Guests booked on 2024 cruises with Celebrity Cruises are being contacted about changes to their port taxes and fees.
This is because of tax reform for cruise tourists in the Bahamasand the amount of money tourists see changing their cruise fares varies, with some passengers reporting refunds while others indicate fees.
Popular Travel Undergoes Departure Tax Reforms
Celebrity Cruises has begun notifying guests booked on a 2024 cruise to The Bahamas that their reservations will be affected by the change in departure taxes. Reservations are updated gradually by sailing date, with older cruises showing updates first.
“The Bahamian government has implemented changes to its departure tax for all cruise guests arriving in the Bahamas on or after January 1, 2024. As a result, we will be updating your bookings with the new fees,” he said. email read.
This email is for informational purposes only, and booking guests are not required to make any changes or charges at this time. Revised taxes and fees will be reflected on reservations made before the payment deadline.
How Are Fees Changing?
Guests booked on upcoming cruises with Celebrity Cruises – part of the Royal Caribbean Group – indicates a significant change in prices. Other travel expenses are increasing by $5-6 (USD), while tourists from Canada seem to show the biggest increase, up to $35-40 (CDN). Some visitors also report that the fees are low, as low as pennies.
The amount that wages change – increase or decrease – depends on many factors. How many cruise ports in the Bahamas does the ship visit, how long does the ship spend in port, or even just a port, such as Nassau, Bimini, Freeport, or to a private island all affect the total cost.
Cruise lines try to account for these costs when cruise fares are calculated, which can be difficult to do when cruises are open for booking and sales months or years in advance, and fares can change before the day arrives.
When the destination port changes the fees, the cruises often change the fees to the tourist prices. This can be done with adjustments before the final payment is made, or it can be done as a loan or back taxes and port charges.
With the increased revenue from Celebrity Cruises, booking guests will want to know how to adjust and budget accordingly.
“We realize that this is an unexpected case and we apologize for the inconvenience,” Celebrity Cruises said. “Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to welcoming you.”
Other Cruise Lines
Different cruise lines have reacted differently to the tax changes that apply to travel to the Bahamas.
Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy, for example, has been strongly opposed to the increase, and has been negotiating with officials in the Bahamas to implement options.
“There is a lot of activity going on in the Bahamas, and we are working with the authorities in the Bahamas to see if it can be done,” he said. said Duffy about taxes when they were The first is expected to be launched in July 2023. Duffy likened the new taxes to hotel fees that would surprise guests on an overland vacation.
Each cruise line may want to change routes if necessary, perhaps removing trips to The Bahamas from future cruises, although this is unlikely given the island nation’s easy access to Florida ports.
