Junk fee ban sparks price transparency wave for cruise fares

By Sally French | NerdWallet

Until recently, the upfront price of a cruise was often hardly reflective of the final price. That’s because hidden fees, such as port fees and taxes, on cruise lines lurked like unwelcome stowaways. However, a California junk fee law banishing these surprise charges went into effect July 1, and it’s changing how people nationwide see cruise fares displayed.

Under California Senate Bill 478, companies can no longer advertise one low cost for a product or service sold in California ...