As of July 1, 2024 Princess Pricing to Include Taxes, Fees and Port Charges

[Lady Arwen]

I just received an email stating that Princess Cruiseline pricing will be all inclusive as of July 1st.  Thoughts?

[LACruiser88]

We know you have a sailing coming up and wanted to update you on a change you’ll notice the next time you shop and book a cruise with us. Starting on July 1, we will display prices that include the taxes, fees, and port expenses we previously quoted separately from the cruise fare. We are making this change to comply with California’s new consumer protection law. Our new approach presents the total price upfront for any cruise you select. This doesn’t change the total price you pay but will make it easier to see the total price inclusive of taxes, fees and port expenses. This change doesn’t affect your upcoming cruise, only sailings booked on or after July 1. We look forward to seeing you on board soon! P.S. There’s a strong demand for 2025 sailings, so we recommend you book any additional cruises soon to take advantage of our summer promotions and secure the best staterooms before they sell out.

[tonit964]

Just now, Lady Arwen said:

I just received an email stating that Princess Cruiseline pricing will be all inclusive as of July 1st.  Thoughts?

I just got that too. I was just thinking how we’re gonna know what the actual breakdown is. I like to know the fare & port fees. 

[Lady Arwen]

1 minute ago, tonit964 said:

I just got that too. I was just thinking how we’re gonna know what the actual breakdown is. I like to know the fare & port fees. 

Good question.  I’m sure Princess would have to disclose this in the booking process.

[LACruiser88]

1 minute ago, tonit964 said:

I just got that too. I was just thinking how we’re gonna know what the actual breakdown is. I like to know the fare & port fees. 

You should be able to see the breakdown when you are completing a booking. 

[Ombud]

Got it too. I guess if we miss a port now we won't get port fees refunded as OBC?

[azbirdmom]

Yes, this was announced last month and discussed here:  

 

I can't recall where but I did see a mock-up where the actual port fees were displayed on the booking confirmation, not just baked in like some other lines like Oceania do it.

 

 

[skynight]

12 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

I just received an email stating that Princess Cruiseline pricing will be all inclusive as of July 1st.  Thoughts?

The information was always there. Now it has to be included in the advertised price. 

[PacnGoNow]

I like to see the breakdown also, especially helpful when comparing prices.  So, maybe a little more effort to see the breakdown. 
 

What worries me, the amount of  updating for their IT dept.  This will probably give us a lot of glitches and errors, instead of bells and whistles! 😆  July 1st?

 

Remember, July 1st, is also the revised date of changing the Dining Reservation system! 🥴

 

 

[CalTexCruiser]

Nothing nefarious here.  This is required by California's Senate Bill 478, aka the junk fee law, that is set to take effect on July 1. 

[voljeep]

#metoo

[enfuego4cruising]

For all of California's faults, and they are legion, California has always had excellent consumer protection laws. However, as far as the cruise industry goes, this seems like an unnecessary nuisance. I have yet to have had a booking where the price wasn't broken down into fares, taxes, fees, etc. Perhaps we will get to see the fees explained in minute details?

 

This new consumer law may be beneficial in other economic sectors, but I doubt that this latest government policy will lead to a seismic shift in bookings either way. This seems to be a big yawning nothing-burger.

[Cruise Raider]

2 minutes ago, enfuego4cruising said:

For all of California's faults, and they are legion, California has always had excellent consumer protection laws. However, as far as the cruise industry goes, this seems like an unnecessary nuisance. I have yet to have had a booking where the price wasn't broken down into fares, taxes, fees, etc. Perhaps we will get to see the fees explained in minute details?

 

This new consumer law may be beneficial in other economic sectors, but I doubt that this latest government policy will lead to a seismic shift in bookings either way. This seems to be a big yawning nothing-burger.

Yes, I predict no changes to those that cruise quite often and know what will and what won’t be added on your invoice.  I imagine it will be helpful for those new to cruising that are shocked when another $500+ is added to their pricing.  
But, just like when you go to buy airfare, there is always a breakdown of the flight vs the added taxes and fees on the page on or around the payment screen.  

 

22 minutes ago, Ombud said:

Got it too. I guess if we miss a port now we won't get port fees refunded as OBC?

I don’t see how this new law will have an impact on port fees being refunded.  It’s a law that the port fees have to be returned if a port was missed, in the event it isn’t replaced.  

[Ombud]

14 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

I like to see the breakdown also, especially helpful when comparing prices.  

It's not just CC (parent company of PCL), it will be any cruiseline so it will still be a easy to compare fares

[PacnGoNow]

3 minutes ago, Ombud said:

It's not just CC (parent company of PCL), it will be any cruiseline so it will still be a easy to compare fares

I’m talking about all the ones I have already booked. I always compare the base fare. To see if those are reduced.  Probably not!  Oh well.

 

The new bookings going forward, it won’t matter. 
 

 

Edited June 20 by PacnGoNow

[MyriamS]

If this is like booking Princess in Germany, the price you will see at first will be the total price inclusive of taxes and port fees. Then if you move forward with the booking, you will have a full bill with itemization (cruise fare, port fees etc.). For our UK and Ireland cruise, the port fees alone were a third of the total price of the cruise! 

 

Honestly I don't know what's not to love about this law. It's not like you can choose not to pay taxes or port fees. You must pay them hence they should be part of the display price. Anything else is highly misleading.

[telecheck]

I wonder how the Casino Department will advertise their deals. Currently, I always receive promotional emails about "Free Cruise" or "Sail for $49," etc. Now that they need to include portal fees and taxes in their advertising, so they might no longer be able to use the same promotional tactics.

[startedwithamouse]

It's about time! 

 

Looking at PC full transit cruises getting sticker shock on the extra fees.

 

Did everyone receive this, or just California residents?

 

 

Edited June 20 by startedwithamouse

[Ombud]

3 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

I’m talking about all the ones I have already booked. I always compare the base fare. To see if those are reduced.  Probably not!  Oh well.

 

The new bookings going forward, it won’t matter. 

Got it!! I must now do an extra step when trying to figure out if I should refare. 

[azbirdmom]

14 minutes ago, telecheck said:

I wonder how the Casino Department will advertise their deals. Currently, I always receive promotional emails about "Free Cruise" or "Sail for $49," etc. Now that they need to include portal fees and taxes in their advertising, so they might no longer be able to use the same promotional tactics.

I'm thinking that where you would normally see a $0 fare after searching for cruises you will now see the port fee amount displayed and probably the $200 nonrefundable deposit that turns into OBC as well.  I'm sure the marketing verbiage will have to change, like "free cruise fare for balcony" or something like that.  Which is pretty much the same as it is currently, you just won't need to go to the fine print to learn the rest of the story.

Edited June 20 by azbirdmom

[Sea Hag]

1 hour ago, Lady Arwen said:

I just received an email stating that Princess Cruiseline pricing will be all inclusive as of July 1st.  Thoughts?

My thoughts are the this doesn't matter to me. But it's already on my radar that taxes and fees must be paid. I imagine that this is good for new cruisers.

[Mike07]

Just got the email as well. Sad that it's not a carnival or Princess decision to be more transparent in pricing but to comply with a law (that I'm sure PCL was internally against).

[Lady Arwen]

24 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

It's about time! 

 

Looking at PC full transit cruises getting sticker shock on the extra fees.

 

Did everyone receive this, or just California residents?

 

 

Canadian here and I’m the OP, so yes everyone got it.

[voljeep]

9% Princess / AON insurance still based on cruise fare, not the new total price?

[Lady Arwen]

3 minutes ago, voljeep said:

9% Princess / AON insurance still based on cruise fare, not the new total price?

Good question.