Calculation of Port Fees and Taxes

[luddite]

Tell the TA to give you the price that it will cost for you to book the trip.

[AmazedByCruising]

Tell the TA to give you the price that it will cost for you to book the trip.

 

:confused:

[Kartgv]

I think you making this way too complicated. Just do a dummy booking on each website you're interested in, which will give you your final cost (and most will break out the port fees/taxes) and see which one is the best deal.

[chengkp75]

I know this is an old thread, but what are typical linesmen fees after 7am? This is about catching a rope and putting it around a bollard?

 

You sure do dig up the strangest things. The "linesmen" are longshoremen, who given the fact that over 50% of the US's consumer goods comes from overseas, by ship, are one of the strongest unions in the US. I can't speak for Bruce's numbers, but the longshoremen are on overtime outside of 8-5, which is at least time and a half. Holidays and holidays outside of 8-5 each have a higher rate. For a cargo ship, a typical line handling gang is 6 men, but you are lucky if you get 4 and pay for 6. Longshoremen are about the highest paid unskilled labor in the US.

 

Longshoremen are employed by "stevedore" companies that get the rights to handle ships at public piers. Since the stevedore company has a monopoly on services (government contract), the unionized longshoremen also have a monopoly on handling ships (this is not just handling lines, but all cargo movement, so for a cruise ship this means the guys driving the forklifts with baggage and provisions).

 

Basically, complaints against the longshoremen, or attempts to cut wages and benefits, or change the working environment, ends up in a dock strike, and the entire economy suffers, as it did during the last couple of West Coast dock strikes a few years back.

[AmazedByCruising]

You sure do dig up the strangest things.

 

:)

 

Since the stevedore company has a monopoly on services (government contract)

 

OK, but anyone can set up a new stevedore company and tell the government or port authority that next year they would charge more down to earth fees for handling luggage or putting a rope around a bollard. The old company gets thrown out, together with all workers (striking or not), new company comes in. I can see pilots creating a country-wide monopoly, but it's not as if there's a lack of people who can handle forklifts. (and I still have some trust that governments select companies based on open criteria, like "can you prove you can do the job" and "how much")

[luddite]

:)

 

 

 

OK, but anyone can set up a new stevedore company and tell the government or port authority that next year they would charge more down to earth fees for handling luggage or putting a rope around a bollard. The old company gets thrown out, together with all workers (striking or not), new company comes in. I can see pilots creating a country-wide monopoly, but it's not as if there's a lack of people who can handle forklifts. (and I still have some trust that governments select companies based on open criteria, like "can you prove you can do the job" and "how much")

 

Amazing.

It is no wonder that you're amazed.

[Flatbush Flyer]

:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK, but anyone can set up a new stevedore company and tell the government or port authority that next year they would charge more down to earth fees for handling luggage or putting a rope around a bollard. The old company gets thrown out, together with all workers (striking or not), new company comes in. I can see pilots creating a country-wide monopoly, but it's not as if there's a lack of people who can handle forklifts. (and I still have some trust that governments select companies based on open criteria, like "can you prove you can do the job" and "how much")

 

 

Maybe it's because you are not from the US that you are unclear on the concept (and practice). American unions like the ILU (international longshoremen's union) are nationwide. You could create all the port related companies you want, which (for starters) doesn't mean existing contracts with a port are/would be open to (re)bid on any kind of regular basis . And, even if a new company was "successful" in winning a contract, it would still have to hire the ILU's dock workers who (most, if not all) had worked for the prior company for no other reason than seniority. Try something else (like lowering wages or hiring "scabs") and you'd have a labor strike on your hands - not only the ILU but also (in support) pretty much every other union serving that port.

Bottom line: no union = no port.

AND the U.S. isn't the only developed maritime country that operates this way.

[cruising cockroach]

Maybe it's because you are not from the US that you are unclear on the concept (and practice). American unions like the ILU (international longshoremen's union) are nationwide. You could create all the port related companies you want, which (for starters) doesn't mean existing contracts with a port are/would be open to (re)bid on any kind of regular basis . And, even if a new company was "successful" in winning a contract, it would still have to hire the ILU's dock workers who (most, if not all) had worked for the prior company for no other reason than seniority. Try something else (like lowering wages or hiring "scabs") and you'd have a labor strike on your hands - not only the ILU but also (in support) pretty much every other union serving that port.

Bottom line: no union = no port.

AND the U.S. isn't the only developed maritime country that operates this

way.

 

In a way, I am really surprised the longshoremen in the U.S. still have such strong unions given the (largely very successful) legislative push to destroy unions over the past 3 or so decades.

 

 

To the OP, there are many factors and variables to calculate port fees and taxes. Size of ship (and/or number of pax) definitely matters. I was looking at two HAL Alaska cruises with identical itineraries last year. The smaller ship had higher per-passenger taxes and fees.

Edited December 18, 2016 by cruising cockroach

[donaldsc]

Hi,

 

I am looking at several cruises that are on offer, and wanted to see if someone could help breakdown the actual amount charged for port fees/charges/taxes. The goal is to be able to take any base fare from a discounted TA, and then be able to add a set number to it to get to a final price, therefore being able to see if it fits into my budget or not.

 

I would imagine it to be a case of Port X charges Y per diem, plus a tax of Z% on either the base fare or the fare+charges.

 

Is there a list of the taxes and charges per port anywhere?

 

Thanks,

 

Matt

 

What difference would this data mean. The fees and taxes will be the same for a port regardless of which line or ship you will be on. All you should care about is the final price.

 

Unless I have misinterpreted what you are trying to do, you are getting stressed out over something that is really stupid. All TAs in the end will quote you a price w fees and taxes included.

 

DON

[Hlitner]

Just to be argumentative, would a more accurate answer be as per above, that there is a system, but you don't know what it is?

 

Even the cruise lines have to sometimes play a guessing game with port charges/taxes/fees. Thus, it is quite normal on long cruises with many ports around the world...to have adjustments made (often small refunds) during a cruise. In the Caribbean and Alaska this is much less likely since the cruise lines are in and out of those ports on a very routine basis. But with ports like Constanta, Romania; Portamao, Portugal; Dakar, Senegal; etc. there are more uncertainties.

 

Hank

[shipgeeks]

OP, maybe I am misunderstanding your question. Our TA's website prices include all port charges, so if I see a cruise for $600 and one for $900, those are the prices I would be paying.

[chengkp75]

OP asked this over 2 years ago, don't think he/she is interested anymore. Amazed zombied the thread to ask specifically about stevedoring costs.

[AmazedByCruising]

Maybe it's because you are not from the US that you are unclear on the concept (and practice).

 

Well, that's for sure. In near-socialist Holland it's the government that sets the most aburd rules about contracts etc. For instance, it's nearly impossible to fire someone. I thought the US was much more relaxed about hiring & firing, which doesn't lead to sad situations like people over 40 not being hired at all like we have. I didn't realize unions are still a strong factor in the US.

[AdGuyMG]

:)

OK, but anyone can set up a new stevedore company and tell the government or port authority that next year they would charge more down to earth fees for handling luggage or putting a rope around a bollard. The old company gets thrown out, together with all workers (striking or not), new company comes in.

 

If you were the one setting up the new company, I'd strongly recommend checking underneath your car every single time before getting in and starting the engine.... and don't be surprised if you wake up one morning with a horse head in your bed.

[CruiserBruce]

What difference would this data mean. The fees and taxes will be the same for a port regardless of which line or ship you will be on. All you should care about is the final price.

 

DON

 

Not true. Some lines have different agreements with ports. For example, I am sure Carnival family ships pay less for docking at Grand Turk than a non- Carnival family ship. Because Carnival built the pier and facilities.