Crude oil prices rising..getting nearer to $70 a barrel

[a1chemist]

On Wednesday, May 20th, crude oil rallied to $62.04. It is getting nearer the $70 level that Princess states it may add a fuel surcharge. We are leaving at the end of June for Alaska and I hope it keeps below $70.

 

Recent reports indicate a drop in stored oil supplies and also with problems in Nigeria and other factors traders are taking a bullish stance on oil.

[mpk218]

On Wednesday, May 20th, crude oil rallied to $62.04. It is getting nearer the $70 level that Princess states it may add a fuel surcharge. We are leaving at the end of June for Alaska and I hope it keeps below $70.

 

Recent reports indicate a drop in stored oil supplies and also with problems in Nigeria and other factors traders are taking a bullish stance on oil.

 

 

Whats the cut off date with Princess ? 30 days prior?

[paul929207]

I believe if the price of a barrel of oil exceeds $70 for one or more days between 5 trading days and 30 trading days before the ship sail, then the surcharge can be imposed.

[salsalady]

WE already have this surcharge already imposed on our Xmas/new year cruise on P & O's Oceana. (11th Dec - 9th Jan 2010)

 

We booked this cruise in July 2008 and were charged £160 each (approx.$464).

 

WE are keeping fingers crossed that the price stays below the $70 mark.

 

We have been told by Carnival UK that as long as the price stays below $70 for 25 consecutive days before the cruise, then 5 days prior to departure date, they will credit our onboard accounts with £320!!

 

I cant believe that for almost the last year it has been well below $70, and now it's starting to creep back up. I was looking forward to that OBC to put towards our bar bill!! ( Its is a 29 night cruise, so bar bill will be extensive:D:D)

 

Karen

[LegalEagle2012]

The price actually fell some today!

 

K

[Pia1913]

The price actually fell some today!

 

K

 

It needs to fall some more. Too close for my comfort. We have 9 cruises booked and that's a pretty penny if we have that fuel surcharge.

[cherylandtk]

Whats the cut off date with Princess ? 30 days prior?

I believe if the price of a barrel of oil exceeds $70 for one or more days between 5 trading days and 30 trading days before the ship sail, then the surcharge can be imposed.

Princess US (and any of the Carnival Corp lines) have not yet said what the formula will be if the surcharge is imposed. The 30 and 5 day limits noted above were last year's rules; they may or may not be this year's rules.

[Pia1913]

Princess US (and any of the Carnival Corp lines) have not yet said what the formula will be if the surcharge is imposed. The 30 and 5 day limits noted above were last year's rules; they may or may not be this year's rules.

 

The following is the statement printed on my current cruise invoice; printed last night. You will note there is no clarification or mention about days, etc. This broad statement allows them to add it immediately.

 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FUEL SUPPLEMENT

 

 

 

Please be advised Princess Cruises reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9 per person per day if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per

[Toto2Kansas]

The following is the statement printed on my current cruise invoice; printed last night. You will note there is no clarification or mention about days, etc. This broad statement allows them to add it immediately.

 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FUEL SUPPLEMENT

 

 

 

Please be advised Princess Cruises reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9 per person per day if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per

 

 

Yep, they totally covered their behinds this time. No more squealing or threats when they add the fuel surcharge to anyones booking, once oil hits that high mark. ;)

[salsalady]

At least you guys haven't been charged the fuel supplement yet.

 

WE were charged it at booking time, and have to hold our breath and pray that it stays below $70..

 

We STILL have to pay the supplement at final balance (56 days prior to travel), even if it's below $70 at that stage. Now that's unfair!!:mad::mad:

 

If we do get it back, it'll only be in the form on OBC...

 

They're cheeky sods at Carnival UK!!

[paul929207]

Oh, I suspect there will be some squealing and threats if the surcharge is put back in.

[Pia1913]

At least you guys haven't been charged the fuel supplement yet.

 

WE were charged it at booking time, and have to hold our breath and pray that it stays below $70..

 

We STILL have to pay the supplement at final balance (56 days prior to travel), even if it's below $70 at that stage. Now that's unfair!!:mad::mad:

 

If we do get it back, it'll only be in the form on OBC...

 

They're cheeky sods at Carnival UK!!

 

We make our final payments 75 days prior to sailing, so you get to keep your money almost three weeks longer. :D

[captpeachy]

Oh, I suspect there will be some squealing and threats if the surcharge is put back in.

 

We always budget it in to the cruise price and then if there is no surcharge it's almost like a OBC of $125 (at least mentally)for a seven day. That should cover your bar tab for the day.:D

 

Have Fun

[tedjazz]

The following is the statement printed on my current cruise invoice; printed last night. You will note there is no clarification or mention about days, etc. This broad statement allows them to add it immediately.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FUEL SUPPLEMENT

 

Please be advised Princess Cruises reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9 per person per day if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per

 

I suppose given the open ended language if it exceeds $70 even during intraday trading they could still add it. I would hope they wouldn't, but they left themselves an out. Isn't it interesting that there were so many hoops to jump through to get the Fuel Surcharge to come off and now we are facing the possibility of reimposing it just because it goes over $70 period. I hope they will formulate something that seems to be somewhat fair and equitable.

[Pia1913]

I suppose given the open ended language if it exceeds $70 even during intraday trading they could still add it. I would hope they wouldn't, but they left themselves an out. Isn't it interesting that there were so many hoops to jump through to get the Fuel Surcharge to come off and now we are facing the possibility of reimposing it just because it goes over $70 period. I hope they will formulate something that seems to be somewhat fair and equitable.

 

Me too, Ted, me too.

[salsalady]

Well as ours is already included in our balance outstanding, I just hope that if it does rise above the $70 mark, then it drops down for the last couple of weeks in November and beginning of December..

 

Gladly, we haven't been charge any fuel supplements, for our upcoming cruise next week, and of the other 2 we have booked with Celebrity and Princess, we have been 'guaranteed' that there will be no fuel supplements added.;)

[Stellaglide]

Any thoughts on how this would apply to a cruisetour with the land portion before sailing. If the price increases to $70 are we charged up to $9/day/person for just the sailing portion of the trip or the entire trip?

 

Since the 5-30 day window has been removed, any thoughts on how this would apply if the price reaches $70 while sailing, say on day 4 of a 7 day cruise?. Is it concievable that they could retroactively impose the fee for the entire cruise of just for the remaining 3 days.

 

I realize no one has the answers, just wondering what thoughts may be out there as we are first time cruisers and I was under the impression the 5-30 day rule was in effect.

 

We actually fly out tomorrow for a 14 day cruisetour with the land portion first and board the ship on May 30th. I figured, using the older 5-30 day rule we were safe since the markets close today and don't open unitl Tuesday May 26th which is within the 5 day window of sailing. But it looks like all best are off if the 5-30 day rule no longer applies.

[Pia1913]

Any thoughts on how this would apply to a cruisetour with the land portion before sailing. If the price increases to $70 are we charged up to $9/day/person for just the sailing portion of the trip or the entire trip?

 

The surcharge only applies to the cruise portion

 

 

Since the 5-30 day window has been removed, any thoughts on how this would apply if the price reaches $70 while sailing, say on day 4 of a 7 day cruise?. Is it concievable that they could retroactively impose the fee for the entire cruise of just for the remaining 3 days.

 

Highly unlikely to impose additional fees while cruise is already in progress.

 

 

I realize no one has the answers, just wondering what thoughts may be out there as we are first time cruisers and I was under the impression the 5-30 day rule was in effect.

 

We actually fly out tomorrow for a 14 day cruisetour with the land portion first and board the ship on May 30th. I figured, using the older 5-30 day rule we were safe since the markets close today and don't open unitl Tuesday May 26th which is within the 5 day window of sailing. But it looks like all best are off if the 5-30 day rule no longer applies.

 

Rest assured that it's not going to hit $70 in the next few days. Hopefully it won't get there at all.

[bigcraig]

Oh, I suspect there will be some squealing and threats if the surcharge is put back in.

Sure will, that $9 per day has to come from somewhere when you are on a budget, already figured in $10 or more per day per person tips plus about $50 per day casino allowance, it will have to come from somewhere:rolleyes:

[Stellaglide]

Thanks for the replies.

 

Just read this posted yesterday on another Princess Oil surcharge thread:

 

We too are booked on Princess scheduled to leave on June 11, 2009.

 

Great News! Just got off the phone with Princess who stated that the oil prices would have to remain above $70 for twenty-five consecutive days before they would re-instate the Fuel Charge.

 

Don't know how accurate it is but sounds great if it is spot-on!

[DanJ]

 

 

 

I realize no one has the answers, just wondering what thoughts may be out there as we are first time cruisers and I was under the impression the 5-30 day rule was in effect.

 

 

People keep forgetting that the 5-30 day thing was for the fuel surcharge to be removed, not to be added. This was last year when the charges were already in place and oil was dropping. It was a short term policy that was changed to the fuel surcharge being dropped for cruises that left on or after Dec 17 2008.

[CRUISERSWITHKIDS]

Thanks for the replies.

 

Just read this posted yesterday on another Princess Oil surcharge thread:

 

We too are booked on Princess scheduled to leave on June 11, 2009.

 

Great News! Just got off the phone with Princess who stated that the oil prices would have to remain above $70 for twenty-five consecutive days before they would re-instate the Fuel Charge.

 

Don't know how accurate it is but sounds great if it is spot-on!

I don't think that Princess themselves know. I called, spoke with 2 different people but surprisingly received the same answer. Which in no way resembles what the quoted poster states. They told me that as soon as it hits $70.00 a barrel, the CAN reinstate the fuel charge. It would then have to drop below $70.00 a barrel for 30 consecutive days before it would be removed again.

I don't know who to believe. It sounds to me like its a wait and see type of thing.

It doesn't really matter to me. There are 4 of us on a 7 day cruise followed by a 7 day land tour. If $250.00 was going to make or break me, I shouldn't have booked it to begin with. We all knew it was a possibility!

[Pam in CA]

If $250.00 was going to make or break me, I shouldn't have booked it to begin with. We all knew it was a possibility!

Exactly. We've all known about the fuel surcharge for almost 18 months so if someone squeals or whines about it, then I have little sympathy. There is also no excuse for not knowing about it. Your TA should have notified you (if they haven't, get a new TA) and there's a link on the main Princess website to news and information about the fuel upgrade.

[salsalady]

If $250.00 was going to make or break me, I shouldn't have booked it to begin with. We all knew it was a possibility!

 

If they add it back on, you'll have to adjust your bar tab accordingly;):D

[tedjazz]

Exactly. We've all known about the fuel surcharge for almost 18 months so if someone squeals or whines about it, then I have little sympathy. There is also no excuse for not knowing about it. Your TA should have notified you (if they haven't, get a new TA) and there's a link on the main Princess website to news and information about the fuel upgrade.

 

I think this is a bit harsh...some people live on budgets and can only cruise once every couple of years, so why judge them for having to reallocate funds from one part of their budget like souveniers, photos, etc. to something like paying extra for fuel. I hope the Fuel Surcharge doesn't come back, but if it does I'm not going to blast someone for being upset about it.