Fuel Surcharge coming soon-- oil at $105 and climbing.

[pe4all]

I do not buy drinks ! They should increase the fares not surcharge! It is way too hard to budget if you do not know the costs in advance.

 

As for penalizing the crew.....the crew dont get very much from the cruiseline....90% of their salary comes from tips! So if you need to send a loud clear message, you have to hit hard and sometimes below the belt!

The cruiselines would have no problem hitting you with a low blow!

 

I have to disagree with this. Hitting "below the belt" will just cause these hard-working people to be caught in the middle, and lose their jobs. The crew can be easily replaced. I don't think the crew has much pull when it comes to pressuring the management! I DO agree (and have been saying since the last fuel surcharge fiasco) that they should just add the fuel surcharge into the new bookings as fare increases. Most people wouldn't know it is added in - just that the price went up a bit, which they would probably just take in stride. An extra $27 for a 3 day sailing won't faze many people when it is already added in (or even $63 for 7 days) however, wait for the uproar when they see an extra $27 charge "tacked on" as a fuel surcharge- especially after final payment! And please - let's not put any ideas into CCL's heads - they DO read these boards!

[halos]

I do not buy drinks ! They should increase the fares not surcharge! It is way too hard to budget if you do not know the costs in advance.

 

As for penalizing the crew.....the crew dont get very much from the cruiseline....90% of their salary comes from tips! So if you need to send a loud clear message, you have to hit hard and sometimes below the belt!

The cruiselines would have no problem hitting you with a low blow!

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

 

there are just no words......

[rickechambers1@aol.com]

I do not buy drinks ! They should increase the fares not surcharge! It is way too hard to budget if you do not know the costs in advance.

 

As for penalizing the crew.....the crew dont get very much from the cruiseline....90% of their salary comes from tips! So if you need to send a loud clear message, you have to hit hard and sometimes below the belt!

The cruiselines would have no problem hitting you with a low blow!

 

Or remove the risk altogether and stay home. This is a cruise for goodness sakes. Rather than causing hardship to the crew just don't cruise and cause hardship directed at the corporation rather than the individual.

[remharri]

if you look on the fine print-- you could still be charged with it.

 

My fear--airline prices will go through the roof.

 

Airline prices are higher this year then years back. We used to be able to fly direct to almost anywhere in Florida for $200 or less round trip. Now we are pushing $300 and more.

[urbanhawk]

I was wondering about the possibility of a fuel surcharge last week, when on the news, they were talking about the price of gas going up at the tanks-and possibly as high a $4.95 a gallon in Chicago this summer, as an example. Knowing the surcharge is a possibility I will include it in my budget for my next cruise-if it's not added, I would certainly be happier, but I'd also have that extra money, to spend on the cruise-drinks, casino, or whatever.....this is what works for me......

[skittl1321]

[quote name='pe4all'] And please - let's not put any ideas into CCL's heads - they DO read these boards![/quote]
Oh that's silly. It's not like it is a new idea to Carnival. "Hey! We could charge a fuel surcharge!" It's already in their contract that they can.

This cruise DH and I plan to spend a lot more onboard then we have before (usually we are extremely frugal...with our on board bills essentially being tips) if there is a surcharge, that plan will not be happening.

[WalkThaFreekinPlank]

I have a ? on fuel surcharge. Airlines charge for double seating if you are "large", do Cruise lines do the same to compensate for fuel usage on weight?

[H82seaUgo]

[quote name='WalkThaFreekinPlank']I have a ? on fuel surcharge. Airlines charge for double seating if you are "large", do Cruise lines do the same to compensate for fuel usage on weight?[/quote]

over weight, you get one flipper. Obese, and they give you two.


but no extra charge.

[spleenstomper]

Someone refresh my memory... When crude was 140 a barrel, the pump prices were about (in my area). Maybe 4.15 a gallon at the highest.

Now crude is 105 a barrel and gas prices are already up to 3.75 in my area.

Where is the bottleneck? Supply, demand, OPEC, refining?

Thanks.

[crewsweeper]

[quote name='spleenstomper']Someone refresh my memory... When crude was 140 a barrel, the pump prices were about (in my area). Maybe 4.15 a gallon at the highest.

Now crude is 105 a barrel and gas prices are already up to 3.75 in my area.

Where is the bottleneck? Supply, demand, OPEC, refining?

Thanks.[/quote]
It's winter, although for some of us it seems too warm. In Wintermonths refineries will typically shift to more fuel oil production at expense of gasoline. You might also check to see if your state or parish have increased gasoline taxes too. Explains a large portion of the difference between gas prices in one state versus another. There may be some supply concerns as well. Prices at the pump do reflect more anticipated increases in what the stations themselves wil pay for their next shipment than what's going on in the crude market.

[spleenstomper]

Gotcha, thanks.

[pe4all]

[quote name='skittl1321']Oh that's silly. It's not like it is a new idea to Carnival. "Hey! We could charge a fuel surcharge!" It's already in their contract that they can.

This cruise DH and I plan to spend a lot more onboard then we have before (usually we are extremely frugal...with our on board bills essentially being tips) if there is a surcharge, that plan will not be happening.[/QUOTE]
Actually, I made that comment tongue in cheek, but forgot to put the little pink stick out tongue face on my comment! Of course they can begin to charge the surcharge whenever. But they do read these boards, and even though we are a minor (I think I read somewhere 3%) part of the cruising industry, I still don't want to plant ideas that may bite us in the butt. As far as you being frugal except for your upcoming cruise - you still have a few weeks to plan ahead and save up a few bucks- if possible- so you can enjoy yourself to the fullest on the cruise, just in case!:)

[Cruzin' Daddy]

I knew Carnival reserved the right to add the fuel surcharge anytime before you sail. I did not know they also reserved the right to add the fuel surcharge up until the day before disembark. I would have a problem with having an extra $225 ($9 a day for 5 people on a 5 day cruise) added to my bill on the last day...especially not budgeted. Before you even go there, no we don't drink alcohol. Tell me up front that you are going to add $225 to my fare. Kind of not right to add it on the last night. What if I used cash to secure my account and didn't have the $225 to pay Carnival before I got off the ship? Will I have to wash dishes or clean cabins? Just wondering.

[pe4all]

Where did you get the idea they could impose the fuel charge up until the day you debark? Never heard or saw that before....

[WalkThaFreekinPlank]

[quote name='spleenstomper']Someone refresh my memory... When crude was 140 a barrel, the pump prices were about (in my area). Maybe 4.15 a gallon at the highest.

Now crude is 105 a barrel and gas prices are already up to 3.75 in my area.

Where is the bottleneck? Supply, demand, OPEC, refining?

Thanks.[/quote]

Very good question but very few answers..... If gas goes any higher I wouldn't be suprised if theives figure out a way to override the pump. Shoot, what stops a thief from cutting 1000amp copper wire to make a dollar.

Back to the topic. I think cruise lines will just raise prices to hide fuel charges.

[Rottweiler Puppy]

[quote name='spleenstomper']Someone refresh my memory... When crude was 140 a barrel, the pump prices were about (in my area). Maybe 4.15 a gallon at the highest.

Now crude is 105 a barrel and gas prices are already up to 3.75 in my area.

Where is the bottleneck? Supply, demand, OPEC, refining?

Thanks.[/QUOTE]

Dollar worth less, less refining, some refining towards energy and not gas, coal plants getting shut down, time of year, middle east crap, demand, not enough nuke plants.

I wonder who will have the first nuclear powered cruise ship? Wait scratch that. If they cant enforce dress code, they sure wont handle a reactor problem.

[samikitty]

[quote=Cruzin' Daddy;32552802]I knew Carnival reserved the right to add the fuel surcharge anytime before you sail. I did not know they also reserved the right to add the fuel surcharge up until the day before disembark.[/quote]

According to the cruise contract, that is not the case. They can only apply a fuel supplement up to the time of sailing.

[I](d) Cruise Fare does not include fuel supplement charges. "Fuel supplement" shall mean any additional charge to defray a portion of Carnival's fuel costs. The amount of fuel supplements and government fees and taxes collected are subject to change. Carnival reserves the right to charge a fuel supplement of up to $9.00 per person per day, without prior notice, in the event that the price of light sweet crude oil according to the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index) is greater than $70.00 per barrel of oil. [B] Carnival may collect any fuel supplement [COLOR=Red]in effect at the time of sailing[/COLOR], even if the cruise fare has been paid in full[/B].[/I]

[Cruzin' Daddy]

samikitty,

That's how I read the contract as well. I was responding to a previous post. Like I said before, a lot of stuff on here is made up, but just the thought perturbed me. I don't think a cruise line would tack on a fuel surcharge at the end of your voyage, I mean, the backlash from that would be horrendous. Stranger things has happened though.

[Cruzin' Daddy]

[quote name='zqvol']Not really because the contract as currently written allows them to impose it on all cruisers at any time including as late as the day be disembarking after the cruise.:D[/QUOTE]

This is where I saw it.

[JPTexan82]

Hey back to the overweight people paying more on a flight, how about on a cruise they eat more, take more towels to dry off, and also use more fuel on the ship to hawl them around?

j/k

[FightOnRon]

[quote name='JPTexan82']Hey back to the overweight people paying more on a flight, how about on a cruise they eat more, take more towels to dry off, and also use more fuel on the ship to hawl them around?

j/k[/quote]

COuld you not see the ACLU jumping on that one. You pass through security, the metal detector, then you stand on a scale and if you wiegh "X" amount , you get charged by the pound if you are over thier limit,,which my guess would be 250 which seems to be a number used a lot by tour companies.

[JPTexan82]

[quote name='FightOnRon']COuld you not see the ACLU jumping on that one. You pass through security, the metal detector, then you stand on a scale and if you wiegh "X" amount , you get charged by the pound if you are over thier limit,,which my guess would be 250 which seems to be a number used a lot by tour companies.[/quote]

Hey Ron, How do the airlines get away with it then?? The cruise line should get those lawyers they are good.

[x-cruiser]

[quote name='FightOnRon']COuld you not see the ACLU jumping on that one. You pass through security, the metal detector, then you stand on a scale and if you wiegh "X" amount , you get charged by the pound if you are over thier limit,,which my guess would be 250 which seems to be a number used a lot by tour companies.[/quote

Better to be weighed before the cruise than after....

[WalkThaFreekinPlank]

[quote name='x-cruiser'][quote name='FightOnRon']COuld you not see the ACLU jumping on that one. You pass through security, the metal detector, then you stand on a scale and if you wiegh "X" amount , you get charged by the pound if you are over thier limit,,which my guess would be 250 which seems to be a number used a lot by tour companies.[/quote

Better to be weighed before the cruise than after....[/quote]

Lmbo! This is true. Last weekend Kroger had Blue Bell on sale for $2.46 a Half Gallon. I ate 1 Gallon total of Chocolate Sundae Surprise which equals 6lbs but weighed 7lbs more... ??

[FightOnRon]

[quote name='JPTexan82']Hey Ron, How do the airlines get away with it then?? The cruise line should get those lawyers they are good.[/quote]

Maybe because on a plane you have to fit in a certain space, on a ship you have to fit in a cabin. Plus, on a plane you have to do somehting called flying and weight plays a big part in it (or it would be called driving:)) whereas on a ship I suppose if everyone was too heavy the worst case scenario is the lowest OV cabins really do have a view of the ocean, as in a submarine.

On our cruise of Alaska it was a cruisetour and we took a helecopter excursion where everyone had to be weighed and the scale was huge ,like one at a vet office, and the readout was in numbers 12 inches high so everyone knew how much you weighed. My wife joined Weightwatchers when we got home.