Best Cruise Lines Fuel Surcharge Update

All passengers who booked a cruise on the best cruise lines owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) prior to November 16 (the date the fuel surcharge was implemented) will see the increased charges for the fuel surcharge removed from their invoice.

On Monday, March 10, 2008, the company, after negotiations with the Florida Attorney General’s office, announced that it would eliminate the fuel surcharge (note: the Attorney General announced on Tuesday that the refunds could total $21 million dollars!) assessed on these passengers. This policy affects guests on Azamara Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International Cruises.

If you booked your cruise on one of these best cruise lines before November 16, paid the increased cost and have already cruised, you will receive a refund for the additional charge. If you have paid in full and will be cruising in the future, you will receive an onboard credit for the amount of the fuel surcharge.

Passengers, who booked before November 16 and were charged the additional amount but have not paid in full, will have the surcharge removed from their invoice.

Here’s hoping more of the best cruise lines will follow RCCL’s lead, treat their passengers fairly, and remove the fuel surcharge for guests who booked their cruise trips before the surcharge was implemented. Read more...

Best Cruise Lines offer Secret Bonus

Beneath the waves of the cruise line’s fuel surcharges is a little known secret, buried deeply in the financial statements of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and Carnival Corporation & plc. – onboard credits for shareholders.

These major corporations own several of the best cruise lines: the newly launched Azamara line and Celebrity are among Royal Caribbean’s fleet; Holland America, Princess, Cunard, Costa and the Yachts of Seabourn are owned by Carnival.

If you are a shareholder of at least 100 shares of Carnival Corporation & plc stock, you are entitled to an onboard credit of $250 on sailings of 14 days or longer, $100 on sailings of 7 to 13 days and $50 on sailings of 6 days or less. Of course there are conditions: your cruise must be booked by February 28, 2008, you must sail by July 31, 2008 and only one shareholder offer can be applied to a stateroom.

If you own the required shares and you’ve already booked your cruise, but haven’t sailed, you will receive this credit after submitting the required paperwork. Application for the onboard credit must be made before your cruise departure date. The credit is also good for any sailings aboard one of Carnival’s Fun Ships.

Royal Caribbean’s offer is similar but may be less restrictive – I could not find mention of a date when the offer ends. Shareholders with at least 100 shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd stock at the time of sailing are entitled to a $250 onboard credit for cruises of 14 nights or more; a $200 onboard credit for cruises of 9 to 13 nights; a $100 onboard credit for cruises of 6 to 8 nights and a $50 credit for cruises of 5 nights or less.

Sailings on Celebrity’s Xpedition to the Galapagos are excluded from this offer and only one credit can apply to a stateroom, but you can receive this benefit every time you cruise – as long as you own at least 100 shares of stock.

Ride the wave of onboard credits if you’re a stockholder in one of these corporations and enjoy an added bonus on your next vacation aboard one of the best cruise lines. Read more...