RCCL hits up $5/day extra
 

RCCL posted yesterday that they would add $5.00/day surcharge fee per full fare. RCCL states that if you paid the cruise in full prior to 11/15/07 no extra charge. I'm pissed that if we new about the increase we would have just paid for the cruise in full since we already have purchased the ridiculously expensive nonchangeable airline tickets for June 2008. I say this is bull. What do you say? Any Lawyers?

No lawyer would help you. RCCL is actually one of the last cruise lines to do that and it was expected. Why did you already buy air tickets for July 2008, especially if they are expensive and nonchangeable? This is an unusual combination. I figured the best air price comes around 3 months in advance.

If RCCL had everyone on the ship pay the additional $60 per person that’s one thing. However, if you paid for your cruise in advance, you’re exempt. We were not afforded that opportunity when the "rules" changed Friday. If enough people complained with such bad press this crap may not happen, rather than "It is expected" and we will just bend over and accept it.

"However, if you paid for your cruise in advance, you’re exempt."
This is true in regards to cruise rates. But airfare, government taxes, fuel surcharge can change. Cruise lines just like any other business will pass rising cost to customers. It's take or leave. I don't like paying extra $ either but I will not stop cruising because or $35 per person difference.

What is the surcharge for?

I heard this morning in the news, the cruise lines are adding $5 a day fuel charge.

The amusing thing is that RCL just came out with a press release 10/22 boasting about how they've used pre-purchased fuel contracts to offset price increases. A quote from this release:

"Fuel prices remain volatile and have risen significantly in recent months. However, the company has taken a number of actions to reduce energy consumption and fuel expense. The resulting savings are nearly sufficient to offset this rise in fuel prices. As a result, even at today's fuel prices, the company's 2008 fuel costs per APCD would be roughly comparable with 2007. "

Nice, huh?

This fuel surcharge is going into effect for all cruise lines. It shouldn't come as a big surprise as there's been a lot of press about it and we saw it coming. $5. per person per day sounds like one of the lower per diem surcharges...some are more like $10.p.p. per day.

Since we're booked for a May 2008 cruise, I'm interested in how this plays out. As far as I know, Celebrity hasn't added the surcharge yet, but if (when) they do, I may have to lodge a protest. Here's some info that may be useful:

http://tinyurl.com/36pwdm

Oops! Spoke too soon. Celebrity is part of RCCL. Have yet to be notified however.

((N)) ((N)) ((N))

Info cited from the article in the Tiny URL posted above:

"The key to overturning a retroactive fuel surcharge is a careful reading of the cruise contract, the legal agreement between you and the cruise line."

"Future fuel surcharge(s) can be protested. It’s imperative to keep the pressure on airlines and cruise lines to do the right thing — if their costs go up, they need to raise prices, not add a “surcharge.” These fees may, in fact, be illegal. A letter sent to the Department of Transportation or the Maritime Commission, questioning the legitimacy of the fees, could pressure these travel companies to drop these silly extras."

"...the Federal Maritime Commission, ... can sometimes mediate disputes on your behalf."

The Federal Maritime Commission
800 North Capitol St. NW
Washington, DC 20573
[email protected]

Here's Celebrity's Price Terms: &quot;Unless otherwise expressly noted, all prices are per person, based on double occupancy of the stateroom and are quoted in U.S. dollars. Celebrity Cruises Inc. reserves the right to <i>increase its prices</i> (my italics) without prior notice; however, if you have confirmed your booking with a deposit, or if you have already made your final payment, your price will be protected. Celebrity Cruises separately assesses airport facility charges and certain departure taxes and other taxes/fees that are implemented by various governments or quasi-governmental bodies.&quot;

There's nothing here about a fuel surcharge. They haven't increased their prices nor has a tax been imposed, they've added a fuel surcharge which doesn't seem to be covered under their price terms.

triathlete, can you provide a link to the release you mentioned? I couldn't find it by googling around.

I got an e-mail from Princess cruises notifying me there will be a surcharge of $5 per day per person added, which is for 2 of us for 10 days is $100.

Princess Cruises is a brand of Carnival Corporation.

They will not impose cancellation fees if we cancel before the final payment date (March 2008).

I have nto received an email from princess yet or the agent that we used. Our cruise is for March 2008. Not paid in full yet. May be I should go ahead and do it right away. It's 4 of us on a 7 day cruise. So, that's $140.

My e-mail says: for all cruises on or after February 1, 2008.

Maybe they sent an e-mail to your agent who is out of the office as tomorrow is a holiday?

I don't think if you pay now it would help to avoid the charge.

Looks like all the cruise llines have fuel surcharge now. There maybe a couple not charging yet in Europe where fuel prices has always been high. Since last year, pump pricve has been up 20% all over the world except in the US where it is up by 40%, mostly becasue of the strength (or lack of) of the US$.

Let's hope that when the fuel price drops, they will take off the surcharge. In the past, some airlines has kept the surcharge even after the fuel price has dropped. Maybe it is about time that the Cruise ships should look at alternative fuel sources?

I am at a point that it is not worth fighting anyone over the fuel surcharge as long as it is reasonable. To me, taking a cruise trip is not about bargain hunting anway. Does anyone price compare different cruise line and decide on one over the other based on price?

Sure, Betsy, Here you go:

http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.z...amp;highlight=

Thanks, Tri!

You people crack me up! You realize that RCCL and all other cruise lines are in the business to make money?? They are faced, as we all are, with skyrocketing fuel costs and sure they are going to pass this on to the customer, it is their OBLIGATION to do so. They are a publicly traded company and thier number 1 goal is to make money for the investors. Plus we are talking at most $200. You just spent thousands to go on vacation and you are going to let this ruin it for you? Wow! Sorry for this post but I am in the business where people bitch all the time at me (Real Estate Developer) and this is a forum I can actually respond (ahhh that feels better!)

Donke71: My sentiments exactly ! How can people allow themselves to get so stressed about this? Surely it cannot be a surprise to them that fuel HAS gone up in price. Do they not notice when they gas up the car? I expect that $5 a day is a lot less than what most people spend in the bar on a cruise ship. It is such a drop in the bucket.

It is extremely frustrating to be told that in addition to the fare you paid in full, you will now be hit with yet another charge.....while it is understandable, I feel it's a bit unfair to those of us who have booked a cruise and paid in full. Why not add the surcharge to those who wait until the last minute? Spurs, I wish you were right about being exempt, but I read my passenger contract, and it did state something about there may be additional fees if operational costs go up. We were not notified by the cruiseline, I happened to see it on a website.....donke71, you have a valid point, but try to look at it this way: You begin building a house in June, receive from client A payment in full based on your bid. In October, prices for building materials increases dramatically~do you go back to client A and tell them, sorry, I'm going to have to get more money from you, or do you pass the increase on to client B &amp; C who have not yet paid in full? That's my complaint~I paid in full last July and feel it's unfair they are increasing the fare....

Miami Herald reports today that RCCL will &quot;refund&quot; the $5.00/ day fee charged last year, in the form of ship board credit in the settelment reached with Florida's Attorney General. They stated three hundred complaints were filed!

A group of 17 of us went on a cruise to the Mexican Riviera last month; we were NOT assessed a fuel surcharge by Norwegian Cruise Lines.

Actually I called RCI today about that refund and was told it applies to cruises booked B4 Nov. 2007 and as we booked in Dec. I assumed it would not apply. However I looked at my CC statement and found a refund for $58.00 from RCI.

&quot;MIAMI, March 10 -- After working closely with the Florida Attorney General's office, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced it has voluntarily agreed to eliminate its fuel supplement on any bookings made prior to the announcement of the fuel supplement on Nov 16, 2007.&quot;

The rest of the story, including refund details are at http://cruisediva.blogspot.com/2008/...luntarily.html

The settlement is costing RCCL 21 million dollars.

Since when is $58.00 divisible evenly by 5?????

Dukey: Don't be ridiculous.

AWESOME NEWS CruiseDiva!!!

I think everyone should write the atty. general and thank him for his efforts in this area!

Main office mailing address
Office of Attorney General
State of Florida
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050

To contact Attorney General Bill McCollum please email:
[email protected]
Main office telephone numbers
Switchboard: 850-414-3300

Well another credit from RCI showed up on my statement today. So far a total of $128.00 has been returned for the three of us. Yes! Keep it coming. :D

I just got back from an RCI cruise. They are bad. RCI only thinks of $ not customers.