Carnival: New Fuel Supplement

MrsAmanda7 · November 21, 2007

I've just been hit with a bill from my travel agent regarding my fuel surcharge. Although I will be traveling on Princess, I am as angry as everyone else. My husband and I are paying $90 for our upcoming cruise to the Caribbean in July.

Big Bummer!

:thumbdown:

mitchinam · November 21, 2007

I agree that the perception doesn't make it look good, but the reality is much more fair. The cruise companies don't pay for their fuel at the pump like we do. They contract for fuel for a period of time and the costs become fixed for the period of the contract. They are now contracting for future fuel at a much higher rate than before. they're not contracting for a year from now, but for only months from now. Shouldn't the people who are using the expensive pay for it? Why should people a year or more from now pay for the fuel increase if the price actually comes down? That would be the result of raising prices for future cruises. If you owned a business, and your prices go up, you raise your prices now, not a year from now. The fuel surcharge is nothing more than the companies raising their prices now.

Just talked to a friend who is a TA for a very large Automobile Club agency...the PR has been so bad for them that they are absorbing all the extra cost for those who had already paid in full. While as 'rogue' says the "reality is ...more fair", sometimes perception IS reality, and not only are clients but very large travel agencies VERY unhappy. Not wise to upset those that sell your product for you .This was not handled very deftly, and how does one calculate how much less a client will spend on board; or who decides to try another line, or not cruise at all the next time. Could be penny wise and dollar foolish; but that's just me...I could be wrong.

mercedes · November 21, 2007

Carnival added $120.00 to my cruise price to the Med/Greek Isles next June.

rogue · November 21, 2007

Also, Mercedes, your airfare may go up due to higher fuel costs. The cab fare to and from the ship may go up. If your staying in a hotel before the cruise the room rates may go up because the suppliers of the hotel are putting a fuel surcharge on their rates. Any restaurant you may eat in may be more expensive for the same reason. I don't hear about anyone complaining about those price rises. I'm just not sure why people don't think the cruise companies should raise their prices. Maybe the cruise companies could have done a better job of public relations, but nobody could argue that fuel costs have not gone through roof over the past couple of months. I dislike paying anything more for my cruise as much as the next person, but the extra five dollars a day will not make me want to not take my cruise. It's still a bargain in my book.

JoeyandDavid · November 21, 2007

Interesting observations Howard......I am bracing for the worst ...

With our cruise for next year not until DECEMBER.. I know we will get hit by celebrity for the increase "costs" in fuel ..however I was hoping that the air fare that we have tentatively booked thru them will stay consistent.. if not .. I dunno.. PLUS we too were thinking of a few days in advance in San Juan....

So if trickle down happens Howard we may have to do some readjusting...

mercedes · November 21, 2007

I dislike paying anything more for my cruise as much as the next person, but the extra five dollars a day will not make me want to not take my cruise. It's still a bargain in my book.

Howard, I totally agree with you. So far the airfare remains the same, $1119.00 pp.

mitchinam · November 26, 2007

Howard,

Don't mean to dog my point too much, as I agree with your ultimate statement; that fuel surcharge or not its a great value. My point is that the WAY it was implimented was in my view, clumsy and may hurt them a little on the margins. The cruisers perception is, once you have paid in full on a pre determined price including taxes, your done. Imagine you buying a car, signed all the documents, paid the money, drove the car away...only to get a call from the dealer asking for MORE because they had miscalculated the cost. I understand due to the future cost of ship fuel this is not a perfect analogy; it is perfectly legal for the cruise lines to come back for more due to fuel cost, but leaves a bad taste in most folks (and many travel agents)

mouth.

From a bottom line standpoint; wouldn't immediatly charging 50-70 dollars more per new bookings get the job done just the same in the long run?

Mitch

Olddog · November 29, 2007

They might as well just add it in to the base price of the cruise. Well at least they are letting people know now, instead of hitting them with the extra fees at boarding time.

hazelson · December 12, 2007

We just got our "new" statment from the TA with the fuel surcharge added - and her sincere apology. As the first line of communication the TA's always get the guff first. We told her not to worry - just a drop in the bucket - we choose to cruise so we have to pay - the alternative (to stay home) just doesn't cut it lol.