Carnival cruise forced to stay in port; Cruisers face new fee

Cruise passengers have no choice as to what port fees they pay. If they're booking a cruise that stops in a particular port, they have to pay the fees for that port whether they get off the ship or not.

The cruise lines, however, have some choices to make. They can opt to not visit a port, or visit it less often, if port fees get too high. In addition, the cruise lines also weigh how port fees are being used.

Related: Carnival Cruise Line passengers love this massive cruising change

If a port raises its fees modestly in order to invest in improvements that benefit the cruise industry, the cruise lines tend to support that. Passengers expect their to be some fees at each port, so small increases that are invested into port improvements ten to not be noticed by passengers, and they're tolerated by the cruise lines.

That's what's happening at one popular port that's looking to attract more cruise ships.

Doug Parker of Cruise News Today has the full story.

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Carnival Cruise Line ship faces problem

Transcript:

This is Cruise News today with Doug Parker. 

Good morning. Here's your cruise news for Monday, February 17. 

A Carnival cruise ship was late leaving Norfolk, Virginia, this morning due to strong winds and high waves. Now the Carnival Sunshine was scheduled to depart yesterday For an eight-night Eastern Caribbean cruise, but weather concerns delayed the departure until early this morning. 

While guests were able to board as planned the ship's casino and shops remained closed while it was docked The delay forced an itinerary change canceling a stop at Princess Cay but extending visits to Amber Cove and Grand Turk. 

Carnival Cruise Line says passenger safety is its priority.

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Boston adds new port fee; final voyage delayed

And starting next year cruise passengers heading to Boston will pay a new head tax to fund port improvements.

Yeah, the Massachusetts Port Authority approved a $3 per person fee Increasing annually to $15 by 2030. The revenue now will support a $105 million upgrade at Flynn cruise port including shore power infrastructure. 

Boston is the first New England port to offer shore power aiming to cut pollution from docked ships. 

The fee follows similar changes in Alaska and Maine as ports seek to balance cruise growth with environmental concerns.

And the departure of the SS United States from Philadelphia has been delayed by one day because of high wind warnings The historic ocean liner is now set to leave on Tuesday, February 18 at low tide beginning at noon. 

Now the tugboats will guide the ship into the Delaware River passing under several bridges with coordinated closures along the way. 

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Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com, or call or text her at 386-383-2472.

The two-week tow along the East Coast will use real-time planning to adjust for weather and currents every six hours.

If you have a lead on a story Let us know tips@cruise radio net and if you're off today have yourself a great President's Day. 

If you're working like myself I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today.

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