Florida Sues Princess Cruises on Port Fees

Florida has sued Los Angeles-based Princess Cruises alleging that it that misrepresents the “port fees” it charges customers as government taxes.

London-based P&O; Co., which operates Princess, denied the allegation.

In February, six other cruise lines settled with the Florida state attorney general’s office over this issue. They agreed to refrain from adding any fees to their advertised initial ticket prices except specific charges from governmental and quasi-governmental agencies. Florida had alleged that some lines were including shipboard telephone calls, water usage and even portions of the crew’s payroll in the “port fees.”