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 — only to impose additional or mandatory fees later. That’s impacted all sorts of aspects of travel, from resort fees to vacation rental cleaning fees to, yes, cruise fees.

“It’s much easier now to find a good deal on a cruise, rather than a deal that looks good until all the port charges and fees are added,” Aaron Saunders, an editor at Cruise Critic, said in an email.

Though the law is specific to California, many major cruise operators have recently adopted transparent pricing models that all U.S. shoppers can see. For example, as of July 1, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America began including all mandatory taxes, fees and port expenses in their U.S. price displays.

Why cruise prices have a new look nationwide

There are a couple of reasons why California’s law has impacted U.S. cruise purchases, no matter where they’re sailing.

Pressure to be more transparent

Politicians, travel industry groups and consumers have called for more price transparency for years. President Joe Biden is even leading the charge on a federal crackdown on junk fees.

Many travelers prefer transparent pricing, too. In response to a proposed Federal Trade Commission rule that would prohibit junk fees, over 12,000 people submitted public comments, dozens of which specifically referenced cruises. Multiple people shared examples where final cruise prices ended up being double the advertised amount.

Consistency can be more practical

The other possible reason the California law has had an impact on national cruise operations is practicality.

“Treating California differently than the rest of the United States could have created confusion and introduced unnecessary complexity,” according to an FAQ issued by Royal Caribbean Group on changes to advertised pricing.

Plus, consistency makes it easier for consumers to compare prices, no matter where they’re buying from.

“This way, whether you’re checking fares in California, or your friend is checking fares in Florida, you’ll both see consistent pricing across the board,” Saunders said.

Cruises aren’t actually more expensive than before

Cruises that switched to transparent pricing models may now appear more expensive at the outset than they used to be, but the final cost remains the same. Saunders said that so far, he hasn’t seen any cruises change prices.

Instead, the change is that travelers can now see the total cost upfront. This could reduce potential frustrations around hidden fees.

It could also allow cruisers to make more informed decisions when comparing cruise lines. In the past, one cruise line might choose to display these fees upfront while another might not, making it hard for shoppers to compare total costs.

Cruise fees aren’t gone completely

Transparent pricing or not, knowing exactly what’s included in your cruise before booking is important.

While most U.S. cruise lines now disclose mandatory fees, many still charge for certain nonessentials, such as specialty restaurants, entertainment, alcohol or Wi-Fi. And some of these a la carte charges are subject to dynamic pricing as well, meaning they might get more expensive if you wait to add them to your reservation.

It’s more common to see this pricing model across cruises that offer cheaper upfront fares. In contrast, upscale cruise providers tend to have the fewest extra fees.

But a la carte pricing isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If you’re seeking an alcohol-free vacation, or you enjoy the pause of notifications that comes with sailing through a cell service desert, then a cruise that charges extra for specialty drinks or Wi-Fi might be appealing. That way you’re not subsidizing services you won’t use.

Sally French writes for NerdWallet. Email: sfrench@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @SAFmedia.

The article Junk Fee Ban Sparks Price Transparency Wave for Cruise Fares originally appeared on NerdWallet.

MOORHEAD, Minn. — A St. Cloud man who was serving life in prison in connection with what a judge called an “assassin-like” shooting in Moorhead will walk free.

The Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the conviction of Ibrahim Abdiaziz Isaac due to insufficient evidence. In December 2022, Clay County District Judge Greta Smolnisky convicted Isaac of first-degree felony aiding and abetting murder for the Sept. 10, 2021, death of 32-year-old Abdi Mohamed Abdi.

The evidence against Isaac was circumstantial, Minnesota Chief Justice Natalie Hudson said in her opinion.

“We conclude that the State presented insufficient evidence because, when the circumstances proved are viewed as a whole, a rational hypothesis exists that Isaac only learned about the shooter’s plan after the murder occurred and, therefore, did not have the required knowledge or intent for aiding-and-abetting liability,” Hudson wrote.

Prosecutors claimed Isaac helped Idris Abdillahi Haji-Mohamed with the fatal shooting in the Griffin Court Apartments parking lot at 17th Street South and 30th Avenue South in Moorhead.

Specifically, prosecutors said Isaac and Haji-Mohamed drove together from St. Cloud to Fargo, N.D. Isaac then bought a black 2015 Chrysler 200 in Fargo and gave it to Haji-Mohamed the day of the shooting, according to a criminal complaint. Haji-Mohamed drove the Chrysler to Griffin Court and chased Abdi on foot while shooting at Abdi, according to court documents.

Abdi, 28, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds.

Isaac asked for a trial without a jury to determine whether he played a role in the shooting. During a sentencing hearing Feb. 1, 2023, Clay County prosecutor Brian Melton said the shooting couldn’t have happened without Isaac’s help.

Melton claimed that Isaac bought bullets used in the murder and helped hide the Chrysler.

Calling Abdi’s death “assassin-like in its nature,” Smolnisky sentenced Isaac to life without parole, the maximum punishment for first-degree aiding and abetting.

Isaac called for a new trial, saying that his conviction was “an abomination.”

At question was whether Isaac knew that he was buying a vehicle that would be used in a murder, Hudson said. Hudson noted that Isaac was driving to St. Cloud as the shooting happened.

The shooter called Isaac after the killing, Hudson said. Isaac did not intend to help the shooter after the murder, she added.

The case will not come back to Clay County for a trial, Melton told the Forum News Service on Wednesday. He called the ruling “a terrible decision.”

“He was intimately involved in it, and yet the Supreme Court used a different standard to come up with the decision that they came up with,” he said. “The message is clear from the courts that, if you’re a mob boss or a drug dealer or just somebody looking to kill your spouse, if you live in the state of Minnesota, that’s the state to live in because the laws protect the criminal.”

Messages left for Minnesota Chief Appellate Public Defender Cathryn Middlebrook, who represented Isaac during Supreme Court arguments, were not returned by publishing time.

Haji-Mohamed is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting. His attorneys have claimed that another person, who was killed in the Twin Cities after the Moorhead shooting, is responsible.

Haji-Mohamed also was found guilty for the Dec. 30, 2022, shooting death of 26-year-old Jeremy Ellis in Minneapolis. Haji-Mohamed was out of Clay County Jail on a $1.75 million bond in connection with the Moorhead shooting when he killed Ellis.

Haji-Mohamed was sentenced to 25½ years in prison for the Ellis murder. He remains in jail custody as he awaits his Moorhead trial.

That is scheduled to begin Sept. 23.

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Must see

What’s the point of a social conscience if there isn’t an audience to parade it in front of? Inspired by French bouffon-style comedy, three clownishly colorful friends embrace extreme virtue signaling in a series of short sketches that skewer “Minnesota nice” and satirize Minneapolis liberalism. Two white homebuyers in North Minneapolis fret they might be gentrifiers — until they put up a “science is real/love is love” yard sign that seemingly exonerates them. Unwilling to intervene without knowing his politics, a pair of kayakers debate saving an injured man wearing a “Trump ’24” hat and “Black Lives Matter” t-shirt. The creators, each boosted by professional training in physical theater, bring high energy to an otherwise minimalist set with topics ranging from the fundamentally uncomfortable to the delightfully cringe-worthy.

Presented by Shambles Theatre Company at HUGE Improv Theater; 2:30 p.m. Aug. 4, 7 p.m. Aug. 5, 8:30 p.m. Aug. 7, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 8

Still trying to decide what to see? Check out all our Fringe reviews at twincities.com/tag/fringe-festival, with each show rated on a scale of Must See, Worth Considering, Could Be Worse or You Can Skip.

The Minnesota Fringe Festival is presenting more than 100 hourlong stage acts from Aug. 1–11 around Minneapolis. Visit MinnesotaFringe.org for ticket and show information.

Related Articles

‘Minnesota Fringe is a gateway to the performing arts’: A Q&A with Fringe Festival executive director Dawn Bentley

How To Fringe: Your guide to the 2024 Minnesota Fringe Festival, running Aug. 1–11

Worth considering

In Brandon M. Prosek’s and J. Scott Sibley’s “Secrets Under the Christmas Tree: A Deedee Wallaby Mystery,” scandalous secrets are brought to light at a Christmas party while guests are suddenly slammed with having to solve a “whodunit” mystery. Although the cast is comedic and chaotic, they don’t shy away from showing the realistic emotion behind disjointed family relationships nor the beauty of unique family dynamics. The plot will leave viewers guessing until the end, but it feels repetitive at times, and the final twist doesn’t pack the punch it’s supposed to.

Presented by Deft Pictures at Open Eye Theatre; 1:00 p.m. Aug. 3, 7:00 p.m. Aug. 7, 10:00 p.m. Aug. 9, 8:30 p.m. Aug. 11 (with ASL translation)

Still trying to decide what to see? Check out all our Fringe reviews at twincities.com/tag/fringe-festival, with each show rated on a scale of Must See, Worth Considering, Could Be Worse or You Can Skip.

The Minnesota Fringe Festival is presenting more than 100 hourlong stage acts from Aug. 1–11 around Minneapolis. Visit MinnesotaFringe.org for ticket and show information.

Related Articles

‘Minnesota Fringe is a gateway to the performing arts’: A Q&A with Fringe Festival executive director Dawn Bentley

How To Fringe: Your guide to the 2024 Minnesota Fringe Festival, running Aug. 1–11