News- Victory !!!! RCCL Recalls Fuel Surcharge !!!!

[rascalious]

Just a few observations from one of the "original complainers" from the deleted "totally useless fuel surcharge"thread:

 

1 "Bout Dam Time" and something is finally right in the world.

 

2 I feel the folks who fought this unjust contract change deserve a huge high five. You all know who you are.Never give in and stick to your principles---it will pay off in the end.

 

3 I wonder if the posters who constantly berated the complainers on the fuel surcharge thread are going to refuse their refunds or on board credits.According to them, we complainers were all totally mixed up,cheap,cant afford a cruise,should vacation at Six Flags, would be bad passengers by compalining,glad they were not crusing with us, etc, etc. You guys know who your are.Come on up to the plate and let us know about your refusal of the refund and credit.Stick to your guns and help your beloved Royal Caribbean International in their great time of need.You dont want Mr. Fain or Mr. Goldstein to have to go without a huge bonus,do you?

 

4 There is not a darn thing "voluntary" about this announcement.Carnival Corp and RCI were going to lose because they were wrong--period.

 

5 What will be final fall out of this poor business decision to break contracts.Refunds, cancelled cruises,loss of trust and good will.The cruise lines picked one bad time to alienate repeat cruisers with an economy going in the tank.The broken contract cost RCI two cruises with us.The Grandeur sailing and the Jewel New England cruise we were going to book onboard..Many of us have moved on and what will it take to get us back?Who will fill all of the new berths coming on line ?

 

6 I will not recieve a refund due to the fact that I would not accept the new contract and cancelled. What I do expect (and know I will not recieve) is a formal, written apology from Mr.Goldstein or Mr. Fain. An apology may let me consider a future cruise on an RCI product--though they would be on the bottom of my list.

 

7 Do I seem to be gloating about this news ? Well I really.really am !!!!!

Great post! You can be admired for cancelling. Of course, we too, had the "option" had it not been for non-refundable air. An argument often overlooked on the original thread. Although there were many that said we were "cheap" and " it's only the cost of a drink", you could not convince them that it was more about "principle" and had very little to do with "a measly five dollars".

[curley23]

Where are all the folks who were putting us down? They really were involved when they were calling us "whiners" or "b--ch and moaners". Also telling us all the money recovered would go to "slip-and-fall" lawyers and we would not ever recover a dime - Geesh! All we were arguing for was fairness and for RCI to observe common ethical business principles. All it took was a letter to the Florida AG, patience and perseverance.

 

I am right here. The grill is warming and I am preparing my bird. You guys can gloat all you like, as you deserve it. Just because people have a difference in opinions, does not mean we are all bad. I will be one of the first to admit any wrong thinking on this one. BTW where is thing2, I have a donation to make.

[marci22]

You are so right, did they really think people who were already deposited were just going to accept it......actually I did, so I would like to thank those that made the calls and sent the emails and letters......so thanks!

 

You're welcome!

 

Not sure why people are giving RC credit, they only removed the charges under pressure from the Attorney General; we should thank Bill McCollum.

[Thing2]

I have been so busy the last two months have not had time to visit the boards. While having coffee this morning I stumbled on the article. And just can not believe it........Had to hurry over here to see if everyone has heard.

 

It really makes me feel good to see the system work for the little guy and that sometimes it does pay to stand up. If all of us had rolled over and say "OK, charge me more money, I understand" then there would be no end to the add on's and sur charges.

 

I feel really great about this...but I guess it is too early for a glass of champagne......for all my fellow cc'rs who sent emails to the various places....Thank you! We did it! :D

[robtulipe]

Totally off topic but what happens to excess OBC does the cruise line keep it?

I believe any OBC left at the end of the cruise is refunded back to the pax but I've never had any left at the end. If you are concerned about this just go to the casino and get a cash advance to use up what is left of your OBC.

[marci22]

You sent him your complaints, now send him your thanks:

 

To contact Attorney General Bill McCollum please email:

ag.mccollum@myfloridalegal.com

[curley23]

I have been so busy the last two months have not had time to visit the boards. While having coffee this morning I stumbled on the article. And just can not believe it........Had to hurry over here to see if everyone has heard.

 

It really makes me feel good to see the system work for the little guy and that sometimes it does pay to stand up. If all of us had rolled over and say "OK, charge me more money, I understand" then there would be no end to the add on's and sur charges.

 

I feel really great about this...but I guess it is too early for a glass of champagne......for all my fellow cc'rs who sent emails to the various places....Thank you! We did it! :D

 

What you accomplished was getting refunds for bookings prior to the announcement. There will still be surcharges going forward for bookings from Nov 16th and on. This does not do away with them. Oil today is currently over 109.00 bbl this morning, with no end in sight. One thing the cruise lines managed to do , although at a cost of over 20mil, was to have the ability to collect surcharges now. To the cruise lines in the end, a small price to pay. Don't be surprised if the surcharges go to $10 sometime later this year, and it can now be done on a moments notice, even if you are booked. For those already booked, if it happens, you can't say anything about the disclosure. It will be pay, or cancel.

Enjoy your victory.

[robtulipe]

Wonder if this will apply to "Next Cruise" option? We did this on our cruise last summer, but "officially" chose our cruise after the "official" RCCL November date. I'm betting not, but it would be nice!;)

 

LandLover...did you say you booked with an earlier Next Cruise booking deposit? Check your booking dashboard on RCCL under the payments page.! :D

I had a NC booking deposit made before the FS annoucement on Nov.16th. Originally had done my booking directly with RC and that payment page showed the intial deposit date as being before Nov.16 and the deposit difference showing being paid on the date I selected my next cruise. I transferred my booking to a TA before the final payment so can't access that page anymore and our final payment has now been made. I guess you could say I knew about the FS when I did select my cruise but it wasn't there when I made my non refundable NC booking deposit.

I am also wondering where the NC bookings done before Nov.16 stands in this respect as it appears to be in a grey area concerning this. Does anyone have anything further on this?

[Thing2]

What you accomplished was getting refunds for bookings prior to the announcement. There will still be surcharges going forward for bookings from Nov 16th and on. This does not do away with them. Oil today is currently over 109.00 bbl this morning, with no end in sight. One thing the cruise lines managed to do , although at a cost of over 20mil, was to have the ability to collect surcharges now. To the cruise lines in the end, a small price to pay. Don't be surprised if the surcharges go to $10 sometime later this year, and it can now be done on a moments notice, even if you are booked. For those already booked, if it happens, you can't say anything about the disclosure. It will be pay, or cancel.

Enjoy your victory.

 

I did not stand up against them to have the fuel surcharge removed completely. I understand their need to have one. My complaint was that it was added to already booked and deposited cruises. And that was what I fought against. Since in their catalog it stated once I booked my price would not charge. It was the principle not the money for me.

 

You can send your $5 a day surcharge to your local food bank.....:D

[marci22]

What you accomplished was getting refunds for bookings prior to the announcement. There will still be surcharges going forward for bookings from Nov 16th and on. This does not do away with them. Oil today is currently over 109.00 bbl this morning, with no end in sight. One thing the cruise lines managed to do , although at a cost of over 20mil, was to have the ability to collect surcharges now. To the cruise lines in the end, a small price to pay. Don't be surprised if the surcharges go to $10 sometime later this year, and it can now be done on a moments notice, even if you are booked. For those already booked, if it happens, you can't say anything about the disclosure. It will be pay, or cancel.

Enjoy your victory.

 

Oh I'm enjoyin' it.

[ontheopenseas]

You sent him your complaints, now send him your thanks:

 

To contact Attorney General Bill McCollum please email:

 

This is a great idea! I had sent letters to RCI customer service- received a canned response, letters to Mr. Fain and Mr. Goldstein-received a canned response, letters to my homestate Attorney General- received a canned response (of course, I realized from reading the fuel surcharge thread that I sent it there in error). Finally, I sent a letter to Attorney General Bill McCollum at the beginning of February. The follow up by his office really is appreciated!:)

 

The main complaint of my letters was not the fuel charge itself, but the fact that we were notified after the date had passed that there was a window of opportunity to pay our balance in full and avoid the charge. We will certainly enjoy the OBC!

[masterbaker]

This is great news for those of us that RCI broke their contract with. My thanks to the Attorney General for taking action on it. This affected three 7 night cruises we have booked, and yes I did write letters. I will not think of the $210 as saved, it was our money that should have never been billed to our bookings in the first place.

[curley23]

I did not stand up against them to have the fuel surcharge removed completely. I understand their need to have one. My complaint was that it was added to already booked and deposited cruises. And that was what I fought against. Since in their catalog it stated once I booked my price would not charge. It was the principle not the money for me.

 

You can send your $5 a day surcharge to your local food bank.....:D

 

I understand what you were against. You did not make it sound that way in your victory speech. Since I have 2 cruises May, on Sovereign, and Oct on Adventure, I have 10 days X 2 people $100 X 2 since I said I would double it, so $200 to the Harry Chapin Food Bank here in SW Florida. Oh, and you're welcome.

[Thing2]

I understand what you were against. You did not make it sound that way in your victory speech. Since I have 2 cruises May, on Sovereign, and Oct on Adventure, I have 10 days X 2 people $100 X 2 since I said I would double it, so $200 to the Harry Chapin Food Bank here in SW Florida. Oh, and you're welcome.

 

Thank you............

 

 

Now can we all just get along!!! :D

[marci22]

Thank you............

 

 

Now can we all just get along!!! :D

 

Thing2 not only are you righting wrongs, you're inspiring donations to food banks! Your victory speech was way too short! You go!

[mike@sea]

http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1117173&highlight=

 

 

Don´t really understand why everybody is happy about this. In the end we all pay for it anyway, because they will find other ways to get the money in. I´d rather have a fuel surcharge ( every major airline is doing the same thing!! ), that adjusts, than higher drink prices ( which will never be lowered again ), less employees (because they have to SAVE money somewhere), worse food quality ( save money..) etc...

 

Some comments and complaints are just strange here. Cruise prices have lowered or been stable for years, whereas costs for everything else went up (except airline tickets). You want a "healthy" cruise line you can rely on (quality wise), well then I guess you have to be willing to pay for it somehow. Simple as that.

[Thing2]

Don´t really understand why everybody is happy about this. In the end we all pay for it anyway, because they will find other ways to get the money in. I´d rather have a fuel surcharge ( every major airline is doing the same thing!! ), that adjusts, than higher drink prices ( which will never be lowered again ), less employees (because they have to SAVE money somewhere), worse food quality ( save money..) etc...

 

Some comments and complaints are just strange here. Cruise prices have lowered or been stable for years, whereas costs for everything else went up (except airline tickets). You want a "healthy" cruise line you can rely on (quality wise), well then I guess you have to be willing to pay for it somehow. Simple as that.

 

Because it isn't about the money. It was about a company coming back after a contract was made and adding a charge. And lets be honest customer service, food quality, etc are changes they make any way.

 

Just like the price of fuel we put in our tanks every week. If as a country we all stood up and said we are not paying it and didn't put gas in our tank for a week.....prices would come down. They have lowered the production of oil so they can raise the price of gas. And we all pay it.....so they do it.

 

Now granted the above is never going to happen....but if we didn't' always roll over then maybe they wouldn't always take advantage of us. And the situation of the fuel surcharge is just one example. JMHO

[marci22]

Don´t really understand why everybody is happy about this. In the end we all pay for it anyway, because they will find other ways to get the money in. I´d rather have a fuel surcharge ( every major airline is doing the same thing!! ), that adjusts, than higher drink prices ( which will never be lowered again ), less employees (because they have to SAVE money somewhere), worse food quality ( save money..) etc...

 

Some comments and complaints are just strange here. Cruise prices have lowered or been stable for years, whereas costs for everything else went up (except airline tickets). You want a "healthy" cruise line you can rely on (quality wise), well then I guess you have to be willing to pay for it somehow. Simple as that.

 

We weren't against all fuel surcharges, just the one that was applied to already-booked passengers before the announcement.

 

Hope that clears things up.

[Jeano222]

I just called RCCL and they said the cruise had to be paid in full before 11/16/07 to have the fuel charge reversed.

[kidless]

Jeanno.......most likely Customer Service just needs to catch up.

 

Congrats everyone....and thanks to those who stood up.

[kasandra1679]

I just checked my cruise dashboard on RCCl's website and it has an outstanding balance of -$70.00. So something must be working.

[kc320]

Totally off topic but what happens to excess OBC does the cruise line keep it?

 

You can either go to the purser's desk the last morning & "cash" out your account or leave it and it will be refunded to whatever credit/debit card you used to secure your seapass with...voice of experience here...:D last cruise I started out with $175 OBC and left with a credit of about $30...

[wrp96]

I just called RCCL and they said the cruise had to be paid in full before 11/16/07 to have the fuel charge reversed.

 

That was the old policy prior to the announcement last night. The customer service reps probably haven't gotten the press release yet.

[robtulipe]

I just called RCCL and they said the cruise had to be paid in full before 11/16/07 to have the fuel charge reversed.

Then you spoke to a rep who wasn't up to date on this.

[JTSfink]

I just checked the RC web site and my reservation shows a -$50.00. :) I checked this morning and there was nothing posted yet. I booked in August for our May cruise and made final payment last month.

 

Jackie