Their official reason is their claim that the wording of their brochures, passenger contracts, etc., is clearer on the fuel surcharge possibility. They claim RCI's wording was too vague and that isn't Carnival's problem.
As to the real reason - well, that is open to whatever conjecture someone wants to use. One could say they are being cheap, greedy, <insert a word>.
My opinion is they are saying "We're Carnival, the biggest boy on the block, and we aren't going to roll over without a fight." Let's face it, in the cruise world Carnival is the lone superpower and they know it. Sort of like Wal-Mart.
They probably won't come around until legally forced to, or it becomes a bigger PR problem than it currently is. I personally didn't think any cruise line should have charged paid in full bookings to start with. They covered themselves well in the documentation concerning the possibility of the charges being imposed though.
The longer they go without doing it voluntarily works in their favor. As the paid in full bookings that were charged will fade. Just my humble opinion in answering the original question.
Dwayne
Posts: 4918 | Location: South Carolina | Registered: August 22, 2005
