Cruise prices may look higher as of next week – but that doesn’t mean they are.
California Senate Bill 478 – also known as the “Honest Pricing Law” or “Hidden Fees Statute” – will take effect Monday. The law bans businesses from listing or advertising “a price for a good or service that does not include all required fees or charges other than certain government taxes and shipping costs,” according to an FAQ page from the state’s Office of the Attorney General.
“The statute does not change what price a business can charge or what may be included in that cost,” the attorney general’s office said. “The law simply requires that the price listed include all mandatory charges.”
That is changing how many major cruise lines display their prices, and not just for travelers in the Golden State.
Which cruise lines will change how their pricing is listed?
◾ Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises will update the way they display pricing in the U.S. Customers “will now see pricing that is inclusive of their selected cruise fare and all required taxes and fees,” a spokesperson for the brands’ parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. “We are also supporting our travel partners across the country ahead of this upcoming change.”
◾ Norwegian Cruise Line will do the same, incorporating “applicable taxes, fees and port expenses” into advertised prices in the U.S. and Canada by Monday.“This change will only impact the way we display our prices and will not affect the prices that our guests pay to enjoy a cruise with us or the portion of the cruise fare that is commissionable for our travel partners,” a spokesperson for the line said in an emailed statement. “We are committed to delivering exceptional vacation experiences at every step of the cruise journey and we hope this change will provide our guests with a more satisfying booking experience.”
◾ MSC Cruises added government fees and taxes to advertised overall prices for U.S. bookings on Wednesday. “These costs are now seamlessly integrated into the total advertised price, providing a simple and transparent booking experience that will not impact the overall price paid by our guests,” a spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
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◾ Disney Cruise Line plans to comply with the law.
◾ Carnival Corp., which operates major lines such as Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and others, also made the change nationally to ensure consistency in advertised pricing, according to a spokesperson for the company.“The great news is that the final price paid hasn’t changed, simply the way it is displayed,” they said in an emailed statement. “Our cruise lines still deliver the same great, affordable value and unforgettable cruise experiences vacationers love.”Several others already wrap those costs into their advertised prices, including the high-end Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises – also part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. – Viking and Explora Journeys, the luxury brand from the MSC Group.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why these major cruise lines are adding fees to displayed prices
