Fuel Surcharge Illegal?

[BetterLateThannever]

...the day my DW sent me to Wal-mart to pick up her prescription. Whatever possessed her to have it filled there, well that's another story. Anyway, knowing my complete lack of patience with sloth and apathy, she should have known better.

 

While I stood 6 deep in line, awaiting my turn to be abused, I was taken aback by the lady who had made it to the front of the line. She was berating, unmercifully, the minimum wage post high-school lass that was attempting to find her prescription. Apparently it wasn't ready, or had been misfiled or something. Finally, after several minutes of her ranting, the clerk eventually found the prescription and with triumphant glee announced "That will be $4.00 ma'am".

 

One more idiot expecting to receive "Steak" service at "hamburger" prices.

 

Altogether now "YOU ONLY GET WHAT YOU'RE WILLING TO PAY FOR"

 

It really doesn't matter how clever your Prose, or biting your sarcasm, you cannot change the basic laws of nature. At best, you may acheive a minimal amount of self-satisfaction. If that floats your boat.

[PINEVIEW01]

Then do something about it. File a law suit. File a complaint with the States Attorney General, cancel your cruise,,,, do something other than cry foul on an internet board

I did as soon as it happened. The only contract I could produce at that point was the changed one on the site.

 

You have noticed they have added on online check-in a place to except the contract? I'm wounder if it has anything to do with this issue. In the past there was no signed contract.

 

I believe they needed to cover the added cost of fuel. But, if all the lines started to charge 5pp per day to the cost of fare no one would have said boo. They seemd to handle adding the added charge at the same time so........

[sixgun8]

Quite honestly guys I think everyone is a little out of line berating the OP. He came here to post his opinion and give a suggestion of something to do. If you disagree post a simple I disagree and move on. I think his idea is better than another certain person that keeps complaining and trying to get a free cruise over the whole surcharge thing.

[Cards5440]

It's just a sign of the times...just like people are paying $3+ at the pump, Carnival too is having to cough up more money to fuel their ships so that we can go on vacation.

 

It's life- deal with it. Whining isn't going to slove anything- they are not going to remove this charge unless there is a drastic drop in fuel costs. At least they are telling you about it and they have had a notice on the website for quite awhile now. They could have just accessed the fee in the price of the trip and not told anyone why the prices were jacked up. Most people pay $30+ a week to fill up their cars- I don't see what the difference is.

 

As for not tipping- that just shows you are a classless cheapskate. Maybe your waiters and room attendant should just not bring you your dinner, clean off your table, bring you a drink, or clean your room while you are onboard. Those people bust their butts to make our vacations enjoyable, not tipping them isn't hurting the cruiseline- it's hurting those people that are their to help you and that are working to support their families.

 

If you want to hurt Carnival- cancel your trip and sail with another line. Would make me a hell of a lot happier not to have to stand next to you in line if we were ever to be on the same ship. Who wants to listen to complusive complainers when they are on vacation? There is always someone who wants something for nothing and I see them everyday at my job. Seriously- if you deserved it in the first place- you would have gotten it and not had to complain to get the next free handout. It never ceases to amaze me how low people will go just to save a buck or get something for free...I'm embarassed for you.

[DGP1111]

Find something else to complain about. That's my $.02

 

Well, I guesss that lessens your fuel suplement charge back to $4.98. :)

[DGP1111]

You have noticed they have added on online check-in a place to except the contract? I'm wonder if it has anything to do with this issue.

 

Ooo, Ooo, Ooo <<raising hand>> I know the answer to that one!!

[DGP1111]

NO TIPPING :mad:

 

AZ: you have to go back to the original surcharge threads, and the early posts on those to see that I was, at one time, one of the most verbal CruiseCritic members on the issue. I still totally disagree with the way it was implemented, and I did do something (multiple somethings, actually) to express my dissatisfaction. I worked directly with someone at CCL to come up with a resolution that worked for both of us, and I'll leave that at that without further explanation.

But. . . may I personally beg you to reconsider your approach to the resolution. It truly is making a point to the wrong person(s). Until February 1 rolls around (and perhaps even thereafter) some of those helpful crew members will not even know that a surcharge exists for passengers. Without an explanation given up-front they would not have a clue why they are being punished. And, as has been mentioned earlier, telling them up-front will probably only punish you as the passenger. For me, I'll continue to tip not only the required amount, but even more.

[KCPlayer21]

AZCruiser, since the fuel surcharge is $70 per person for your 14 day cruise, and the standard tip is $10 a day (a total of $140), are you planning to only tip $70, or are you planning to stiff the crew for the full $140?

[big_duck]

 

You have noticed they have added on online check-in a place to except the contract? I'm wounder if it has anything to do with this issue. In the past there was no signed contract.

 

I wish ... I'd click that sucker in a second, then the contract wouldn't apply to me.

[cruisecruisecruise1234567]

AZCruiser, since the fuel surcharge is $70 per person for your 14 day cruise, and the standard tip is $10 a day (a total of $140), are you planning to only tip $70, or are you planning to stiff the crew for the full $140?

 

 

Isn't it CCL who are stiffing the crew? If they would pay them a real wage this would not be an issue would it?:rolleyes:

[firefly333]

Isn't it CCL who are stiffing the crew? If they would pay them a real wage this would not be an issue would it?:rolleyes:

 

And then you would be complaining because your cruise would cost more.

 

Why not just leave the auto tips on your card and consider it part of the cost of the cruise like most people. Extra service, tip extra.

[Timmys_mom]

I wish ... I'd click that sucker in a second, then the contract wouldn't apply to me.

LOL Duckie! I'm probably the only one who understands your post. :D

[Guest nhrich]

LOL Duckie! I'm probably the only one who understands your post. :D

 

Not quite. :D

[firefly333]

Not quite. :D

 

I got it too but didnt know how to reply without being dinged for replying about spelling and getting into trouble.

 

big duck you are GOOD and subtle.

[BJAMINGIRL]

#1 All!!!!! of the cruiselines have implimented the fuel surcharge. NCL is $7 pp per day for the 1st 2 in the cabin and $3 pp per day for 3rds & 4ths in the room and there is no limit. Carnival has at least put a limit of $140 per cabin and you are only charged for the first 2 in the cabin.

 

#2 If you are planning on stiffing your waiters and cabin personel for their tips so you can make a point...Step up and let them know up front from day one! These wonderful people will be working hard to please you so at the end they will be rewarded. Then you plan to blindside them. These people, from my experience do not think like us Capitalist American pigs. They will just feel hurt.

 

If you want to make the point you are talking about...sail on NCLA in Hawaii. Those employees are US citizen's who are unionized and make a decent wage and expect tips to be the icing on their cake. They are able to walk off the job at will an could make the cruiseline hurt.

 

The cruise lines are making a fortune off your Casino contibutions, shore excursions and drink tab. How about not booking any of your excursions through them....Or get your roll call to stage a No Casino Night Protest on your ship to protest the Fuel Surcharge. Make signs and take turns standing outside the Casino on that night and try to get people not to go in for that one night. You could make a party of it, have fun and still make your point without hurting the little guy.

 

I normally am very quiet in nature, this is the first thread that actually disturbs me. I hope you will rethink the tipping thing.

[XRAYDAVE]

I really believe that the cruiselines should keep a list of cheapskates who do not tip, which would be easy to do.

 

When these people book a cruise, just let the people on board who will be unlucky enough to have to deal with these cheapskates that they are going to get stiffed.

 

That would allow the crew time to give extra attention to the people that support them.

 

Just a thought.

[BJAMINGIRL]

#1 All cruise lines are charging the fuel surcharge. In todays world we all are paying for the oil problems. NCL in charging $7 pp per day for the first 2 in the cabin and $3 pp per day for any 3rd or 4th persons in the cabin. At least carnival is only charging for the first 2 in the cabin and they set a limit of $140 per cabin.

 

#2 The cruise lines are making a fortune on your shore excursions, casino contributions and your bar bill. Book your own excursions or better yet Have your Roll Call get together and stage a "No Casino" night. Make signs, take turns at the casino entrance to try to keep people from going in for one night. Let them know it is in protest of the fuel surcharge. Make a party of it so you can still have fun. By not going into the casino one night, many people will get their $140 in savings back, but that is where you can hurt Carnival.

 

#3 Your cabin steward and waiters happiness is really not uppermost in the cruise lines workings, unfortuneatly. These people are locked into 9 month contracts. They do not have the visas to legally get off at will and most have no option for employment if they do go home. Many are away from their families for years to make life better for their families. Look at the fuss you are making about $140. For some of these people $140 could mean the difference of feeding their children for 12 months or only being able to feed them for 3 months.

 

#4 If you still plan to not tip your people, have the decency to let them know up front. They will be trying their best to make you happy and give you a great cruise experience. Let them spend their time making the rest of us who appreciate them happy. These wonderful people do not have the capitalist pig attitude we see in the US and will just feel hurt and not understand what they did wrong. FYI this can also count against them for chances for renewal of their contracts and any promotions.

 

I hope you will rethink your stand on the tipping issue.

[GottaLuvCruising]

Attorney General's office called me again today. Caller ID read "1111111111"...rather strange, but person stated she was from Florida's Attorney General's office in response to my complaint. She reiterated that they were hoping to resolve the issue soon and that they had received hundreds of complaints (I'd be surprised if it wasn't thousands, but that's what she said).

 

I reiterated that my issues are:

 

1. Cruise fare should not change after booking. Since fuel surcharge only pads the cruise line's bottom line and it's an arbitrary amount determined by the cruise line, it is cruise fare.

 

2. Carnival is now demanding that guests accept fuel surcharge with FunPass completion...no way! I paid it under duress and I do not accept it. I am fighting it because I believe it is illegal and I'm certain it is unfair.

 

3. The 1997 decision requires cruise lines to advertise the full costs excluding only goverment taxes and fees. They currently fail to do this.

 

 

I'm not even going to waste my energy responding to the poster who wants to remove tips....sheesh...

[cruisecruisecruise1234567]

And then you would be complaining because your cruise would cost more.

 

Why not just leave the auto tips on your card and consider it part of the cost of the cruise like most people. Extra service, tip extra.

 

No I wouldn't as my cabin is free 100% of the time as I have tons of points.

Secondly, I don't want them on the auto-tip as there are to many taking a cut.

I have a system I have been using for a while and it is designed to beat their system.I remove the tips from 3 cabins and at the end of the cruise I tip for all 3 cabins just from my cabin so if they must report the tips,and they get to keep all extra,then they got triple from my cabin and got stuck from the other two.Since all cabins are next to each other we have always had the same steward and he/she knows I am the one who is responsible for the other 2 cabins.Same goes for the waiters,but they get extra as they are also the lido workers.

[lvtotrvl1]

No I wouldn't as my cabin is free 100% of the time as I have tons of points.

Secondly, I don't want them on the auto-tip as there are to many taking a cut.

I have a system I have been using for a while and it is designed to beat their system.I remove the tips from 3 cabins and at the end of the cruise I tip for all 3 cabins just from my cabin so if they must report the tips,and they get to keep all extra,then they got triple from my cabin and got stuck from the other two.Since all cabins are next to each other we have always had the same steward and he/she knows I am the one who is responsible for the other 2 cabins.Same goes for the waiters,but they get extra as they are also the lido workers.

 

You really must be kidding? What happens to everyone else behind the scenes...I just don't get it???

[cruisecruisecruise1234567]

You really must be kidding? What happens to everyone else behind the scenes...I just don't get it???

 

I don't care who's washing the sheets or running the engines.That is CCLs job to pay them.

A tip is a tip, I don't run behind the counter at Denny's and tip the dishwasher.

[lvtotrvl1]

I don't care who's washing the sheets or running the engines.That is CCLs job to pay them.

A tip is a tip, I don't run behind the counter at Denny's and tip the dishwasher.

 

One has nothing to do with the other...I'm done with you..good-bye and enjoy your cruise.

[thefish]

:) Man don’t you want to complain about people complaining about complainer’s who think they are not complaining because they exempt from being called complainers because they are complaining about complaining. What really torques my tootsie are those that complain about the complainers complaining about complainers. Whoops . . . . . . .. That’s me! Nevermind.

 

.

[Cuizer2]

No I wouldn't as my cabin is free 100% of the time as I have tons of points.

Secondly, I don't want them on the auto-tip as there are to many taking a cut.

I have a system I have been using for a while and it is designed to beat their system.I remove the tips from 3 cabins and at the end of the cruise I tip for all 3 cabins just from my cabin so if they must report the tips,and they get to keep all extra,then they got triple from my cabin and got stuck from the other two.Since all cabins are next to each other we have always had the same steward and he/she knows I am the one who is responsible for the other 2 cabins.Same goes for the waiters,but they get extra as they are also the lido workers.

Can you post this again - with English subtitles? And while you are at it, explain what your tipping system has to do with the fuel supplement.

[cruisecruisecruise1234567]

Can you post this again - with English subtitles? And while you are at it, explain what your tipping system has to do with the fuel supplement.

 

 

Its in response to post #136:D