Thanks for visiting Cruise Talk Central! If you enjoy your visit here or find some useful information, you may wish to subscribe to our RSS feed or email notifications in order to stay informed of updates to our site. You can also read our About Page to learn more about Cruise Talk Central.
A Few Thoughts on the New Fuel Surcharge
Most of the major cruise lines, including Carnival (and all of their North American brands: Carnival, Holland America, Princess, Cunard, Costa and Yachts of Seabourn), Royal Caribbean International (and some of their brands: Roayl Caribbean, Celebrity, and Azamara), Norwegian Cruise Line, and Oceania have recently implemented a fuel surcharge of between $5 and $7 per person per day. The lines have said that this has been in response to recently escalating fuel prices.
I understand the need to recover costs related to increased energy prices, but increasing prices on passengers who have already booked their cruise could possibly backfire. Most passengers pick cruising because of the overall value of the entire cruise experience when compared to other vacation options. However, there may be some passengers who just haven’t budgeted for the additional expense and will either have to cut back in other areas or cancel their cruise. Others will take it all in stride and not even bat an eye at the extra expense.
I just wonder if this fuel surcharge will be here to stay? Will the extra charge go away when oil prices go down? If fuel prices drop drastically will they drop the fuel charge? If fuel prices stay steady in relation ship to inflation and cruise prices go up, will that fuel charge still be there? I think passengers will have to vigilantly watch the fuel charge and make sure that it goes away when fuel prices are no longer increasing. The other side is that if prices continue to increase, the cruise experience may become too expensive for the current average cruiser, and the cruise lines will have to figure out a way to keep passengers on board at higher prices.
Loading ...
Windstar Cruises and Majestic America Line also announced fuel surcharges/supplements today.
I guess the lines wanted to make it clear that they were increasing prices in response to fuel price increases. I think they must have waited so long because they wanted to see if they could ride it out until the prices when down, but it looks like the prices are here to stay. I guess I buried my lead because what really just happened with the fuel charge is that all the cruise lines have increased their prices by an average of about $50 per person for a 7 day cruise. It will be interesting to see if the fuel charge is here to stay.
We booked a 14 day cruise with Celebrity to alaska 5/07, paid our deposit & was advised the balance was due 2/08. Never heard a word about a fuel suppl until today 12/31/07 when we called to make a payment. If we would have known to pay in full by 11/16/07 we (3 staterooms) would have gladly paid by 11/16/07. It appears the notice was posted on there web site 12/21/07. When I called Celebrity they said it was unexpected & no one knew before then??? Fuel increase was unexpected???? It’s not the $100.00 charge really…we all understand fuel increase. We were not given the oppurtunity to pay before 11/16/07. Sneaky..very sneaky.
Yes, I think they sometimes like to maximize their profits.
The fuel surcharge is stupid, but all the lines instituted it around the same time.
I agree they did sneak it in, but, hey, they all did it, so as customers we can’t really cancel and rebook on another line in protest.
Your Alaska cruise will be wonderful, so don’t let this ruin it for you.
We were just in Alaska in June. You can read my cruise review, lumberjack review, Yukon train review or look at my photo album.
I just called Royal Caribbean to make final payment on my upcoming April 6, 2008 family cruise to the Eastern Caribbean priced at $7,500 for two cabins. I originally booked the cruise in September ‘07. They informed me that I must pay an additional $10/cabin/night for a “Fuel Surcharge”. I said no, since this was not the established agreement at time of booking and they said my only choice was to pay or cancel. I CANCELLED!! It was not the money, it was the cruiselines method and strongarm tacticts. My kids were only slightly disappointed. Cruiselines can simply raise the prices for future cruisers, don’t expect to pickpocket existing customers. Good luck with the new sleazy fee.
And the worst part is that they ALL did it!!!!