Taxes and Port charges

Up to this point, I have always been able to cruise with someone in my room. The one that was to go with me has health issues, so has backed out. If I don't notify anyone that my roommate will not be with me, I understand that I can get the fees/taxes/port charges back on the guest that did my cruise. If this is correct, do I contact my cruise agency where I booked, or contact Royal Cruise Line about receiving this back?

7 Answers

So much of this answer will depend on the booking code your agent used. So the only real answer here is to contact the office and ask this as a hypothetical question.

Because so many cruise lines have relaxed their cancelation policies especially if Covid, vaccination, or testing concerns are involved, what happen to others pre-Covid will have little to no correlation. But in the case of having a 3rd party involved like a TA, their business policies may supersede what policies the cruise line has in place. Just be prepared that if you decide to cruise solo about having to cover the single supplement.

Worst Case: On some lines this can mean you pay as much as 225-250% of the per passenger price would be for a double occupancy, and this happens mostly on ships that offer single passenger staterooms. This means even if done as a no show on embarkation day there would be no refund or FCC for the port taxes and fees because it would need to go towards the reprice of the booking.

Best Case: You're able to cancel the whole booking at no penalty, and rebook at a currently lower rate hopefully covering the increase the single supplement causes.

More Likely Case: Cancel the other person with the fare unaffected from the normal double occupancy cost. If done prior to final payment date either get the total due reduced by the amount of the port fees and taxes on the other person or a refund to the original form of payment. If after the final payment date most likely get OBC to use on the ship during the voyage.

I would contact the TA right away. it's part of their job to inform you of any taxes and port charges for your cruise, and this would definitely be one of them.

Absolutely! I just assumed the individual asking the question was the one who booked and paid. If the other passenger footed the bill and booked, then they would need to address

the questions themselves.

Who knows who actually booked the cruise, or officially paid for it? seems to me it would make a difference. But yes, either way...call the TA.

You should be entitled to get those things back and if you have a good TA might get a slight reduction in the single passenger supplement.

My 2cents: Since you booked with a TA, I would contact them first. You've already paid them to be your agent and it is their responsibility to get your questions answered and resolve any problems you may have. That's their job and if they are not inclined to get your answers, they probably won't have a TA job for long. A good TA will knock themselves out for you (at no extra charge).

Alternative: If you go directly to the cruise line to get answers, two things happen: 1. Your TA may not be aware of the problem and 2. You may spend a lot of time and effort getting an answer. (Have you ever been put on hold for an hour only to have your call dropped)?

Why go to the cruise line when you are already paying a TA to provide this kind of help?

That TA's livelihood depends on getting answers for you. If they don't want to help, one bad feedback and they will out of a job in short order.

It's important to let them do their job and always ask for an email copy of their reply. With a copy in hand, that is your insurance if you have any questions or problems with the cruise line.

After you get a reply, you may want to contact your cruise insurer for any compensation
that may be available. You did buy insurance didn't you?

Let us know how it turned out.

I'm not sure what I read in your post..it reads backwards, but...if I get the gist of what you're saying, I think you'll get a quicker response by contacting the travel agency where it was booked. who actually made the reservation? I mean YOU, in your name, or another party in your group.??? Was your room booked separately, or was it part of a larger booking....either way, the travel agency will probably be more pleasant...good luck....

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