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At Your Service: Fuel Surcharges
Last Updated: 05/13/08

 Everybody's doing it....

We're talking, of course, about implementing fuel surcharges. Since 2007, airlines including United Airlines and British Airways have supplemented fares with fuel-related fees (and even more have simply raised fares). UPS and FedEx are padding prices to cover the cost of operating their trucks. And anyone who drives a car knows that soaring oil prices are causing pain at the pump. Well, cruise lines are hurting too ... and now they're sharing some of the financial burden with customers.

To be fair, fuel surcharges are nothing new in the cruise industry. In 2005 and 2006 -- even as oil prices were actually dropping -- a number of lines were adding or increasing supplements, including Regent Seven Seas Cruises, SilverSea and Crystal. In November 2007, however, as crude oil futures climbed toward $100 per barrel, cruise lines began implementing fuel surcharges faster than you can gobble down your pillow chocolate. And as the price of fuel has continued to rise since -- daily increases in fuel surcharges seem to be here to stay.

How hard will your wallet be hit? Check out our line-by-line roundup below. But first, read on for simple ways to save:

Read the fine print. It's important to read the fine print to see which passengers are affected; every line has a different policy. Silversea, for instance, is assessing the fee on all new cruise bookings for 2008 from this point forward. Those who have already made reservations prior to November 14, 2007, are exempt. The surcharge is in effect through 2008.

Watch your insurance premium. Some travel insurers may charge a higher premium due to increased final cruise cost -- and some won't. Travel Insured International, for example, will add no additional premium to Oceania passengers who fully paid for Travel Insured Protection Plans for their cruise prior to Oceania's November 12, 2007, fuel surcharge announcement. Contact your insurer for policies and information.


Azamara Cruises

The Surcharge: For all Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. lines -- Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises -- a fuel supplement of $5 per person, per day, applies for the first two guests in a stateroom on bookings made from November 16, 2007, to April 30, 2008. The surcharge may not exceed $70 per person, per sailing. On bookings made on or after May 1, 2008, the surcharge is $8 per person, per day, for the first two passengers in a stateroom, and $3 per person, per day, for any additional passengers sharing the stateroom. The surcharge may not exceed $112 per person, per sailing, for the first two passengers, and $42 per person, per sailing, for additional passengers.

RCCL has also announced that their international guests will have to pay as well. The European Union's Eurozone will be charged 3.50 EUR (not to exceed 49 EUR); Switzerland: 2.50 CHF (not to exceed 77 CHF); Denmark: 25.50 DKK (not to exceed 357 DKK); Sweden: 32 SEK (not to exceed 448 SEK); and Norway: 27 NOK (not to exceed 378 NOK).

Pullmantur Cruises, the Madrid-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd., has also implemented a fuel supplement of 50 euros for its tours and cruises that depart on or after January 1, 2008.

Who's Affected: The surcharge is effective on all new North American, European, Europe, Africa and Middle East bookings on all Royal Caribbean, Celebrity or Azamara ships. Guests who were booked before November 16, 2007, are not required to pay the fee, and will receive a refund if a fee has been levied.

Carnival

The Surcharge: Travelers who have booked cruises on Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn will be assessed a $5 per person, per day fee for bookings made between November 7, 2007, and April 20, 2008. For bookings made after April 21, the surcharge is $7 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $2 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth guests in a cabin. The conglomerate's U.K.-based lines -- such as P&O and Ocean Village -- have not levied any surcharges, though Italian Costa's Europe-based sailings carry a 10 euro charge for seven-night cruises (15 euros for longer sailings). Germany's AIDA has also had a fuel surcharge in place for several months.

Who's Affected: The surcharge applies to all new bookings. Passengers who booked prior to November 7, 2007, are not subject to the extra fees and will receive a refund for any fuel surcharges paid.


Celebrity Cruises

The Surcharge: For all Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. lines -- Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises -- a fuel supplement of $5 per person, per day, applies for the first two guests in a stateroom on bookings made from November 16, 2007, to April 30, 2008. The surcharge may not exceed $70 per person, per sailing. On bookings made on or after May 1, 2008, the surcharge is $8 per person, per day, for the first two passengers in a stateroom, and $3 per person, per day, for any additional passengers sharing the stateroom. The surcharge may not exceed $112 per person, per sailing, for the first two passengers, and $42 per person, per sailing, for additional passengers.

RCCL has also announced that their international guests will have to pay as well. The European Union's Eurozone will be charged 3.50 EUR (not to exceed 49 EUR); Switzerland: 2.50 CHF (not to exceed 77 CHF); Denmark: 25.50 DKK (not to exceed 357 DKK); Sweden: 32 SEK (not to exceed 448 SEK); and Norway: 27 NOK (not to exceed 378 NOK).

Pullmantur Cruises, the Madrid-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd., has also implemented a fuel supplement of 50 euros for its tours and cruises that depart on or after January 1, 2008.

Who's Affected: The surcharge is effective on all new North American, European, Europe, Africa and Middle East bookings on all Royal Caribbean, Celebrity or Azamara ships. Guests who were booked before November 16, 2007, are not required to pay the fee, and will receive a refund if a fee has been levied.


Costa Cruises

The Surcharge: Travelers who have booked cruises on Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn will be assessed a $5 per person, per day fee for bookings made between November 7, 2007, and April 20, 2008. For bookings made after April 21, the surcharge is $7 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $2 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth guests in a cabin. The conglomerate's U.K.-based lines -- such as P&O and Ocean Village -- have not levied any surcharges, though Italian Costa's Europe-based sailings carry a 10 euro charge for seven-night cruises (15 euros for longer sailings). Germany's AIDA has also had a fuel surcharge in place for several months.

Who's Affected: The surcharge applies to all new bookings. Passengers who booked prior to November 7, 2007, are not subject to the extra fees and will receive a refund for any fuel surcharges paid.


Cruise West

The Surcharge: Cruise West will charge $12 per person, per day.

Who's Affected: This applies to anyone with future cruise bookings that aren't paid in full by December 7, 2007.


Crystal Cruises

The Surcharge: Crystal Cruises is increasing its fuel surcharge from $5 per person (in effect for 2007) to $7 per person. The line has also implemented a charge on its U.K. passengers. The additional fees will be 4 GBP (approximately $8.25 U.S.) per person, per day.

Who's Affected: For U.S. passengers, the new amount applies to 2008 reservations that are not paid in full by January 1, 2008. U.K. passengers will pay the additional fee for all 2008 cruises booked after December 3, 2007.


Cunard Line

The Surcharge: Travelers who have booked cruises on Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn will be assessed a $5 per person, per day fee for bookings made between November 7, 2007, and April 20, 2008. For bookings made after April 21, the surcharge is $7 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $2 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth guests in a cabin. The conglomerate's U.K.-based lines -- such as P&O and Ocean Village -- have not levied any surcharges, though Italian Costa's Europe-based sailings carry a 10 euro charge for seven-night cruises (15 euros for longer sailings). Germany's AIDA has also had a fuel surcharge in place for several months.

Who's Affected: The surcharge applies to all new bookings. Passengers who booked prior to November 7, 2007, are not subject to the extra fees and will receive a refund for any fuel surcharges paid.


Disney Cruise Line

The Surcharge: A fuel surcharge of $8 per person, per day, applies to the first and second guests in a stateroom and $3 per person, per day, applies to third, fourth and fifth guests. The surcharge may not exceed $112 per person, per sailing, for the first two passengers, and $42 per person, per sailing, for additional passengers.

Who's Affected: The surcharge applies to all bookings made on or after May 28, 2008.



Holland America

The Surcharge: Travelers who have booked cruises on Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn will be assessed a $5 per person, per day fee for bookings made between November 7, 2007, and April 20, 2008. For bookings made after April 21, the surcharge is $7 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $2 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth guests in a cabin. The conglomerate's U.K.-based lines -- such as P&O and Ocean Village -- have not levied any surcharges, though Italian Costa's Europe-based sailings carry a 10 euro charge for seven-night cruises (15 euros for longer sailings). Germany's AIDA has also had a fuel surcharge in place for several months.

Who's Affected: The surcharge applies to all new bookings. Passengers who booked prior to November 7, 2007, are not subject to the extra fees and will receive a refund for any fuel surcharges paid.


MSC Cruises

The Surcharge: A surcharge of $6 per person, per day, applies to all new bookings made between December 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008, for departures after February 1, 2008. This fee also applies to bookings made between July 1 and November 30, 2008, for departures prior to December 1, 2008. A surcharge of $8 per person, per day, applies to all new bookings made after July 1, 2008, for departures after December 1, 2008.

Who's Affected: The surcharge applies only to new bookings made December 1, 2007, onward on departures after February 1, 2008. Voyages booked and under deposit by November 30, 2007, will not be affected. No surcharge will be levied on third and fourth passengers in a stateroom.


Norwegian Cruise Line

The Surcharge: A fuel surcharge of $7 per person, per day, for the first and second guests in a stateroom and $3 per person, per day, for any additional cruisers applies to all Norwegian Cruise Line bookings made from December 1, 2007, to April 30, 2008. On bookings made on or after May 1, 2008, the surcharge is $9 for the first two passengers and $4 for additional passengers sharing the cabin.

Who's Affected: The surcharge is effective on all NCL and NCL America bookings.


Oceania Cruises

The Surcharge: Oceania will apply a supplement of $7 per person, per day, to bookings made between December 1, 2007, and April 30, 2008. For bookings made on or after May 1, 2008, the surcharge will be $10 per person, per day. The fee applies only to the first two passengers in a stateroom.

Who's Affected: Oceania's surcharge affects all passengers who have not paid their fares in full by December 1, 2007; the assessed fee will be applied to all currently published sailings.


Princess Cruises

The Surcharge: Travelers who have booked cruises on Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn will be assessed a $5 per person, per day fee for bookings made between November 7, 2007, and April 20, 2008. For bookings made after April 21, the surcharge is $7 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $2 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth guests in a cabin. The conglomerate's U.K.-based lines -- such as P&O and Ocean Village -- have not levied any surcharges, though Italian Costa's Europe-based sailings carry a 10 euro charge for seven-night cruises (15 euros for longer sailings). Germany's AIDA has also had a fuel surcharge in place for several months.

Who's Affected: The surcharge applies to all new bookings. Passengers who booked prior to November 7, 2007, are not subject to the extra fees and will receive a refund for any fuel surcharges paid.


Regent Seven Seas Cruises

The Surcharge: RSSC will levy a $7.50 per person, per day fee.

Who's Affected: All 2008 cruises are affected.


Royal Caribbean

The Surcharge: For all Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. lines -- Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises -- a fuel supplement of $5 per person, per day, applies for the first two guests in a stateroom on bookings made from November 16, 2007, to April 30, 2008. The surcharge may not exceed $70 per person, per sailing. On bookings made on or after May 1, 2008, the surcharge is $8 per person, per day, for the first two passengers in a stateroom, and $3 per person, per day, for any additional passengers sharing the stateroom. The surcharge may not exceed $112 per person, per sailing, for the first two passengers, and $42 per person, per sailing, for additional passengers.

RCCL has also announced that their international guests will have to pay as well. The European Union's Eurozone will be charged 3.50 EUR (not to exceed 49 EUR); Switzerland: 2.50 CHF (not to exceed 77 CHF); Denmark: 25.50 DKK (not to exceed 357 DKK); Sweden: 32 SEK (not to exceed 448 SEK); and Norway: 27 NOK (not to exceed 378 NOK).

Pullmantur Cruises, the Madrid-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd., has also implemented a fuel supplement of 50 euros for its tours and cruises that depart on or after January 1, 2008.

Who's Affected: The surcharge is effective on all new North American, European, Europe, Africa and Middle East bookings on all Royal Caribbean, Celebrity or Azamara ships. Guests who were booked before November 16, 2007, are not required to pay the fee, and will receive a refund if a fee has been levied.


Seabourn

The Surcharge: Travelers who have booked cruises on Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn will be assessed a $5 per person, per day fee for bookings made between November 7, 2007, and April 20, 2008. For bookings made after April 21, the surcharge is $7 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $2 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth guests in a cabin. The conglomerate's U.K.-based lines -- such as P&O and Ocean Village -- have not levied any surcharges, though Italian Costa's Europe-based sailings carry a 10 euro charge for seven-night cruises (15 euros for longer sailings). Germany's AIDA has also had a fuel surcharge in place for several months.

Who's Affected: The surcharge applies to all new bookings. Passengers who booked prior to November 7, 2007, are not subject to the extra fees and will receive a refund for any fuel surcharges paid.


Silversea Cruises

The Surcharge: Silversea will implement a charge of $10 per person, per day.

Who's Affected: Silversea is assessing the fee on all new cruise bookings for 2008 from this point forward. Those who have already made reservations prior to November 14, 2007, are exempt. The surcharge is in effect through 2008.


Star Clippers

The Surcharge: The fee will be $8 per person, per day to a maximum of $100 per person.

Who's Affected: Star Clippers is assessing the fee on all new bookings made after December 17, 2007 by guests from the United States, Canada and Central/South America. The surcharge is in effect through April 2009.


Viking River Cruises

The Surcharge: Viking River Cruises is adding a cruise fuel surcharge of $7 per guest, per cruise night.

Who's Affected: The surcharge applies to all reservations that are not paid in full by December 19, 2007; river cruise reservations paid in full by December 19, 2007 will be exempt from the new fuel surcharges. The surcharge will apply to all currently published sailings through December 2008.

Windstar Cruises

The Surcharge: For bookings made through May 18, 2008, Windstar will charge $8.50 per person, per day, on published sailings through spring 2009. For bookings made on or after May 19, 2008, the surcharge will be $10 per person, per day, also on all published sailings through spring 2009.

Who's Affected: The surcharge applies to bookings not paid in full by December 15, 2007.