Best Cruise Lines Hike Fuel Surcharge

I barely had time to update the comprehensive listing of best cruise lines' fuel surcharges on our website, when another change was announced. After taking a massive hit on its bottom line last week through an agreement with the Florida’s Attorney General’s office, Carnival Corporation & plc will be increasing the fuel surcharges it collects on The Yachts of Seabourn, Cunard, Princess, Holland America, Costa and Carnival Cruises.

Today, April 7, Bill Harbor, director of corporate marketing at Carnival Corporation, announced that effective April 21, the fuel surcharge will increase to $7 per day for each of the first two passengers in a cabin, and a new fee of $2 per day will be assessed on each additional passenger in the same cabin.

The new fuel surcharge rates will not exceed $98 per voyage for each of the first two passengers in a cabin and $28 per voyage for any additional passengers. Bookings made on or before April 20 will not be assessed the new rates.

I’m sure it will not be long before Royal Caribbean Corporation’s lines – Azamara, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean Cruises – follow Carnival’s lead. As most of the best cruise lines have opened reservations through the 2008-9 season, booking cruises now for next year will save some money and guaranty the cost of your cruise trips. Thanks to the Florida Attorney General’s office, the cruise lines learned they cannot add these new fees retroactively.