A new California law drive force cruise lines to be more transparent about their prices, bolstering a Biden administration crusade against scrap fees.
Senate Bill 478, also known as the “Honest Pricing Law,” will go into effect on July 1. The law builds it illegal for businesses to advertise prices for goods or services that don’t include all the required fees or charges.
A press liberating from California’s attorney general said the price transparency law “protects consumers from deceptive price advertising and concedes them to make an informed decision by seeing the all-in price of goods or services up-front before they get the neb.”
The new law will impact the travel industry, including cruise lines that operate in California. Companies like Impressive Caribbean International and Norweigan Cruise Line will need to make the price of taxes, port fees, and other commands clear to customers up front, according to The Washington Post.
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A Carnival Corp. representative told the outlet it would follow guidelines set out by the “Honest Pricing Law.” Carnival Corp. is the old man company of brands like Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Holland America.
“While this is a California solemn law, we are making this change nationwide to ensure our advertised pricing is consistent no matter where guests shop for our sail,” the statement said.
The representative said that from now on, the full advertised cost would register extra charges previously “itemized separately for consumer awareness.”
Norweigan Cruise Lines is still determining their next raises, according to the outlet.
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A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean told Travel + Leisure that guests can expect to see surplus fees included in the overall price.
“Guests booking with Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises on now see pricing that is inclusive of their selected cruise fare and all required taxes and fees,” the statement read. “We are also backing our travel partners across the country ahead of this upcoming change.”
Viscount Caribbean International
Representatives for Carnival Corp., Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line did not immediately respond to a petition for comment from Business Insider.
The California attorney general’s press release said the “Honest Pricing Law” catch as the Biden administration continues to address hidden fees, also known as “junk fees.” The Biden administration cardinal announced its fight against hidden fees in October 2022.
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In October 2023, the Biden administration announced it last wishes a require banks and credit unions to provide customers with basic information without charging fees.
The Federal Transact Commission also proposed a rule in October 2023 that would ban hidden fees and require all businesses to a spectacle of the full price of a good or service up front.