Dropping of fuel supplement is a rip off!!!

[suzepoo]

Carnival announced today that it will "suspend the fuel supplement from all cruises departing on or after December 17, 2008", BUT BEWARE....THEY HAVE ALSO INCREASED EVERY CRUISE PRICE I CHECKED BY ALMOST THAT EXACT AMOUNT!!!! In addition, they also noted that they "reserve the right to re-instate the fuel supplement" effectively charging all of us DOUBLE!!! At least when they were listing the $9 per day charge as a fuel supplement, we were assured that if the price of oil stayed below $70, we would receive that amount back in the form of on-board credits, but now we get NOTHING, yet are paying it anyway! :mad:

 

As much as I love cruising Carnival, I will NOT be booking any future cruises as long as this practice continues....the problem is....we won't know! The only reason I know is because I had a list of cruises for next year that I was watching, in addition, I checked the prices of cruises that I have already booked and ALL of them had increased by almost the EXACT amount of the fuel supplement being added. YOU DECIDE, but I feel that we are being totally RIPPED OFF!!!:mad:

[Kurbanfan]

Carnival announced today that it will "suspend the fuel supplement from all cruises departing on or after December 17, 2008", BUT BEWARE....THEY HAVE ALSO INCREASED EVERY CRUISE PRICE I CHECKED BY ALMOST THAT EXACT AMOUNT!!!! In addition, they also noted that they "reserve the right to re-instate the fuel supplement" effectively charging all of us DOUBLE!!! At least when they were listing the $9 per day charge as a fuel supplement, we were assured that if the price of oil stayed below $70, we would receive that amount back in the form of on-board credits, but now we get NOTHING, yet are paying it anyway! :mad:

 

As much as I love cruising Carnival, I will NOT be booking any future cruises as long as this practice continues....the problem is....we won't know! The only reason I know is because I had a list of cruises for next year that I was watching, in addition, I checked the prices of cruises that I have already booked and ALL of them had increased by almost the EXACT amount of the fuel supplement being added. YOU DECIDE, but I feel that we are being totally RIPPED OFF!!!:mad:

 

Don't book until the prices go down.....

[kujobie]

Don't book until the prices go down.....

 

Exactly. Geez, will this never end? And I guess it depends on what you're looking at. My January cruise is selling for the same amount that I booked it for three months ago..

[Mikel1733]

Don't book until the prices go down.....

 

And they will

[RjayB]

I think you may be over-reacting just a tad. From what the financial "experts" are saying (if you can trust them), 2009 cruise fares are expected to be lower than normal to make up for low demand during these difficult financial times. With the fuel supplement gone, overall price should be lower in the future.

 

I can't blame them for leaving the clause in to re-instate the fuel supp if oil goes crazy again...$140/barrel was killing them.

 

:cool:

[Kurbanfan]

Exactly. Geez, will this never end?[/quote]

 

I was thinking the same thing lol! Let's see how many threads do we have on this now:confused:

 

And they will

 

You can bet on it;)

[13point1]

And they will

Yep.

 

Patience grasshopper :)

[pearose]

I believe that when Carnival first posted they might drop the fuel supplement charges, they also stated that prices would go UP. Why is this such a big surprise now?

 

Personally, I don't think it's going to keep me from cruising.........

 

NOPE! It WON'T! :p

[Traveler353]

As long as the increase was called a "supplement" we did not have to pay sales tax. Jacking the price up the amount of the supplement is plus the sales tax for the increase. When big business gets used to free money they are not going to give it up. I believe Carnival, even with the rate increases, is still the best bang for the buck in the cruise industry. The PR spin doctors can make even poop smell like flowers.

[kujobie]

Exactly. Geez, will this never end?[/quote]

 

I was thinking the same thing lol! Let's see how many threads do we have on this now:confused:

 

 

 

I swear, there is more "whine" in here than in the Napa Valley. These boards weren't always that way. It's sad..

[momofzeke]

Let's see how many threads do we have on this now:confused:

 

Seems like at least a million. Ok, it's probably not quite that many, but good grief......fuel supplement threads have surpassed all the other hot topics like jeans, smoking, tipping, chair hogs, kids in the hot tubs, heelies, yada yada..................................:p

 

As I write this, there are 4 fuel supplement related threads on the first page and 2 on the second page.......didn't even bother to go any farther.

[vacruizer]

So let me get this straight. Everyone whined and complained when they instituted the charge. Then they whined and complained that the formula for the OBC was too complicated. Now we're whining and complaining that they've dropped the charge entirely? :rolleyes:

 

If you don't like the cruise price, then don't book. If they have raised fares to go with it, then so be it. If bookings are slow then they will lower the prices again. If the market bears the new rates, then more power to them - they are suffering not just from the past oil prices, but people spending less onboard for drinks, casino, jewelry, & spa services along with fewer bookings this winter. They need to make up for it somehow in order to keep profits up. So no, I don't think at all we are being ripped off.

[MonaCK]

My cruise in january is paid in full. Therefore, it won't be increasing in price, but I will be receiving an onboard credit.

 

The price of the cruise is going to go down. If they increased it, it's temporary. Calm down...

[happy cruzin]

Carnival announced today that it will "suspend the fuel supplement from all cruises departing on or after December 17, 2008", BUT BEWARE....THEY HAVE ALSO INCREASED EVERY CRUISE PRICE I CHECKED BY ALMOST THAT EXACT AMOUNT!!!! In addition, they also noted that they "reserve the right to re-instate the fuel supplement" effectively charging all of us DOUBLE!!! At least when they were listing the $9 per day charge as a fuel supplement, we were assured that if the price of oil stayed below $70, we would receive that amount back in the form of on-board credits, but now we get NOTHING, yet are paying it anyway! :mad:

 

As much as I love cruising Carnival, I will NOT be booking any future cruises as long as this practice continues....the problem is....we won't know! The only reason I know is because I had a list of cruises for next year that I was watching, in addition, I checked the prices of cruises that I have already booked and ALL of them had increased by almost the EXACT amount of the fuel supplement being added. YOU DECIDE, but I feel that we are being totally RIPPED OFF!!!:mad:

 

NOT likely....

If they decide to reinstate the fuel supplement it would likely be on new bookings as of a certain date. Especially since Carnival got such grief and ended up refunding the supplement that they attached to exsisting booking last time.

So....they would not be charging double to you or anyone else that is holding a booking. Besides....as others posters have stated - the prices will drop again, based on demand.

Same as always....wait to book until you find a price you are comfortable with - and then book.

[serene56]

Ah, that will explain the price difference for a cruise my family is taking come Sept onboard the Pride.

 

Most of the family booked and deposited with a upgrade sale. They all got upgraded to the empress deck-- inside cabins. Last week)

But someone new wanted to do it today-- cost is almost 100 more pp with no upgrades.

[suzepoo]

just seems like an insult to my intelligence to tell me you are "dropping" the charge....then you increase the cruise fares by that amount with NO chance of a credit, and then add a note that you can again charge a fuel supplement that you have already added to the price....doesn't seem right to me, that's all, but like I said.....you decide if you book or not....but for people who haven't been watching prices....they won't know and will make their decisions based on prices alone.:D

[pmc7704]

My cruise in january is paid in full. Therefore, it won't be increasing in price, but I will be receiving an onboard credit.

 

The price of the cruise is going to go down. If they increased it, it's temporary. Calm down...

 

 

I agree..... If you have not paid in full, your price will NOT go up because of the fuel supplement. Your final price will actually be reduced by the amount of the fuel supplement. However, if you haven't even booked yet, then yes, the price will be going up. , but as stated above, it will be going back down at some point, it usually does.

[Kurbanfan]

just seems like an insult to my intelligence to tell me you are "dropping" the charge....then you increase the cruise fares by that amount with NO chance of a credit, and then add a note that you can again charge a fuel supplement that you have already added to the price....doesn't seem right to me, that's all, but like I said.....

 

Ah but there is a chance of a credit........if you book now and the price goes down before final payment, your bill will be adjusted for the difference...........

[serene56]

However, if you haven't even booked yet, then yes, the price will be going up. , but as stated above, it will be going back down at some point, it usually does.

 

 

In 12 cruises booked over a year out for each one we only had one cruise ever come down in price. Prices USUALLY do not come down.

[Kurbanfan]

In 12 cruises booked over a year out for each one we only had one cruise ever come down in price. Prices USUALLY do not come down.

 

It is just the opposite for us.....all have come down at one point or another.

[firefly333]

Odd none of my cruises increased in price and I check them every day, Ecstasy and Conquest still the same. No beef here, not even if I was booking new no, they havent gone up.

 

Some prices will always go up and down.

[browneyes7]

Carnival announced today that it will "suspend the fuel supplement from all cruises departing on or after December 17, 2008", BUT BEWARE....THEY HAVE ALSO INCREASED EVERY CRUISE PRICE I CHECKED BY ALMOST THAT EXACT AMOUNT!!!! In addition, they also noted that they "reserve the right to re-instate the fuel supplement" effectively charging all of us DOUBLE!!! At least when they were listing the $9 per day charge as a fuel supplement, we were assured that if the price of oil stayed below $70, we would receive that amount back in the form of on-board credits, but now we get NOTHING, yet are paying it anyway! :mad:

 

As much as I love cruising Carnival, I will NOT be booking any future cruises as long as this practice continues....the problem is....we won't know! The only reason I know is because I had a list of cruises for next year that I was watching, in addition, I checked the prices of cruises that I have already booked and ALL of them had increased by almost the EXACT amount of the fuel supplement being added. YOU DECIDE, but I feel that we are being totally RIPPED OFF!!!:mad:

 

Our family of 4 is cruising Dec. 14.....so, unfortunately, we missed the refund by 3 days!!:eek:

[Kurbanfan]

Our family of 4 is cruising Dec. 14.....so, unfortunately, we missed the refund by 3 days!!:eek:

 

We missed by 2 days.......but I got rock bottom prices. Can't complain here........

[NevadaHiRoller]

Stop worrying. They can raise the prices all they won't. People aren't booking right now. They'll lower them. No worries at all.

[DarthGrady]

For anyone feeling raw about current cruise fares, I will be happy to post prices from my 1983 Carnival Catalog. Folks were paying prices the same (or higher!) as what we are currently shelling out for the same length cruises. Keep in mind that 25 years of inflation factored in means we are paying FAR LESS for our cruises on much more modern ships with more ammenities!