site by Boulder Dam will be
the top pick, since the new bridge crossing the river just below
the dam is expected to be complete by 2011. The canal's
freshwater supply will be a big boost to the larger cruise ships,
since the fresh water will help to dislodge barnacles and mollusks
that tend to foul the props and hulls of almost all ships. The
facilities on the Arizona side of the B/LVCC will included an area
where the ships can be careened for maintenance, rather than dry
docked. That alone will bring ships to Las Vegas and help the
huge taxpayer dollars expected to be spent on construction.

Harrah's has already received permission to operate a casino near
the terminal, once its location is finalized, and the current
Monorail will connect the cruise terminal with the other casinos
along the Strip. Fuel, always a costly item in ports, will be
much less expensive inland, since the Alaskan/Nevada pipeline is
already underway and should have first flow by mid 2012.

--
Nonny
Suppose you were an idiot.
And suppose you were a member
of Congress.... But then I repeat myself.'

-Mark Twain
..

[Default] Thus spake peter :

On 4/17/10 7:16 PM, in article , "George Leppla"
wrote:


snip

Cruise lines would be justified to reduce commissions. With e-ticketing,
online check-in and website cruise selection a lot of work that they used to
do is now automated or done by the customer. Small time agents really don't
add any value except in the case of inexperienced cruisers or people that
don't know how to deal with a computer.


Well, the cruise lines love "us" enough to be offering all sorts of
"goodies" to encourage our sales. Particularly of "their" ships. They
still view as a value added proposition. One of my BDMs (won't say
which one) actually said that they preferred us selling newbies since
it saved the cruis line's call centers as much as half an hour per
sale.
--

- dillon I am not invalid

The RMS Titanic sank on April 15th.
Taxes are due on April 15th.
Coincidence? I think not.