I did something about the fuel surcharge

[Kurbanfan]

My point rests solely on the argument that's frequently used by disgruntled customers, namely that revenue will be lost due to an individual's dissatisfaction with a company because they will stop using them. It's usually an argument without teeth and so I wouldn't use it to make my point. Didn't mean to offend, although in retrospect I guess I was being a little picky. Sorry

 

I believe you are right. I hear this more often then not especially when we read bad reviews. But I don't think the op's stand is an individaul one. It has affected more then one person........

[firefly333]

Im done with this surcharge. RCL is no better or worse, they also billed booked pax for the surcharge. imo

[murcielago]

You stood for what you believed was right and that is what counts. I think it was a cheap shot by CCL to charge people that were already booked.

Enjoy ur cruise

[echo]

I agree with OP.

[Tapi]

I agree to a certain extent with OP. One thing I believe is that most people have short memory and they will book with Carnival next time. Personally, I have no problems with them adding a surcharge and doing so retroactively is no big deal as there surcharge is less than most lines. Obviously to each there own......

 

Short term memory is right. I was going through some old boxes the other day and found some pictures from my first Carnival Cruise aboard the Tropicale in 1994, and the memories came back to me. This was by far one of the worst cruises yet. I was so irate when I arrived at the first port of call (St. Thomas) that I was ready to get off the ship and fly home. I remember swearing that I would NEVER cruise again on Carnival....

 

Fast forward to 2007. Not only did I cruise aboard Carnival again, but i did it 9 more times! This fuel surcharge might have people fuming right now, but like many things within the travel industry, it will fade.

 

To the OP, I respect his decision. If it makes him feel good, more power to him...

[GottaLuvCruising]

all cruiselines are doing this ... not just carnival,

carnivals is actually cheaper than alot

 

I understand what you mean, but this is everywhere not just carnival,

 

Most of the cruise lines are now adding a fuel surcharge. But NCL is the one line to stand up and do the right thing - NOT adding it to deposited bookings. I am so not an NCL fan, but I applaud their decision.

 

I wish I had the option to cancel my February Legend cruise on principle (but I'm sailing with others). I totally agree with the OP that cruise lines should not add this to existing bookings. Just because they CAN doesn't mean they SHOULD. Regardless of what they call it, the fuel surcharge is a fare increase.

[livestocruisetoo]

I unfortunately paid it, very reluctantly though. My GF REALLY wanted to go, and I couldn't tell her no. I couldn't break her heart.

 

I tried to tell the people at Carnival my side of the story, and after getting passed up the supervisor chain of command, was met with 3 options; cancel, pay it, or call the CEO.

 

So, i paid it. I will be enjoying my last Carnival Corp cruise in Feb.

 

I had a week off before Christmas, and didnt want to sit at home. So I booked another cruise. (I live in FL, I have 5 major ports within a 5 hr drive)

 

I purposely chose something other than Carnival because of the way we were retroactively billed, not because of the charge itself. I was paid in full when they added the extra charges.

 

I know I will hear the "they can do that cause their contract says so" and the "fuel prices have gone up" and the "is $70 really gonna kill you?" arguement. Spare me your effort, you are not going to change my mind, you have already tried in several other posts. Carnival chose to do business this way because they wanted to, not because the contract gave them the ability to. Because of this choice, I chose to take my current and future business elsewhere.

 

I also chose to go to another company to satisfy my conscience. Maybe it will be worse than Carnival, not sure, I have always blindly booked Carnival. I guess I will find out in less than 2 weeks. I know it will not make a bit of difference to Carnival, at least I feel better about it.

 

I am simply posting this as a response to all those people that told me if I didn't like being back billed, that I should go to another line. Just letting you know that I decided to follow your advice.

 

I'm donning my nomex suit, as I fully expect to get flamed for my thoughts and actions.

 

No need for nomex here. Enjoy your cruise.

[kf4zra]

I think it was crappy to charge anyone that was already booked. What put me over the edge was that they added it on after I was paid in full. Even my PVP was upset with the way Carnival chose to do this.

 

I was all ready to go, when told to pay more or cancel everything i had set up. unfortunately, i was not in a position to cancel (or i would have had to answer to my GF :) ) so i couldnt do anything this time. i bent over and took it. the next time (which is now) i didnt forget how i was treated, and took my money elsewhere. i am not trying to convince anyone else to do so. I am hard headed when it comes to my principles.

 

When I talked to several people then supervisors at customer service, Carnival made it known that getting that extra $35pp was more important than keeping their booked and paid passengers happy.

 

unfortunately rising fuel costs are a way of life, i am not mad about that, well i am, but i cannot fault the cruise line abot that. what angered me was the way they decided to implement the charge.

 

carnival corp is the only cruise company that decided that it would be best to charge paid in full customers. although several other lines implemented surcharges, none did so to customers that were paid in full.

[jdlowndes]

I agree it is Crappy!!!! But what can we do? I know that I'm not gonna strike or something! HAHAHA Hate it for ya guy. Thanks for all those open cabins in the future!! Much Love!

[DonMar]

I managed to get Carnival and my TA to give me OBC to negate the charge, so I was happy. I'm not happy with them implementing it on already-booked cruises. They should have only charged it on new bookings.

 

How did you swing OBC?

 

While I have cruised Carnival, my next cruise is on Costa (owned by Carnival Corp). While I understand and respect the fuel surcharge, I do not agree with the way it was implemented - as many people have stated on the many threads before this.

[jdlowndes]

Were there really some before this one???? HAHAHAHA

[jdlowndes]

Hey kf4zra... I could use some more Firefighters here in AL!!

 

All that nomex talk gets me all fired up for some firefighting. HAHAHAHA! (Not that i want someones house to burn or something!)

 

I totally respect your decision to go to another line

[jdlowndes]

Sorry! Duplicate

[jdlowndes]

Duplicate

[jdlowndes]

Duplicate

[jaxon41]

OP, I respect and admire you for having the courage of your convictions. I wish you well.

[Wennfred]

With the Crude oil barrel at over $90. with a 1 year forcast of $113.00 per barrel this was going to happen. I think that $35. per person fuel surcharge is nothing compare to what we are paying for auto fuel today. I too had 2 cruises paid for after Feb 08 and had no choice but to call them and hand over my wallet just like I do when I walk into a casino.

 

I'm not going to let a small thing like fuel surcharges ruin my vacation.

 

 

Fred

[firefly333]

With the Crude oil barrel at over $90. with a 1 year forcast of $113.00 per barrel this was going to happen. I think that $35. per person fuel surcharge is nothing compare to what we are paying for auto fuel today. I too had 2 cruises paid for after Feb 08 and had no choice but to call them and hand over my wallet just like I do when I walk into a casino.

 

I'm not going to let a small thing like fuel surcharges ruin my vacation.

 

 

Fred

 

Me either Fred. Im still going. Havent been notified by TA, but you bet Im still going on my cruises.

[Kurbanfan]

Me either Fred. Im still going. Havent been notified by TA, but you bet Im still going on my cruises.

 

Small world. The op is still going on his cruise too.;)

[KruznKel]

With the Crude oil barrel at over $90. with a 1 year forcast of $113.00 per barrel this was going to happen. I think that $35. per person fuel surcharge is nothing compare to what we are paying for auto fuel today. I too had 2 cruises paid for after Feb 08 and had no choice but to call them and hand over my wallet just like I do when I walk into a casino.

 

I'm not going to let a small thing like fuel surcharges ruin my vacation.

 

 

Fred

 

Doesn't ruin our vacation either.. just happens there is a law up here that doesn't allow it... not our fault the govt sometimes works in your favour is it:D

[ClerkPatsy]

OP ~~ glad you're going to have one last FUN cruise before changing lines.

 

Remember: "Never say never!"

[firefly333]

Small world. The op is still going on his cruise too.;)

 

The difference is I intend to keep on cruising....small point I guess. (yes I got your sarcasm lol)

 

RCL has a couple of interesting posts. One a lawyer is looking for a copy of the contract before Nov 16 for his family group cruise and another post with this link.

 

http://www.elliott.org/blog/we-definitely-feel-we-were-ambushed-by-royal-caribbean/

 

Here is an excerpt which would apply to Carnival equally.

 

Fuel surcharges violate agreement in Florida case. In February 1997, Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth announced that several cruise lines settled allegations that they misled consumers about cruise costs. Under the agreements, the cruise lines can no longer charge customers any fees in addition to the advertised initial ticket price except those fees actually passed on by the company to a governmental agency.

 

 

I hope the surcharge is recinded for everyone.

[fozzy]

I always recap with clients that govt taxes and fuel surcharges can come up and will have to be paid. Still I'd hate it if it happened to me. I do think paid in full passengers should not have been charged. Will it stop me from going on my fave cruiseline (CCL) not one bit. but it does hurt. If industry buzz is right the prices might be going down in a few months for cruises. 2008 cruises aren't filling up as fast as 2007 did.

[dixiediva761]

What annoys me about the charge is it is valid for all cruises after Feb yet no one knows what the price of fuel will be after Feb. The cost of fuel is high now but no one cruising now has to pay it. I dont appreciate being charged for something that may not even be the case in the future. If and when the price of fuel goes back down will they all drop and refund the charge? Doubtful!:rolleyes:

[DGP1111]

<<excerpts>> I purposely chose something other than Carnival because of the way we were retroactively billed, not because of the charge itself.

 

Carnival chose to do business this way because they wanted to, not because the contract gave them the ability to.

 

I am simply posting this as a response to all those people that told me if I didn't like being back billed, that I should go to another line. Just letting you know that I decided to follow your advice.

 

I couldn't explain it any better, so I'll just say DITTO.