Extra Tax Fees - Melbourne & Milford Sound

[lesliew]

We are booked on Statendam from NZ to Australia October 21, 2007. (Fully Paid) We just received a notice from our TA advising that there has been a Tax Increase for Melbourne & Milford Sound, requiring an extra payment of about $20.00 each. I have never heard of this type of thing before...has anyone else? Thanks.

[prescottbob]

Ahoy,

 

Yes. This past May we were notified aboard the ship mid-ocean that there would be an additional port tax for either Casablanca or Lisbon (I can't rememeber which) that added $16.10/pp to the on-board bill. It happens every now and again as the local port authority decides to increase their rates for berthing and pilot costs. A good friend is heading up to Norway on a cruise ship this month and they increased the port fee $20-30/ pp, hence, the cruise line will pass on the additional cost to the passengers. Also, it depends on how far out you purchased your ticket. Those purchasing tickets on a 'last minute' basis won't see the fee (it will be 'rolled in' already).

Just the cost of doing business. And so it goes...

 

Have a great cruise and enjoy yourself non-the-less. Remember, YOUR ON VACATION !

 

Bon Voyage and Good health!

 

Bob:)

[hammybee]

We got hit with $1.00 in a new increased port fee for one of the Alaskan ports we visited in May. This is above and beyond the $50 increase per passenger in Alaskan port charges and taxes, in 2007. Cruise lines have no control over port charges or taxes which are assessed by the state or country on a per passenger basis.

[Krazy Kruizers]

On our Canada/New England cruises for August, our TA was notified the end of May just as she was to make final payment that we each owe an extra $0.18 for each segment -- that's a whopping $0.72!!!

 

One time when we were on a Panama Canal cruise we all received notices that because the fees had been increased we would all have about $15 each added to our accounts.

[lesliew]

Thanks to all who answered... guess this is just price of doing business! I'll authorize the payment and hope that is the end of it! Small price to pay for all the great sights we will see. Thanks again! :)