Carnival is raising their fuel surcharge

[Sue L]

Wow - all cruises are for the most part sold out? Interesting .... as for the $100 comment, it is not a matter of being able to afford to cruise or not - it's the principal behind allowing an industry to get away with something. People have to drive their cars - they don't have to take cruises. I wouldn't sail a ship who was going to charge $100 extra, and I can more than afford it. It's the point.

 

Unfortunately, since all of them are doing it, it is either pay or don't sail.

[Powriv]

who is supposed to pay for the increase in fuel costs? Should the cruise lines take lower profits or no profits to pay for the high cost of fuel.

 

$100 a week doesn't seem like a big price to pay for all we get on a cruise ship that is included in the fare.

 

Every company will pass on the costs of fuel increases to consumers

 

** People (north americans for the most part) don't need to drive such large vehicles and waste fuel driving a block or two to corner store

[Host Kewlguy]

who is supposed to pay for the increase in fuel costs? Should the cruise lines take lower profits or no profits to pay for the high cost of fuel.

 

$100 a week doesn't seem like a big price to pay for all we get on a cruise ship that is included in the fare.

 

Every company will pass on the costs of fuel increases to consumers

 

** People (north americans for the most part) don't need to drive such large vehicles and waste fuel driving a block or two to corner store

 

With this kind of attitude we'll be paying $200 a week fuel surcharge in no time at all. How about the cruise lines cut back on some of their new builds? Building ships the size of small cities during a recession seems kind of ridiculous to me.

[RevSmith]

With this kind of attitude we'll be paying $200 a week fuel surcharge in no time at all. How about the cruise lines cut back on some of their new builds? Building ships the size of small cities during a recession seems kind of ridiculous to me.

Tony I could not agree more...

[Host Kewlguy]

Tony I could not agree more...

 

Thanks. :D

[kingsgirl]

For most people $2 more per day isn't going to be a big deal. But...I wonder if fuel prices get better if they'll ditch it. It doesn't look like fuel will go down in the summer, only up, but I mean later on...I hardly see them retracting it altogether if that were to happen.

 

Maybe we could all offer to go below and paddle for awhile to save the fuel surcharge? Manual labour never hurt anyone...lmao jk

[kingsgirl]

It isn't a recession for the cruise line though. Just b/c the US seems to be heading that way as a country, it doesn't mean the travel industry is necessarily affected. Check out this news article to see what I mean:

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23674324/

 

It is from March 17, 2008.

[dagadget]

Unfortunately, since all of them are doing it, it is either pay or don't sail.

 

 

Lets see here. My first cruise on Millennium at $1510 pp and my Mariner at $999 PP then my Sovereign at $749 PP I think that I can manage doing and addition 200 on a cruise, it will just take me a little longer to save for it. I still plan on cruising it is just going to take a little more time :D

[sarah_in_townsville]

since all cruises are for the most part sold out, that's not a problem now. Not referring to you, but if $100 bucks makes the difference for someone, then they can't afford to cruise anyway.

 

I have no idea why people constantly say this. Im sure most of us CAN afford it, we would just rather have the money for something else.

[ksheehan16]

I got a seven night cruise for 0 dollars. I just had to pay a fuel surcharge, a food surcharge, a houskeeping surcharge, an entertainment surcharge, an electric surcharge, a lodging surcharge.......

[Host Kewlguy]

It isn't a recession for the cruise line though. Just b/c the US seems to be heading that way as a country, it doesn't mean the travel industry is necessarily affected. Check out this news article to see what I mean:

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23674324/

 

It is from March 17, 2008.

 

What do you expect the cruise lines executives to say? In a slowing economy the first thing affected is the vacation industry. Why else are these cruise lines moving so many ships to Europe? And lets not forget all the cutbacks. The cruise lines certainly are feeling the affects of high fuel costs and a slowing economy.

[Cruising89143]

Wow - all cruises are for the most part sold out? Interesting .... as for the $100 comment, it is not a matter of being able to afford to cruise or not - it's the principal behind allowing an industry to get away with something. People have to drive their cars - they don't have to take cruises. I wouldn't sail a ship who was going to charge $100 extra, and I can more than afford it. It's the point.

 

You're 100% correct. People do not have to cruise. If you feel that the fuel surcharge is unjust then vote with your wallet and find another form of vacation. Better yet, write a letter to the Florida Attorney General with your complaint about the cruise lines "getting away with something". I'm sure he is looking for something to do.:rolleyes:

[CanTex]

With this kind of attitude we'll be paying $200 a week fuel surcharge in no time at all. How about the cruise lines cut back on some of their new builds? Building ships the size of small cities during a recession seems kind of ridiculous to me.

 

Exactly. In fact, the financial markets are recognizing that RCI is getting into a vulnerable situation with rising costs and potential recession coming at the same time as they're in a heavy building mode. Just last Thursday, their credit rating was lowered into the "junk" rating category, so that is also going to add even more costs. Don't count on them giving up any chance to try to offset these cost pressures.

[PhoenixCruiser]

With this kind of attitude we'll be paying $200 a week fuel surcharge in no time at all. How about the cruise lines cut back on some of their new builds? Building ships the size of small cities during a recession seems kind of ridiculous to me.

 

It seems ridiculous to me as well :eek:

 

###

[Davey Interweb]

The growing need for oil in India and China is why it has gotten so expensive.

 

There are a lot of variables at work here. Namely, the more the US dollar is seen as just so much worthless paper by other nations or investors, the greater the effect on the price of dollar-dominated commodities.

 

I don't think that the additional $2/day will be too dear for most, and at least this time they aren't retroactively applying a surcharge. Me, I'm going to enjoy my inexpensive travel while I still have the chance to. $200/bbl oil in the near future, as another poster mentioned, doesn't sound too far-fetched at this point.

[aqhacruiser]

Exactly. In fact, the financial markets are recognizing that RCI is getting into a vulnerable situation with rising costs and potential recession coming at the same time as they're in a heavy building mode. Just last Thursday, their credit rating was lowered into the "junk" rating category, so that is also going to add even more costs. Don't count on them giving up any chance to try to offset these cost pressures.

 

I read the downgrades too and I agree. With oil closing at 109.48 today I expect RCL to follow Carnival soon. They are top heavy with debt with new ships on order for both RCL and Celebrity in this economy. Consumers are not just looking at an extra couple hundred of dollars for a cruise, they are getting hit with ever rising costs in everything they buy everyday and it's adding up. Cruising is a luxury item and luxury items are the first to go to the bottom of the list in an economy like this one. RCL, like other cruiselines, is also getting hit with higher costs in food and supplies so they have to offset costs. Higher costs and fuel charges and ongoing instability in the airline industry is not helping to encourage potential cruisers either that have to fly to a port. Consumers are tightening the purse strings on excursions, casino, drinks and other extras on a cruise now also and onboard revenue is where the real money is made on a ship.

[aqhacruiser]

It isn't a recession for the cruise line though. Just b/c the US seems to be heading that way as a country, it doesn't mean the travel industry is necessarily affected. Check out this news article to see what I mean:

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23674324/

 

It is from March 17, 2008.

 

I would hope the cruise execs would have a positive outlook in March as it's their job to instill confidence to attract investors but with increasing oil futures and our economy, it's tough times ahead for the industry and this is from April 3

http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/03/royal-caribbean-cruises-markets-equity-cx_mp_0403markets30.html?partner=yahootix

[101Jus]

Increasing fuel surcharges will, for many (including us), simply mean less spending in bars, casino etc so I can't see how the cruiselines will make any more money.

 

It has taken us 3 years to save enough for our cruise so any increase would definitely affect our spending.

[El Mono]

I , drinks and other extras on a cruise now also and onboard revenue is where the real money is made on a ship.

 

It looks like its time for RCI to crack down on booze smuggling, since it takes away some of their profit ;)

 

Or maybe its time to sell the stocks?

[Indygirl00]

Instead of seeing a fuel surcharge, I would much rather they just increase the cost of the fare, and do away with the surcharge altogether. I guess that I'm just one of those who would like to see the total price rather than trying to keep up with all the extra stuff they add on. Throw the recommended tips, fuel surcharge, and taxes in and list the total cost of the cruise up front, then all I have to worry about are our on-board expenses. It really makes a difference in the $pp when you add all these in.

[cruiser2101]

Instead of seeing a fuel surcharge, I would much rather they just increase the cost of the fare, and do away with the surcharge altogether. I guess that I'm just one of those who would like to see the total price rather than trying to keep up with all the extra stuff they add on. Throw the recommended tips, fuel surcharge, and taxes in and list the total cost of the cruise up front, then all I have to worry about are our on-board expenses. It really makes a difference in the $pp when you add all these in.

 

I totally agree with what you said, but I'm sure the cruiselines want the base price of the cruise to look very affordable and probably won't ever add in all the "extras". We'll just continue to be surprised at the "total" price in the end.

[familycruzer]

Instead of seeing a fuel surcharge, I would much rather they just increase the cost of the fare, and do away with the surcharge altogether. I guess that I'm just one of those who would like to see the total price rather than trying to keep up with all the extra stuff they add on. Throw the recommended tips, fuel surcharge, and taxes in and list the total cost of the cruise up front, then all I have to worry about are our on-board expenses. It really makes a difference in the $pp when you add all these in.

 

I am with you 100% on this comment. It sure would stop a lot of complaining about extra fees if they were just all included.

[Mark_K]

With this kind of attitude we'll be paying $200 a week fuel surcharge in no time at all. How about the cruise lines cut back on some of their new builds? Building ships the size of small cities during a recession seems kind of ridiculous to me.

It's not like you can call the shipyard and say, we know we promised to pay you a couple of billion dollars to build these ships but fuel prices have gone up and there's this recession thing, so never mind.

[Sky616]

The way I look at it is think of all the money you'll save by not driving your vehicle around the week you are on a cruise.:D

[Ocean Boy]

 

About the fuel surcharge. It won't bother me if RCI raises it up. Prices continue to rise. I would rather pay more for a cruise than have them cut more on board areas such as food costs.

 

 

Unfortunately, they seem to be doing both, chrging more for a cruise and cutting back in areas.