Editor's note: Major cruise lines, including Carnival, Holland America, Seabourn, Royal Caribbean, NCL and Oceania have announced that they will suspend fuel surcharges. Get the details on U.S. and U.K. lines.
First came the burgeoning cost of a barrel back in 2007. That was followed by pain at the pump. And shortly thereafter, cruise lines began passing on their rapidly growing oil expenditures to passengers in the form of fuel surcharges. Prices continued to push, and surcharges were upped the following spring, then for a second time in July 2008 when the barrel nearly burst at $150.
But that peak seems to have met its past -- for now, anyway -- and as the price of oil continues to drop, cruise travelers have been wondering whether it's also time for those pesky fuel surcharges to fall by the quayside. Now it seems that most are getting their wish.
In mid October 2008, Carnival Corp., parent company for a number of popular
lines, including Carnival, Holland America, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and Seabourn Cruises,
among others, announced that effective October 31, it would eliminate
surcharges for all newly booked 2010 cruises. Less than two weeks later,
arch rival Royal Caribbean followed suit. Both also enacted rather byzantine
protocol for refunding fuel surcharges (in the form of onboard credit) if
the price per barrel reached a certain value and stayed there for a certain amount of
time.
Then in early December 2008, Carnival Corp. mercifully announced that it was suspending surcharges for six lines, including Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn. NCL, Royal Caribbean and Prestige Cruise Holdings (owners of luxury lines Oceania and Regent) also said that they would be eliminating the surcharges. In the process, each did away with the incredibly confusing refunding policies. Plain and simple, no one is any longer eligible for a refund. Read the full story here.
Soft adventure line Cruise West has also decided to waive fuel surcharges on all 2009 Alaska cruises, and value-oriented Voyages of Discovery -- which had the highest charge in the industry at £19 per person, per night -- is currently offering a "no fuel surcharge guarantee" on all new bookings.
Swan Hellenic, which made a return to cruising earlier this year, is also guaranteeing no fuel surcharges until the end of March 2009.
There's also a lot of explaining to do with those very specific (read confusing) refund policies. Check out our line-by-line roundup below. But first, we'll offer a few tips:
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: 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 between May 1 and June 29, 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. For all bookings made on or after June 30, the surcharge is $15 per person, per day, for the first two passengers in a cabin, with no surcharge for any additional passengers in the cabin.
International guests will have to pay as well. For bookings made on or after June 30, the European Union's Eurozone will be charged 10 EUR; U.K.: 7.50 GBP; Switzerland: 15 CHF; Denmark: 73 DKK; Sweden: 91 SEK; and Norway: 78 NOK.
Update: Effective December 8, if you are paid in full on a cruise that departs on or after January 1, your fuel supplement will be refunded to you in the form of onboard credit.
If you have an existing booking for a cruise departing on or after January 1, but have not paid in full, the amount of the fuel supplement will be removed from the final payment total due.
All new bookings made on or after December 8, 2008, for cruises departing on January 1, 2009, or beyond will not be assessed a fuel surcharge.
For Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruises taken before January 1, you'll be paying, or have already paid a fuel supplement of between $5 and $10 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and between $3 and $5 per person, per day for additional passengers in a cabin. For Azamara cruises taken before January 1, you'll be paying, or have already paid a fuel supplement of between $5 and $15 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $3 per person, per day for additional passengers in a cabin.
Who's Affected: The surcharge is effective on all new North American, European, Europe, Africa and Middle East bookings. 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.
Blue Lagoon Cruises
The Surcharge: Fiji-based Blue Lagoon Cruises, which operates small-ship expedition cruises in the region, is upping its existing fuel surcharge from 10 FSD (about $6.60 U.S.) to 12.50 (about $8.25 U.S.). That's a per-person, per-day supplement.
Who's Affected: All passengers.
Carnival
The Surcharge: If you booked a cruise between November 7, 2007 and April 20, 2008, you will be assessed a $5 per person, per day fee. For bookings made between April 21 and June 11, 2008, 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. For bookings made on or after June 12, the surcharge is $9 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $4 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth guests in a cabin.
Update: Effective December 17, all cruises will be surcharge-free. If passengers are within the "final payment period" on a cruise that departs on or after December 17, a refund will be issued in the form of onboard credit. The final payment period varies depending on line and when you've booked your cruise; Carnival's standard final payment period begins 75 days before departure date, for instance.
If your booking is outside of the final payment period for departures on or after December 17, the amount of the fuel supplement will be removed from the final payment total due.
For all Carnival Corp. lines but Seabourn, if you're sailing before December 17, you'll be paying, or have already paid a fuel supplement of between $5 and $9 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and between $2 and $4 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth passengers in a cabin.
Who's Affected: The surcharge applies to all new bookings -- except new bookings made starting October 31 for 2010 cruises. 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: 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 between May 1 and June 29, 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. For all bookings made on or after June 30, the surcharge is $10 per person, per day (with a maximum fee of $140 per person, per cruise), for the first two passengers in a cabin, and $5 per person, per day (with a maximum fee of $70), for any additional passengers in the cabin.
International guests will have to pay as well. For bookings made on or after June 30, the European Union's Eurozone will be charged 6.50 EUR (not to exceed 91 EUR); U.K.: 5 GBP (not to exceed 70 GBP); Switzerland: 10 CHF (not to exceed 140 CHF); Denmark: 48 DKK (not to exceed 672 DKK); Sweden: 60 SEK (not to exceed 840 SEK); and Norway: 52 NOK (not to exceed 728 NOK).
Update: Effective December 8, if you are paid in full on a cruise that departs on or after January 1, your fuel supplement will be refunded to you in the form of onboard credit.
If you have an existing booking for a cruise departing on or after January 1, but have not paid in full, the amount of the fuel supplement will be removed from the final payment total due.
All new bookings made on or after December 8, 2008, for cruises departing on January 1, 2009, or beyond will not be assessed a fuel surcharge.
For Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruises taken before January 1, you'll be paying, or have already paid a fuel supplement of between $5 and $10 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and between $3 and $5 per person, per day for additional passengers in a cabin. For Azamara cruises taken before January 1, you'll be paying, or have already paid a fuel supplement of between $5 and $15 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $3 per person, per day for additional passengers in a cabin.
Who's Affected: The surcharge is effective on all new North American, European, Europe, Africa and Middle East bookings. 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: If you booked a cruise between November 7, 2007 and April 20, 2008, you will be assessed a $5 per person, per day fee. For bookings made between April 21 and June 11, 2008, 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. For bookings made on or after June 12, the surcharge is $9 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $4 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth guests in a cabin.
Update: Effective December 17, all cruises will be surcharge-free. If passengers are within the "final payment period" on a cruise that departs on or after December 17, a refund will be issued in the form of onboard credit. The final payment period varies depending on line and when you've booked your cruise; Carnival's standard final payment period begins 75 days before departure date, for instance.
If your booking is outside of the final payment period for departures on or after December 17, the amount of the fuel supplement will be removed from the final payment total due.
For all Carnival Corp. lines but Seabourn, if you're sailing before December 17, you'll be paying, or have already paid a fuel supplement of between $5 and $9 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and between $2 and $4 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth passengers in a cabin.
Who's Affected: The surcharge applies to all new bookings -- except new bookings made starting October 31 for 2010 cruises. 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.
Update: Cruise West is waiving fuel surcharges on all 2009 Alaska cruises for passengers who book their trip and pay in full by December 12, 2008. The fuel waiver applies to both new and current bookings.
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 will implement a fuel surcharge of $12 per person, per day for all new bookings made on or after June 23, 2008. For cruises booked prior to June 23, a daily fuel surcharge of $7 remains in effect for 2008 sailings only. The fee for U.K. passengers will be £4 per person, per day before June 23, 2008. For cruises booked on or after June 23, the surcharge will be £6.25 per person, per day.
Update: Crystal has revised its policy for 2009 cruises. If the price of crude is below $65 a barrel two weeks before the beginning of an official quarterly period, the line will reimburse its surcharge -- in the form of onboard credit -- to customers sailing in the following quarter. Determination dates are as follows: December 18, 2008 for first quarter 2009 (January 1 to March 31, 2009 ); March 18, 2009 for second quarter 2009 (April 1 to June 30, 2009); June 17, 2009 for third quarter 2009 (July 1 to September 30, 2009); September 17, 2009 for fourth quarter 2009 (October 1 to December 31, 2009). The line has yet to assess surcharges for 2010 cruises.
Who's Affected: Until June 23, only 2008 cruises will incur the original fuel surcharge of $7 -- 2009 or 2010 cruises booked within this window will have no associated supplement. After June 23, any cruise booked, regardless of sailing year, will incur the new supplement.
Cunard Line
The Surcharge: If you booked a cruise between November 7, 2007 and April 20, 2008, you will be assessed a $5 per person, per day fee. For bookings made between April 21 and June 11, 2008, 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. For bookings made on or after June 12, the surcharge is $9 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $4 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth guests in a cabin.
For the U.K., Cunard has a separate fuel supplement. U.K. travelers who book cruises on or after June 2, 2008, will be required to pay a £4.50 per person, per day, supplement (with a cap of £63) for cruises up to and including 14 night in duration. The surcharge applies to all passengers in a cabin with the exception of children sailing for free.
Update: Effective December 17, all cruises will be surcharge-free. If passengers are within the "final payment period" on a cruise that departs on or after December 17, a refund will be issued in the form of onboard credit. The final payment period varies depending on line and when you've booked your cruise; Carnival's standard final payment period begins 75 days before departure date, for instance.
If your booking is outside of the final payment period for departures on or after December 17, the amount of the fuel supplement will be removed from the final payment total due.
For all Carnival Corp. lines but Seabourn, if you're sailing before December 17, you'll be paying, or have already paid a fuel supplement of between $5 and $9 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and between $2 and $4 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth passengers in a cabin.
Who's Affected: The surcharge applies to all new bookings -- except new bookings made starting October 31 for 2010 cruises. 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.
Update: Effective December 1, Disney is eliminating fuel surcharges for all new bookings. For cruises that have already been booked, refunds in the form of onboard credit will be given if the closing price on the NYMEX of West Texas Intermediate fuel is below $70 a barrel two weeks prior to the beginning of the calendar quarter in which the sailing falls. Determination dates are as follows: December 18, 2008 for first quarter 2009 (January 1 to March 31, 2009 ); March 18, 2009 for second quarter 2009 (April 1 to June 30, 2009); June 17, 2009 for third quarter 2009 (July 1 to September 30, 2009); September 17, 2009 for fourth quarter 2009 (October 1 to December 31, 2009). The same dates apply for 2010 cruises.
Who's Affected: The surcharge applies to all bookings made on or after May 28, 2008.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Line
The Surcharge: On all bookings made on or after July 11, 2008 up until April 16, 2009, the surcharge is £6 per person, per night, for the first two passengers and £2.50 per person, per night, for the third and fourth passengers.
On all bookings made on or after June 10, 2008 until July 10, 2008, the surcharge is £5 per person, per night, for the first two passengers in a cabin and £2 per person, per night, for the third and fourth occupants in a stateroom. On all bookings made between May 1 and June 9, 2008, the surcharge is £3.50 per person, per night for the first two passengers in a cabin, and £1.50 per person, per night for additional passengers. Those who booked between December 21, 2007, and April 30, 2008, are locked into a lesser surcharge of £2.50 per person, per day, applicable only to the first two passengers in a cabin (third and fourth passengers do not have to pay). The supplement will be capped at £70 per person, per cruise, for bookings made through June 9, and £90 per person, per cruise, for bookings made through to July 10, and £120 per person for bookings made after July 11 to April 16, 2009.
For US travellers who like to travel on Fred. Olsen, the fuel surcharge for bookings on or after July 11, 2008 until April 16, 2009, will be $12 per passenger, per, night for the first two passengers and $5 per person, per night, for the third and fourth passengers.
Passengers booked on or after July 11, 2008 until April 16, 2009, will pay a maximum of $240 per cruise.
For those who booked or after June 10, 2008 (and up to July 10, 2008) the charge will be $10 per passenger, per night for the first two passengers and $4 per person, per night for the third and fourth occupant. Again, the rate will be capped at a maximum $180 per person for the cruise. For those travelling before that date, the charge will be $6.30 per passenger, per night for the first two passengers and $2.70 per person, per night for the third and fourth occupant. Again, the rate will be capped at a maximum $126 per person for the cruise
Update: For cruises departing after January 1, 2009, Fred. Olsen has set up a protocol for refunding fuel surcharges in the form of onboard credit. You'll get a refund if "the price of Brent Crude Oil 1M (as quoted in the Financial Times) converted to Sterling is, on average, less than £40 per barrel in the previous calendar month before [your] departure." So if your cruise leaves on February 9, 2009, the average price of crude for the month of January has to be less than £40 per barrel for you to get a refund.
Who's Affected: Guests who booked before December 21, 2007, are not required to pay a surcharge.
Holland America
The Surcharge: If you booked a cruise between November 7, 2007 and April 20, 2008, you will be assessed a $5 per person, per day fee. For bookings made between April 21 and June 11, 2008, 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. For bookings made on or after June 12, the surcharge is $9 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $4 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth guests in a cabin.
Update: Effective December 17, all cruises will be surcharge-free. If passengers are within the "final payment period" on a cruise that departs on or after December 17, a refund will be issued in the form of onboard credit. The final payment period varies depending on line and when you've booked your cruise; Carnival's standard final payment period begins 75 days before departure date, for instance.
If your booking is outside of the final payment period for departures on or after December 17, the amount of the fuel supplement will be removed from the final payment total due.
For all Carnival Corp. lines but Seabourn, if you're sailing before December 17, you'll be paying, or have already paid a fuel supplement of between $5 and $9 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and between $2 and $4 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth passengers in a cabin.
Who's Affected: The surcharge applies to all new bookings -- except new bookings made starting October 31 for 2010 cruises. 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.
Majestic America Line
The Surcharge: For bookings made through May 18, 2008, Majestic America will charge $8.50 per person, per day, on published sailings through the 2008 season. For bookings made on or after May 19, 2008, the surcharge will be $10 per person, per day, also on all published sailings through the end of 2008.
Who's Affected: The surcharge applies to new bookings made after December 15, 2007, and existing bookings that are not paid in full by December 15, 2007.
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.
Update: MSC Cruises has eliminated the fuel surcharge for all its cruises departing on or after April 1, 2009. The surcharge will not be levied on any new bookings for cruises sailing from that date on, and the accounts of passengers already booked on these cruises will be refunded.
The line also has announced that it might drop the fuel surcharge for new bookings on sailings departing from January 1 through March 31, 2009, if fuel prices remain "stable" going into the new year. Passengers booked on these cruises will receive a refund of the fuel surcharge in the form of an onboard credit if the price of West Texas Intermediate fuel is at or below $65 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange on December 18, 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. For bookings made between May 1 and June 19, 2008, the surcharge is $9 per person, per day, for the first two passengers and $4 per person, per day, for additional passengers sharing the cabin. And for bookings made on or after June 20, the surcharge is $11 per person, per day, for the first two passengers in a cabin and $5 per person, per day, for additional passengers.
Update: Effective January 1, all cruises will be surcharge-free. If passengers are within the "final payment period" on a cruise that departs on or after January 1, a refund will be issued in the form of onboard credit. In other words, if you're paid in full, you'll get shipboard credit in the amount of the fuel surcharge.
If your booking is outside of the final payment period for departures on or after January 1, the amount of the fuel supplement will be removed from the final payment total due.
For NCL cruises taken before January 1, you'll be paying, or have already paid a fuel supplement of between $7 and $11 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and between $3 and $5 per person, per day for third and fourth passengers in a cabin.
Who's Affected: The surcharge is effective on all NCL and NCL America bookings, including both group and individual reservations. Group space held prior to June 20 but without specific names and full confirming deposit by June 19 will also be subject to the latest surcharge increase.
Ocean Village
The Surcharge: Travelers who book cruises on or after June 2, 2008, will be required to pay a £4.50 per person, per day, supplement (with a cap of £63) for cruises up to and including 14 night durations.
Update: Effective October 31, 2008, Carnival Corp. will be eliminating fuel surcharges on all new bookings for 2010 departures for the following lines: Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America, Ocean Village, Seabourn, P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises. Additionally, the company has established specific guidelines under which the current fuel supplement could be reimbursed -- in the form of onboard credit -- to passengers sailing on 2008 and 2009 voyages. Get the full details here.
Who's Affected: The supplement will apply to every passenger including the third and fourth passengers in a cabin and children sailing on reduced fares. However no supplement will be applied to kids sailing for free.
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.
Update: Oceania Cruises has announced it will drop its fuel supplements on all new bookings made on or after November 10, 2008 for sailings that depart on or after January 1, 2010. Bookings made for 2010 cruise before November 10 will automatically be removed from passengers' final payment balance. The line has also set up a protocol for refunding surcharges -- in the form of onboard credit -- for 2009 cruises. Get the details here.
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.
P&O Cruises
The Surcharge: Travelers who book cruises on or after June 2, 2008, will be required to pay a £4.50 per person, per day, supplement (with a cap of £63) for cruises up to and including 14 night durations.
Update: Effective October 31, 2008, Carnival Corp. will be eliminating fuel surcharges on all new bookings for 2010 departures for the following lines: Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America, Ocean Village, Seabourn, P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises. Additionally, the company has established specific guidelines under which the current fuel supplement could be reimbursed -- in the form of onboard credit -- to passengers sailing on 2008 and 2009 voyages. Get the full details here.
Who's Affected: The supplement will apply to every passenger including the third and fourth passengers in a cabin and children sailing on reduced fares. However no supplement will be applied to kids sailing for free.
Peter Deilmann
The Surcharge: U.S. residents sailing on a river cruise in 2008 do not have to pay a surcharge, but will face a $10 per person, per night, charge on all 2009 voyages. Ocean cruises on MS Deutschland currently incur a $15 per person, per night, surcharge.
Update: As of November 17, Deilmann has terminated fuel surcharges on its ocean-going ship, MS Deutschland. The line will also be refunding any surcharges paid for Deutschland sailings yet to depart. Deilmann also announced that fuel surcharges will not be charged on its eight river ships for cruises beginning in 2010.
Who's Affected: U.S. residents will be charged extra for fuel for all 2009 river cruises. U.K. residents will not incur a 2009 fuel surcharge -- that amount has been already factored into the price of the cruise.
Princess Cruises
The Surcharge: If you booked a cruise between November 7, 2007 and April 20, 2008, you will be assessed a $5 per person, per day fee. For bookings made between April 21 and June 11, 2008, 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. For bookings made on or after June 12, the surcharge is $9 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $4 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth guests in a cabin.
Update: Effective December 17, all cruises will be surcharge-free. If passengers are within the "final payment period" on a cruise that departs on or after December 17, a refund will be issued in the form of onboard credit. The final payment period varies depending on line and when you've booked your cruise; Carnival's standard final payment period begins 75 days before departure date, for instance.
If your booking is outside of the final payment period for departures on or after December 17, the amount of the fuel supplement will be removed from the final payment total due.
For all Carnival Corp. lines but Seabourn, if you're sailing before December 17, you'll be paying, or have already paid a fuel supplement of between $5 and $9 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and between $2 and $4 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth passengers in a cabin.
Who's Affected: The surcharge applies to all new bookings -- except new bookings made starting October 31 for 2010 cruises. 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.
Update: Regent Seven Seas has announced it will drop its fuel supplements on all new bookings made on or after November 10, 2008 for sailings that depart on or after January 1, 2010. Bookings made for 2010 cruise before November 10 will automatically be removed from passengers' final payment balance. The line has also set up a protocol for refunding surcharges -- in the form of onboard credit -- for 2009 cruises. Get the details here.
Who's Affected: All 2008 cruises are affected.
Royal Caribbean
The Surcharge: 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 between May 1 and June 29, 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. For all bookings made on or after June 30, the surcharge is $10 per person, per day (with a maximum fee of $140 per person, per cruise), for the first two passengers in a cabin, and $5 per person, per day (with a maximum fee of $70), for any additional passengers in the cabin.
International guests will have to pay as well. For bookings made on or after June 30, the European Union's Eurozone will be charged 6.50 EUR (not to exceed 91 EUR); U.K.: 5 GBP (not to exceed 70 GBP); Switzerland: 10 CHF (not to exceed 140 CHF); Denmark: 48 DKK (not to exceed 672 DKK); Sweden: 60 SEK (not to exceed 840 SEK); and Norway: 52 NOK (not to exceed 728 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.
Update: Effective December 8, if you are paid in full on a cruise that departs on or after January 1, your fuel supplement will be refunded to you in the form of onboard credit.
If you have an existing booking for a cruise departing on or after January 1, but have not paid in full, the amount of the fuel supplement will be removed from the final payment total due.
All new bookings made on or after December 8, 2008, for cruises departing on January 1, 2009, or beyond will not be assessed a fuel surcharge.
For Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruises taken before January 1, you'll be paying, or have already paid a fuel supplement of between $5 and $10 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and between $3 and $5 per person, per day for additional passengers in a cabin. For Azamara cruises taken before January 1, you'll be paying, or have already paid a fuel supplement of between $5 and $15 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $3 per person, per day for additional passengers in a cabin.
Who's Affected: The surcharge is effective on all new North American, European, Europe, Africa and Middle East bookings. 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: If you booked a cruise between November 7, 2007 and April 20, 2008, you will be assessed a $5 per person, per day fee. For bookings made between April 21 and June 11, 2008, 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. For bookings made on or after June 12, the surcharge is $9 per person, per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $4 per person, per day for third, fourth and fifth guests in a cabin.
For the U.K., Cunard has a separate fuel supplement. U.K. travelers who book cruises on or after June 2, 2008, will be required to pay a £4.50 per person, per day, supplement (with a cap of £63) for cruises up to and including 14 night in duration. The surcharge applies to all passengers in a cabin with the exception of children sailing for free.
Update: Effective December 17, all cruises will be surcharge-free. If passengers are within the "final payment period" on a cruise that departs on or after December 17, a refund will be issued in the form of onboard credit. The final payment period varies depending on line and when you've booked your cruise; Carnival's standard final payment period begins 75 days before departure date, for instance.
If your booking is outside of the final payment period for departures on or after December 17, the amount of the fuel supplement will be removed from the final payment total due.
If you're sailing before December 17, you'll be paying, or have already paid a fuel supplement of between Seabourn's surcharge is between $5 and $15 per person, per day.
Who's Affected: The surcharge applies to all new bookings -- except new bookings made starting October 31 for 2010 cruises. 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.
Update: Star Clippers is suspending its fuel surcharge on cruises that depart after March 31, 2010. Until then, they will continue to collect the $8 per person, per day fuel surcharge, unless....
Like most other lines, the company might refund the surcharges in the form of onboard credit -- if the closing price of West Texas Intermediate fuel on the New York Mercantile Exchange is below $65 per barrel two weeks prior to the beginning of the upcoming calendar quarter. If so, passengers sailing in that quarter will get the refund. Determination dates are as follows: December 18, 2008 for first quarter 2009 (January 1 to March 31, 2009 ); March 18, 2009 for second quarter 2009 (April 1 to June 30, 2009); June 17, 2009 for third quarter 2009 (July 1 to September 30, 2009); September 17, 2009 for fourth quarter 2009 (October 1 to December 31, 2009). December 18, 2009 for first quarter 2010 (January 1 to March 31, 2010).
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.
Voyages of Discovery
The Surcharge: The line, which was previously charging £19 per person, per night, on a maximum of 28 days, is currently offering a "no fuel surcharge guarantee" on all new bookings. The line is also eliminating fuel surcharges from bookings that have not paid in full, and they will be contacting fully paid passengers' agents and offering category upgrades and/or SBC to match paid fuel surcharges.
Who's Affected: All cruises currently have a "no fuel surcharge guarantee." Those who've already paid in full (including the surcharges) will be "refunded" in some fashion.
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.
First came the burgeoning cost of a barrel back in 2007. That was followed by pain at the pump. And shortly thereafter, cruise lines began passing on their rapidly growing oil expenditures to passengers in the form of fuel surcharges. Prices continued to push, and surcharges were upped the following spring, then for a second time in July 2008 when the barrel nearly burst at $150. 
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. 
