Should Cruise Pricing Be Transparent

[Kuki]

Cruisemates Blog Should Cruise Pricing Be Transparent? – Kuki

That's my Blog topic for this week.

Thoughts?

[Bruce Chafkin1]

Originally Posted by Kuki

Cruisemates Blog Should Cruise Pricing Be Transparent? – Kuki

That's my Blog topic for this week.

Thoughts?

Kuki,

I completely agree that the cruise line prices should be more transparent.
Your suggestion would be very helpful in educating the cruising public.

I feel the same way about alcohol and gasoline prices in America.

You pay $4 per gallon at the pump, not realising that more than half of that is Government taxes and fees.

You buy a $10 bottle of vodka, not knowing that the distiller made it for $1. The other $9 is legally mandated mark-ups from the legally mandated 4-tier distribution system in the USA, and a huge government Sin Tax.

Currrently, US Law forbids liquor stores and gas stations in America revealing what those taxes and fees are. I believe that we should be able to know those numbers.

[MercedMike]

Well, it seems that the point of your article is taxes and fees.

Frankly, it appears to me that most fares have a small * that mentions fees and taxes are extra. I think that in many cases, Alaska being the one that pops to mind, the cruise line may not know well in advance exactly what the fees will be.

On several occasions we have boarded the vessel and found a note in our cabin that some small amount was either being added or subtracted from our shipboard account due to changes in taxes and fees.

And of course, there is also the question of fuel price surcharges.

But of course, if you are discussing transparency, the real point is that on both airlines and cruise ships the pricing is so variable and so complicated that it really is true that no two passengers paid the same price for the same accommodations. How about making THAT transparent?

[Donna]

It would sure make it easier to shop for cruises if you knew up front, what exactly are the taxes and extra charges, etc.. I also don't mind having to pay in advance for tips.

[anniegb]

Originally Posted by Donna

It would sure make it easier to shop for cruises if you knew up front, what exactly are the taxes and extra charges, etc.. I also don't mind having to pay in advance for tips.

Donna - I completely agree.

However, why do hotels, shops et al not detail tax incusive prices also?

As a European, I have to take the rate then add on tax which even I know can vary from state to state.

Annie

[green_rd]

We are currently looking at flights to London. Per Orbitz the taxes are almost three times the airfare.

I remember see a tax amount on gas pumps back in the day, but haven't seen that for a long time.