Cruisers shopping for their next sailing can expect more upfront pricing from Royal Caribbean International (RCI) and Celebrity Cruises starting July 1, 2024.
The new law, California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), goes into effect on the same date, and the two cruise lines are right on schedule. By July, the prices on their websites will include mandatory charges (like taxes and port fees) that you’ll pay anyway.
Meanwhile, the Royal Caribbean Group’s brand Silversea already complies with the CLRA’s mandate, so you won’t notice any changes in its fares.
The new law prohibits companies from advertising prices that don’t include all the mandatory fees. It is an amendment to the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act from 1970. Ratified by California Governor Gavin Newsom in 2023, the amendment is designed to prevent “drip pricing,” a marketing tactic that makes prices seem lower and more attractive to consumers by excluding hidden fees.
| “No more getting drawn in by a falsely low advertised price only to find that the cost has doubled by the time you check out. The people of California have been played for too long. This summer, it’s game over,” said Ted Mermin, who co-sponsored the bill. |
Of course, prices will appear higher since they will begin including charges that are added during the transaction. However, cruise lines can still retain the same fares, and travel agents will receive the same commissions.
Technically, the statute only needs to be followed in California, but RCI and Celebrity are implementing the required modifications nationwide. Parent company Royal Caribbean believes that uniform pricing greatly simplifies the process. “Treating California differently than the rest of the United States could have created confusion and introduced unnecessary complexity,” its FAQ reads.
Last April, Carnival made its initial announcement to travel agents regarding its compliance with the CLRA. It explained how it would change the way prices are presented in July.
