Oil down to $56

[maxamuus]

I was assailed by other board members because I indicated I would reduce my automatic tips.

 

Do you backhand your mailman when the USPS raises postage rates? Maybe the reason you were "assailed" is because its exactly the same kind of action.

[Musky Ike]

If I am counting right the first possible sail date to be eligilbe for the OBC would be 12/18/08 since it was over 70$ on the 4th and Thanksgiving would not be a trading day?

[Pam in CA]

As I'm sure you all know, when the cruiselines considered adding a fuel surcharge (several years ago, BTW -- I believe in 2006), they contacted the FL Attorney General's Office and were given the OK as long as they included the information that this could be done as long as passengers were notified via brochures and written materials. If you check your Cruise Contract, the information is there, and has been for a couple of years. Most people didn't bother to read their Cruise Contract nor the brochures, and were outraged when the cruiselines did what they said they could do, and what FL said they could do, and was in writing and available to them.

 

There was a change in the FL AG's office and they took the brunt of the outrage and went back on the previous AG's approval. All this was happening while the cost of fuel was quite high and the cruiselines were looking to cover only part of their increased expenses. FWIW, the cost to the cruiseline for essential expenses went up 60 - 100% in 2007 and the surcharge was initiated to cover part of that (not all.)

 

No, I don't like paying the fuel surcharge but I'd rather pay a specific amount than have cruise prices go up because of additional expenses.

[Go-Bucks!]

We have been done in by the one day the price went up to $70.56; but for the rest so far has been in the lower $60's.

 

They know how to make rules for game so they can win them with the odds stacked in their favour given the day to day variance in the market.

 

 

Yep, we're screwed too by that one day!! :mad: We leave 12/9/08. Very unfair. The Carnival Corp. management must have consulted with the casino managers to come up with the "fuel charge refund plan" so as to be sure that the odds of having to give anyone a refund are definitely stacked in their favor!!!

[Kineticoh20]

While I do not agree with removing gratuities from hard working workers, I do see being very upset and feeling ripped off or even cheated when oil is low and you have lost a refund over 1 day. If Princess was to lower all existing surcharges that would at least be better, again I got $380 in one cruise alone in April. I sure would like to be able to use that money for something else other than corp greed. And before you start with all the "company has to make money business" just take a look at Carnival profits they are up and were up the 4th qtr last year when oil was high also. JMO

[go&see]

I don't know about everyone else, but instead of being mad at the cruise lines (or only at the cruise lines) I'm mad at Exxon - they posted record breaking profits in the last 2 quarters - most recently a profit of over $14 billion. If they're the ones who control the price of oil in the first place then that's who I'm really unimpressed with. It's tough economic times for us but certainly not for them. Also, isn't it interesting that the price dropped once the economy got really bad? Makes it seem like they could have done it a little sooner, especially since the price of oil affects the price of everything.

OK, I'm done ranting now... :o

[jalpert]

I do not consider myself a moron, I am just a guy with a girl who wants to go on a cruise. Now, what doesn't quite add up to me is:

 

1.) Princess screwed me $70 on fuel

2.) I want my $70

3.) Take it away from the crew

 

Now if you said things like:

 

1.) Book excursions with private vendors instead of Princess so they don't get their cut

2.) Take a couple 12 packs of soda on board so you don't have to buy a soda card

3.) Don't visit the specialty restaurants.

4.) Cut down on ship services

5.) Skip lunch before getting on the ship and eat on the ship

6.) Cut back or don't gamble in the casino

 

I think you get my point. Some things have you going without, but some don't. If you want to stick it to princess, be my guest, but sticking it to the crew is kind of..... hmmmmmmm moronic.

 

Is it moronic or are the passengers morons? I pointed out that carnivals convoluted policy relied on known market volatility to screw clients out of money even though Carnival could lock in cheap fuel prices. I was assailed by other board members because I indicated I would reduce my automatic tips.

 

Carnival management is not made of morons, but they think their passengers are morons that will simply accept the stated policy. Unfortunately I suspect they are correct.

[rcacace]

 

1.) Book excursions with private vendors instead of Princess so they don't get their cut

2.) Take a couple 12 packs of soda on board so you don't have to buy a soda card

3.) Don't visit the specialty restaurants.

4.) Cut down on ship services

5.) Skip lunch before getting on the ship and eat on the ship

6.) Cut back or don't gamble in the casino

 

 

Aren't these things that everybody does anyway? :rolleyes:

[Pam in CA]

MANY businesses have added fuel surcharges for years, not just cruiselines. UPS, for one, has had a surcharge for many years and they're not the only ones.

 

There is no direct corrolation between the cost of fuel this week, last week or even last month, with the cost of the fuel already contracted for by the cruiselines. They have contracts somewhat akin to having a yearly home oil heating contract; you gamble that the cost will go up and thus you are paying a lower amount monthly rather than pay the actual cost at the time the fuel is delivered. If the cost of oil goes down, you lose the gamble but your price still remains the same and you've budgeted accordingly. Having a contract allows the cruiselines to budget expenditures more accurately, just as you would for heating or cooling your home. Even though the cost of oil has gone down, it doesn't mean that the cruiseline is paying less.

 

A question: if you have signed an annual contract to heat your home, do you feel ripped off if the price of fuel goes down and insist the oil company to give you the lower price? Many people do get contracts and one reason is so they can budget expenses. Same thing for cruiselines.

[jalpert]

I partly agree with you, and I partly don't. In terms of the home heating analogy, if I can pay monthly but I choose to sign up for a year then yes, that's a gamble I chose to take. But, if I'm forced to sign a year contract and then I find out the company I signed with had their cost fall 50%, I would certainly feel ripped off. I would feel this way mainly because there is no doubt in my mind that if prices went up and the company lost money because of it, they would certainly stick it to me when my next contract came due to make up for it.

 

Many businesses have added fuel surcharges, sure. If you want to charge me $70 more then fine, my cruise is $70 more. But, if you tell me you are charging me $70 due to a condition that no longer exists, like skyrocketing fuel costs, then that I have a problem with. They chose not to raise the price of the cruise, they chose to justify the expense. But, what happens when the expense is no longer justifiable?

 

Also, I realize that oil is bought and sold in advance. Southwest airlines is smelling like roses right now because they secured a lot of oil at a very low price. But, on the other hand, if princess makes bad business decisions based on the price of oil, it's not my fault. All I ask is that princess is more fair with their surcharge pricing, I have no problem paying for what I am consuming. But I feel a little jipped when I pay for something like an fuel surcharge and oil is near $50 a barrel, I feel like I'm paying for something I'm not consuming.

 

Rant over :-)

 

 

 

MANY businesses have added fuel surcharges for years, not just cruiselines. UPS, for one, has had a surcharge for many years and they're not the only ones.

 

There is no direct corrolation between the cost of fuel this week, last week or even last month, with the cost of the fuel already contracted for by the cruiselines. They have contracts somewhat akin to having a yearly home oil heating contract; you gamble that the cost will go up and thus you are paying a lower amount monthly rather than pay the actual cost at the time the fuel is delivered. If the cost of oil goes down, you lose the gamble but your price still remains the same and you've budgeted accordingly. Having a contract allows the cruiselines to budget expenditures more accurately, just as you would for heating or cooling your home. Even though the cost of oil has gone down, it doesn't mean that the cruiseline is paying less.

 

A question: if you have signed an annual contract to heat your home, do you feel ripped off if the price of fuel goes down and insist the oil company to give you the lower price? Many people do get contracts and one reason is so they can budget expenses. Same thing for cruiselines.

[SJ Cruisers]

I don't know about everyone else, but instead of being mad at the cruise lines (or only at the cruise lines) I'm mad at Exxon - they posted record breaking profits in the last 2 quarters - most recently a profit of over $14 billion. If they're the ones who control the price of oil in the first place then that's who I'm really unimpressed with. :o

 

Its not Exxon or any other oil company or for that matter OPEC that controls the price of oil. Like every other commodity used in the US and the world the price of commodities is determined at the NY Mercantile Exchange. Like stocks oil is traded. Every commodity was up in the stratosphere until the middle of July when the feds started investigating the tremendous runup in prices and found that certain hedge funds and pension funds were artifically bidding up the prices of energy commodties.

 

We took two cruises this year and I could understand paying the fuel surcharge. But now with oil below $60 per barrel I see fuel surcharges as nothing more than greed.

[Richie2pies]

Also take note, the fuel surcharge is non-commissionable so Princess gets the extra revenue without paying a commission instead of raising the cruise fare. Smart. huh?

[caribill]

They chose not to raise the price of the cruise, they chose to justify the expense. But, what happens when the expense is no longer justifiable?

 

 

They have given the answers. The fuel surcharge will be removed for 2010 cruises, but prices will be increased. Result: You will pay the same.

[jalpert]

This get's to the heart of what a "fuel surcharge" is. A fuel surcharge is just a marketing term. It's suppose to make us feel like that portion of our bill is out of their control. They can charge what they want, but they should take responsibility for their actions and not use marketing tactics such as this.

 

They've billed out all the fuel surcharge dollars and they're desperatly trying everything they can to keep that money, hence the fuel surcharge refund policy. They realized their marketing tactics were making people mad so they arn't going to do it anymore. I give princess credit for that.

 

They have given the answers. The fuel surcharge will be removed for 2010 cruises, but prices will be increased. Result: You will pay the same.

[partsman]

The way they worded(70 per barrel or less)leaves a grey area.they did not say 70.00 or less or even 70. Or less.you could say that anything under 71.00 is safe.i know this is splitting hairs but i think i have a good point.anyone agree?

[cuterlmt]

can anyone tell us what the first date is that you would qualify for the rebate, assuming the price stays under $70?

Thanks!

[chrysalis]

can anyone tell us what the first date is that you would qualify for the rebate, assuming the price stays under $70?

Thanks!

 

approx about 4 weeks from now. It went above 70 a few days ago....and it is to be under for 25 trading days in a row (not calendar days)

[hightownCO]

I'm sailing 12/28 and if I'm counting right, my 25 day countdown started Thursday 11/13.

 

Two days down. 23 to go!

[STANCPA44]

I believe most of the posting of greed on Carnival part is quite unwarranted. There was an escalation of oil price starting in October of 2007. Due to the escalation of oil prices Carnival instituted an oil surcharge.

Prior to the escalation, the average oil prices were under $70. Thus this would be the ideal starting point for Carnival to refund the oil surcharge.

 

REMEMBER, IF CARNIVAL WAS GREEDY, THEY WOULD NOT REFUND THE OIL SURCHARGE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

 

So folks, place the blame on of greed on the real greedy ones, the terrorist oil countries and the greedy speculators such as George Soros.:cool:

2008 oil prices *

January $84.70 July $126.16

February $86.64 August $108.46

March $96.87 September $96.13

April $104.31 October

May $117.40 November

June $126.33 December

2008 Average* $105.22

 

*Through September 2008

 

2007

January $46.53 July $65.96

February $51.36 August $64.23

March $52.64 September $70.94

April $56.08 October $77.56

May $55.43 November $86.92

June $59.25 December $83-46

[STANCPA44]

chart turned out worst,

[chrysalis]

 

So folks, place the blame on of greed on the real greedy ones, the terrorist oil countries .........

 

OK.....below are the top 11 producers of oil....which of those are the "terrorist oil countries" that control the price?

 

Saudi Arabia Russia United States Iran China Mexico Canada Norway United Kingdom Venezuela United Arab Emirates

[STANCPA44]

Top Ten Oil Exporting Countries

 

 

• Saudi Arabia (8.73 million barrels per day)
  
• Russia (6.67)
  
• Norway (2.91)
  
• Iran (2.55)
  
• Venezuela (2.36)
  
• United Arab Emirates (2.33)
  
• Kuwait (2.20)
  
• Nigeria (2.19)
  
• Mexico (1.80)
  
• Algeria (1.68)
  

Those who exports oil really controls the price. :cool:

[chrysalis]

Top Ten Oil Exporting Countries

 

 

• Saudi Arabia (8.73 million barrels per day)
  
• Russia (6.67)
  
• Norway (2.91)
  
• Iran (2.55)
  
• Venezuela (2.36)
  
• United Arab Emirates (2.33)
  
• Kuwait (2.20)
  
• Nigeria (2.19)
  
• Mexico (1.80)
  
• Algeria (1.68)
  

Those who exports oil really controls the price. :cool:

 

Yes, virtually the same list, so my question still stands, which of those "price controlling" countries are the "terrorist oil countries"

[rdsqrl]

It's all the fault of those pesky Norwegians. You can't trust 'em. Lulling us into a false sense of security with all their picturesque scenery -- like those "fjords," which is probably just a Norwegian word for "death to Yankee imperialist running dogs."

[spongerob]

I hope you like lutefisk, red. That's all that the Norwegian secret police serve.