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Comments (7)
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Save/ShareThere was a minor uproar in November when most cruise lines announced that they were adding fuel surcharges even to bookings that had already been made. (I may have contributed to the uproar during an appearance on Fox Business.) The Florida Attorney General's office started looking into the matter, and lo and behold, one cruise line--Royal Caribbean--has just announced that it won't tack on the surcharge to those passengers who booked before the Nov. 16 announcement. (UPDATE: I just learned that Celebrity has announced the same position as Royal Caribbean.) To check out Royal Caribbean's press release, click here. For some background on the fuel surcharges, keep reading....
• To cope with the rising cost of fuel, pretty much every North American cruise line has added a fuel surcharge of $5 to $8.50 per passenger per day.
• Some cap it $70 per person per voyage, but others don’t.
• Many cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, are applying the surcharge only to passengers who have yet to fully pay for the cruise, or for bookings made after the surcharge was announced.
• On the other hand, Carnival Corporation’s cruise lines—Carnival, Holland America, Cunard, Princess, and Seabourn—are all adding the $5 per passenger per day surcharge to the bill of anyone cruising after February 1. People who booked a March cruise a month ago will see the surcharge added to their tab.
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The fuel surcharge should only apply to new bookings period. I would recommend writing the state of florida, the applicable Better Business Bureau, your travel agent if you used one and the Cruise line. Additional charges to anyone who has pre booked there cruise is a very poor business practice!
Posted By Andre Corkum on March 12, 2008, 10:30 AM
I think it is bogus for these cruise lines to add fuel surcharges for their tickets. They make enough money as it is with on board fees,purchases. No cruises for my family this year. Staying in the US
Posted By Otto Fafoglia on March 13, 2008, 1:00 PM
What a joke The cruise lines buy fuel under contract and pay the contract price no matter what the spot market doe's. The fuel surcharge is just an attempt to maximize profits and I for one wont buy it. I was going to book a cruise this summer but the greedy BS artists can forget my business. The airlines are not much better and I might just stay home
Posted By William Skaggs on March 13, 2008, 2:04 PM
I would rather see the increase reflected in the price of the cruise. It irritates me that the listed price is not what you end up paying. They show the price as, for instance, $999, but then they start tacking on other charges like fuel surcharges and gratuities. It is not as bad as renting a car yet, but give them a chance and they might just make it that bad.
Posted By Duane Gorder on March 13, 2008, 2:32 PM
We went on a Carnival cruise last year in September, booked it in August (great last minute deal on a balcony cabin) and was given a photocopied letter dated July 2007 that announced the fuel surchage.
We booked directly with Carnival and was never informed about the added costs - we're rethinking cruising this year!
Posted By JenniG on March 13, 2008, 5:43 PM
We booked and paid Carnival for a cruise this June only to receive an additional bill from Carnival for the fuel surcharge. The numerous problems with Carnival Cruise Lines, poor customer service, and with this added supplement, this will be the last time I travel with Carnival. This is the bottom feeder of the cruise line industry.
Posted By Mark on March 16, 2008, 11:07 AM
Most cruiselines have corporate headquarters in Florida. Here is the link to coomplain to the state of Florida:
http://www.800helpfla.com/complnt.html
And the Better Business Bureau for Southeast Florida:
http://www.bbbsoutheastflorida.org/BBBWeb/Forms/General/Home.aspx
Posted By Mark on March 16, 2008, 11:30 AM