NCL Fuel Surcharge

[Arkansasgirl412]

From NCL Policy (https://www.ncl.com/about/additional-terms-and-conditions#s5m3):

 

Norwegian Cruise Line reserves the right to charge a fuel supplement without prior notice should the closing price of West Texas Intermediate Fuel increase above $65 per barrel on the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index). In the event a fuel supplement is charged, Norwegian Cruise Line will have sole discretion to apply the supplementary charge to both existing and new bookings, regardless of whether such bookings have been paid in full. Such supplementary charges are not included in the cruise fare. The fuel supplement charge will not exceed $10.00 per passenger per day.

 

As best I can tell, oil prices are at $62 a barrel. And I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if it reaches $65 in the next two weeks. Has NCL ever charged the fuel supplement before? If so, would it just show up as a charge to my room at the end of my cruise (that would be an unpleasant surprise). I cruise in two weeks, and any insights are appreciated.

[delaware32]

if I remember they may have charged during the energy crisis but not since 2005 . This is  a vague remembrance . I may be wrong but at this point I wouldn't anticipate a surcharge .

[Arkansasgirl412]

Awesome, then I'll just keep an eye on oil prices. Hopefully they'll go back down, and NCL won't charge anything.

[callmebetty]

We were on a cruise on NCL years ago where we got billed to our on board account for the surcharge. It was after we got married in 2005. I want to say it was about $60 per person. 

[ColeThornton]

You will not get a fuel surcharge.  NCL contracts to buy their fuel well in advance.  I've seen the barrel prices over their "limit" many times and have never seen a surcharge.  Oil prices will come back down.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[Son of a son of a ...]

I posted a similar thread this AM.  Later, I did some research, which I should have done earlier ... kpcheng had some thoughts about the actual cost being bunker fuel, the price of which did not correlate to the price of WTI.  As CThorton suggests, the cruise lines have hedged their positions.

[jaja]

MANY years ago...we did have surcharge --booked very early, then surcharge added months later and then , as I recall it was removed before our sailing as crude prices stabilized.

[Sauer-kraut]

There was no surcharge when a barrel of crude was over $70 (I can't remember when that was).  I have also cruised with the fule surcharge but it really wasn't that much. 

[newmexicoNita]

12 hours ago, Arkansasgirl412 said:

Awesome, then I'll just keep an eye on oil prices. Hopefully they'll go back down, and NCL won't charge anything.

Yes keep paying attention but it is unlikely they will actually put a sur charge on. I do remember when the plan was introduced. All the cruise lines put some type of policy just in case. 

[Son of a son of a ...]

CCL and RCL tried in 2008:  http://old.seattletimes.com/html/travel/2004319815_webcarnivalsurcharge01.html?syndication=rss

 

Methinks they would just jack the cabin price up for future bookings.

[graphicguy]

I’ve sailed NCL for the last decade (as well as other cruise lines with the fuel charge blurb).  I’ve NEVER seen an additional charge, regardless of the price of a bbl of crude on the open market.