November 20, 2007
More Cruise Lines Levy Fuel Cost Supplements.

Following a move that is spreading throughout the cruise industry, more lines have announced new fuel supplements , including Carnival Corporation (and its major North American brands of Carnival Cruise Lines and Holland America Line),Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) brands (Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises), Crystal Cruises, Windstar Cruises, Majestic America Line and Viking River Cruises.

Most will levy a fuel supplement of $5 per guest per day for sailings that depart on or after Feb. 1; although the luxury brands have announced even higher surcharges. "We have gone to great lengths to minimize the impact of rising fuel costs, for example, designing and building more fuel-efficient ships, installing energy-saving lighting, and using air conditioning more efficiently," said Brian Rice, executive vice president and CFO of RCCL. "Unfortunately, as fuel prices have reached record highs, we are forced to take this extraordinary step to offset those costs." The supplement will apply only to the first and second guests in each stateroom and will not exceed $70 per person, per sailing.

Sister companies Windstar and Majestic America also announced fuel surcharges of $8.50 per person, per day. The surcharge applies to all currently published sailings through March 2009 that have not been paid in full by Dec. 15. Majestic America said the surcharge applies to new bookings made after Dec. 15 and to existing bookings that are not paid in full by the same date.

Crystal's fuel surcharge is $7 per guest per day for all 2008 reservations that are not paid in full by Jan. 1. "Escalating fuel costs continue to affect virtually everyone, and the impact on Crystal Cruises' daily operations is no exception," said Crystal President Gregg Michel. "We set our 2008 cruise fares in late 2006, yet the price of fuel rose 66 to 70 percent from February to November 2007." Crystal is protecting 2008 bookings that are made and paid in full prior to Jan. 1 and the current fare, without the fuel surcharge. There will be no change to the current fuel surcharge of $5 per person, per day that is currently in effect for all 2007 voyages.

April 7, 2008
Carnival Corp raises fuel surcharge on all its brands.

Citing "significant rises in fuel prices which have dramatically increased Carnival's operating costs," Carnival Corp. this week announced its daily surcharge will be increased to $7 per passenger for the first two guests in each cabin, and imposed a $2 per day surcharge on all additional guests. This additional charge will be effective for all bookings made after April 20, 2008. The rate change applies to Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Holland America, Costa Cruises, Cunard, and Seabourn.