You are probably right. It's just inconceivable to me that, at a time when people are clamoring for alternatives to the "floating resort", a well established alternative cruise operation can go bust.
Posts: 3429 | Location: Costa Mesa, California | Registered: November 16, 2006
Sandy-You are correct about Windjammer using its engines on each sailing vessel for at least a portion of each cruise. My observation has been that the engine(s) were used minimally, their usage was mostly during docking and departure.
My observation has been that the engine(s) were used minimally, their usage was mostly during docking and departure.
On our cruise, the engines were in use at times while sailing, if there wasn't enough wind to get us to our next port on time. This happened maybe twice during the 7 night cruise in the Caribbean.
I heard something on the news about oil supplies actually being up, and demand actually being (slightly) down, so hopefully if that trend continues, we will see some relief soon!
I just read in our local newspaper that carnival corp is charging an extra 5 dollars a day per person for the length of cruises for fuel ser charges. So for a 15 day cruise like mine comes to 161.00 with tax. Wow sure makes a difference. But i supose nothing can be done just grin and bare it
Well i just received an email from my TA and my fuel surcharge is $77.41 per person for my trip which has been charged to my credit card as we speak. Oh well not much you can do just grin and bare it
This probably won't go over to well, but when you think of how much fuel a ship uses and how the price has tripled in just a few years, it dosen't seem so unreasonable.
Posts: 3429 | Location: Costa Mesa, California | Registered: November 16, 2006
Your right it isnt that unreasonable and i had no problem paying it. It just seems that if you have paid in full so far in advance i dont see how they can charge more. But if they have to then we have to pay and i understand that. Mine was higher as i paid in canadian when our money was less than us funds but thats how the cookie crumbles.
How about this guys...the cruise contract says that they can invoke a fuel surcharge at any time (even to paid-in-full reservations) and fuel prices have gone up almost three-fold. Since many passengers book many months in advance, it would be unreasonable to expect only those passengers who have not booked yet to bear the brunt of the entire extra cost. Being paid-in-full early does not mean that somehow a particular passenger is entitled to pay less does it? Remember, you all accepted your cruise contract, knowing full well that this may happen. Just use your common sense.
Brad, great post and a perspective I haven't seen toward the topic. I have seen a number of post wondering whether their cost will go back down if fuel pricing drops after they impose this charge. The cruiselines don't fill up the ship and pay the tab at the end as you do with your car. They contract for fuel for the year as the airlines do. Sometimes the big ones can get multi-year contracts. There is risk for them in the multi-year purchase. If it drops after the pen hits the ink, too bad, they pay the rate agreed to until the contract is up. If it goes up, they made a good business decision. With rates as volitile as they've been lately I'm not sure a multi-year contract would even be offered at this time. Southwest Airlines made the best of these deals. They did a multi-year lock in when no other airline was willing to lock in that far in advance. As a result they pay less for fuel right now than any other airline but their sweetheart deal runs out this year and they'll be back to a level playing field with the rest of the industry. If it drops after you pay the cost, don't expect a rebate.
I had just heard from someone that Princess will be returing any surcharge charged to canadians that booked with a canadian ta. I being canadian will receive my money back. I know this is a sore spot for US patrons that paid as i did. I being canadian believe that if you have to pay so should we. I do not agree with the policy of returning some and not all. After all we are all on the same ship and fair is fair. Why do they do this?? I dont see a difference. I didnt have a problem paying it as everyone had to that was fair. Well i do appoligize if we do get our money back i do not agree with this situation. The Fairmont Southampton: Bermuda Resort
