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Save/ShareCarnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess, and Seabourn are charging fuel surcharges of $5 a day to the first two passengers in each stateroom for sailings that depart on or after Feb. 1, 2008. The fee is being slapped on bookings that have already been made, and will be added to future bookings.
Other cruise lines will soon add fuel charges to bookings. Here's a bunch of them, courtesy of online booking agency Vacations to Go:
Cruise West, $12 a person, each day.
Crystal, $7 a person, each day.
Oceania Cruises, $7 a person, each day.
Regent Seven Seas, $7.50 a person, each day.
Majestic America, $8.50 a person, each day.
MSC Cruises, $6 each day, for each of the first two passengers in each cabin.
Norwegian and Orient Lines, $7 a person, each day, for the first and second passengers in a stateroom.
Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara: $5 a person, each day, for the first two passengers in each stateroom.
Silversea, $10 a person, each day.
Viking River Cruises, $7 a person, each day.
Voyages of Discovery, $10 a person, each day.
Windstar, $8.50 a person, each day.
EARLIER Adding fees after you've paid?
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It is wrong for the cruise industry to add a fuel surcharge to a passenger who has paid in advance. I love cruising but all the extra charges especially the extra dining room fees that many ships now have are going to hurt future cruisers.
Posted By Steve Collins on November 29, 2007, 1:04 PM
Well, you can add Carnival to the list. We are cruising on Feb 2, were fully paid up a month ago, and we charged $5 per day per person-booked through Cruise.com.
Posted By AnnMarie Preece on November 29, 2007, 1:17 PM
Well I agree with the other writers, let 'em get it up-front or forget it! If I have to pay extra to eat well, together with whatever other whimsical "expenses" the cruise industry wishes to foist off on us, maybe we'll just fly direct to a REAL "all inclusive" and forget the sea-sick routine-eh?
Posted By Morry Stock on November 29, 2007, 4:42 PM
I used to travel on cruise liners many times when our family was growing up. We enjoyed it very much. However, things have drastically changed since the 1980's. Back then, Holland America advertised that they had a no tipping policy, or it was not expected. Well, now, they just without asking a customer, tack on a $10/day surcharge to every person's account. You can go up to the "desk" and complain, and they try to "intimidate" you by asking don't you feel you should tip, or are you going to tip, or are you "siffing" on tips? I agree that for exceptional service, tipping is appropriate. But to tip for someone "just for doing their job" is a scam. Further, I do not believe in "pool tipping" where all the tip money is pooled into one big pot, and passed out by the ship's management. I will only tip when I can do it in person to whom I want to and in amounts I want to. The "tail is wagging the dog" in the world of tipping these days. If the Cruise line doesn't pay their employees enough wages, that is their problem. Maybe the cruise lines need to up their fares in order to pay decent wages to the crew. Why should I have to supplement the low wages of the crew? I firmly believe that Holland America instituted the "tipping surcharge" in order to forstall a potential strike by its crews, and now look to the passengers to "up the wages" of the crew. Also, I feel cruising is not as much fun now as it was in the 80's. Too large ships, too many people on board. It is getting like the ski slopes in Colorado, and I live here.
Posted By Thomas D. Roberts on November 29, 2007, 4:49 PM
After first posting a reply, and then reading more, I know how the person feels! That's why I feel that the "All Inclusive" Resort deal is the best! You don't have to tip Xtra, unless you feel like the person that has served you was that "Xtra" special." After reading all of this, I doubt that I will ever go on a Cruise now!
Posted By Beau on November 29, 2007, 6:34 PM
Nobody likes to pay extra fees or surcharges but do not blame the cruise lines it is not their fault.
Remember diesel fuel is more expensive than gasoline, it takes an entire barge to fill up a cruise ship which holds several thousand gallons.
If I remember correctly a large mega ships fuel costs is over $150,000 for one week cruise.
When the cost of fuel has doubled you cant expect the cruise line to absorb all the cost. That is bad business. they have to pass the cost on to the consumer.
The Blame goes to the liberal enviromentalist at the State and Federal Levels who will not let us build more refineries and increase the fuel supply.
Posted By Tom Ognibene on November 29, 2007, 11:40 PM
I just came back from a cruise to Alaska on the inside passage. This trip was 2400.00 dollars after port and tax fees. Add onto that it was a ten night cruise, so that was 200.00 dollars tacked onto that for a tip(expected) plus we tipped $100.00 Dollars to the Maitre'ds and $50.00 to our room service guy. On top of that we were billed almost $1,800.00, for expenses on board a thousand of that was for excursions. So, to make my point cruising is not that cheap. You can go to hawaii for $900.00 a week hotel and flight included, and eat way less then a additional 3,000.00.
Posted By Holly Podplesky on November 30, 2007, 12:55 AM
December 10, 2007
Now that Oil has dropped to $88.00 a barrel, is the cruiselines going to refund the extra fuel charge??
I plan on complaining to the Federal Maritime Commission and the Consumer Affairs Dept., etc.
Posted By jan on December 10, 2007, 6:50 AM
The way the adding fuel cost is wrong. They should waited for new cruises starting in 2008.I put money down in March 2007 for a cruise in 2008.They can add to the cost anytime the want.
Posted By Mike Goldinger on December 13, 2007, 9:52 AM