In future all new bookings with American Cruise Lines will have port charges and fees incorporated into the price of the cruise.
This is good news for travel agents as the charges, usually amounting to $500, will now be commissionable.
And, although the fees will be reflected in a rise in cruise prices, it makes the process more transparent for ACL cruisers, especially first timers who might have experienced a nasty surprise when the final bill arrived.
That was certainly my experience when I cruised for the first time with American on the Queen of the Mississippi, pictured top of page, out of New Orleans in 2018.
And the line’s trade relations vice-president Susan Shultz-Gelino, Vice President, rightly hopes that the move will “improve the overall booking experience with American Cruise Lines”.
CLICK HERE for editor David Simpson’s review of his recent cruise on American Constitution along the Hudson River