Dropping of fuel supplement is a rip off!!!

[scperk]

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..

Maybe this will squeeze out the threads about "jeans" on Elegant night...LMAO...Dennis

[misguidedangel]

The price would increase anyhow, or it could decrease. It is silly to say you won't book with them because they increase the price by $63 a person. To me, $63 is peanuts, and I an not a rich person, I work and give 50% of my take-home pay to the bank/condo management/City in the form of mortgage, condo fees, and property taxes. I want a good deal, but if the sailing I want to go on is not on sail, I will still go...

[VABeach]

 

In theory, it is NOT going away--they've just rerouted the fuel surcharge into price increases equivalent to said removed fuel surcharge. THAT is the gripe. We have a net of zero if they raise prices the equivalent of the removed surcharge. I still contend, if you're going to raise prices the equivalent of the surcharge, why not just keep the surcharge? It makes no sense.

 

Prices did not go up for people who already have their cruises booked....... For people who don't already have their cruises booked - prices are subject to change.

 

As a business person myself, I understand that compaies are in business to MAKE MONEY, and prices overall are pretty darned low right now.

 

What EXACTLY is the problem????? :confused:

[VABeach]

Double Posted

[Kokomos]

Im thinking I really got screwed on this deal. I emailed my TA last thursday to add my sister and move us to cat 11, I got an email from her last night saying she was sick but would take care of it. Well she didnt and we cant keep the cabins we had they were conecting for 2 people in each cabin and we need a tripple and double. Anyway prices went up 40.00 per person today. Yeah I know its just 160.00 but she had a week to take care of this. Im ready to cancel now.

 

Wanda

[Cruise Cat]

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.

 

By doing it as a supplement, they were skirting around paying the Travel Agents their fair and just commission. By including things in the price, just like any cost of doing business, you will see the true cost. As a corporation, they have a right to make a profit. Those ships and the interest on the loans they take to finance them are not cheap!

[leadout_kv]

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.

 

This is exactly what I was thinking. The way I look at it - when I start looking to book another cruise if the prices are reasonable I'll book if not I won't book. What's the problem? I refuse to complain about charges that I obviously can choose to pay or not pay.

[cubdaddy]

I just thought of something! We live in a country where we are free to choose! Whoo hoo! If I don't like the price, service, food or accomodations, I can go somewhere else!:D

 

Well, Carnival still makes all those dreams come true so I will stick with them!

 

Maybe Carnival can get a bailout and then they can give the cruises away for free!:eek:

[Kurbanfan]

 

In theory, it is NOT going away--they've just rerouted the fuel surcharge into price increases equivalent to said removed fuel surcharge. THAT is the gripe. We have a net of zero if they raise prices the equivalent of the removed surcharge. I still contend, if you're going to raise prices the equivalent of the surcharge, why not just keep the surcharge? It makes no sense.

 

Keep an eye on the prices......when they go down....sometimes way down........you won't even remember those words "fuel surcharge";)

[Fishtales6]

Maybe it's just me, but seems like some of the thought processes going on are beginning to sound like people actually expect Carnival to pay them to cruise. SO much concern about OBC, fuel supplement rebate, price increase...

 

PUHLEEEZE...

 

If you can't afford it, don't book it. As for those folks who felt they got screwed over because of the 70.53 closing price seem to forget that had Carnival purchased oil that day, it would have been for millions of barrels at 70.53 It's not jsut sending them a check for 53 cents.

 

Seems like the PP who said there's more whine here than in Napa, was spot on. Enough that we'll need most of the cheese from Wisconsin.

[Cruise Cat]

I have some food in my pantry and the fridge that I bought a month ago and have not eaten yet (obviously). I saw an ad in the paper today where the store I bought it from is having a big sale. Can I take my receipts for this food back to that store and get a refund for the difference?:rolleyes:

[Kurbanfan]

I have some food in my pantry and the fridge that I bought a month ago and have not eaten yet (obviously). I saw an ad in the paper today where the store I bought it from is having a big sale. Can I take my receipts for this food back to that store and get a refund for the difference?:rolleyes:

 

 

No silly! Not food. But I just bought some tools for a Christmas present over a week ago.....and they went on sale yesterday. Took back my receipt and they refunded me the difference in a gift card (obc so to speak:D)

[Guest JJWW]

On a warm summers evenin on a ship bound for nowhere.

 

 

You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em,

Know when to walk away and know when to run.

You never count your money when youre sittin at the table.

Therell be time enough for countin when the dealins done :D !

 

Thanks Kenny .

[MonaCK]

Then there are all of those people who bought houses the day before the interest rates dropped on loans. It is what it is....

[RjayB]

Im thinking I really got screwed on this deal. I emailed my TA last thursday to add my sister and move us to cat 11, I got an email from her last night saying she was sick but would take care of it. Well she didnt and we cant keep the cabins we had they were conecting for 2 people in each cabin and we need a tripple and double. Anyway prices went up 40.00 per person today. Yeah I know its just 160.00 but she had a week to take care of this. Im ready to cancel now.

 

Wanda

 

 

Ouch, sorry that happened to you. But it's not Carnival that screwed you, it's the TA!:(

 

This is just another reason to skip the TA's and book everything yourself.

[MonaCK]

Ouch, sorry that happened to you. But it's not Carnival that screwed you, it's the TA!:(

 

This is just another reason to skip the TA's and book everything yourself.

 

 

Or a reason to get a decent travel agent. Don't diss 'em all!

[Cruise Cat]

Or a reason to get a decent travel agent. Don't diss 'em all!

 

Also, when you have a good TA, you can tell them what you are thinking about doing even though you are not ready yet and they can watch out for deals that fit your needs. It is better than calling them at the last minute and hoping they can drop everything else to get your booking in.

 

I look at TAs like any other good contractor, if a contractor can always answer the phone everytime you call or return your calls the very same day, then they must not be very busy because they are not very good. If they were, their time and attention would be in very high demand and you would have to wait for them to get around to you.

[Vanessa L]

 

Prices did not go up for people who already have their cruises booked....... For people who don't already have their cruises booked - prices are subject to change.

 

As a business person myself, I understand that compaies are in business to MAKE MONEY, and prices overall are pretty darned low right now.

 

What EXACTLY is the problem????? :confused:

 

Lets hypothetically say that there was a week long cruise prior to the surcharges that went for $500pp. Then they tacked on the surcharge of $9 pp per day. Now that cruise is $563pp. Then they drop the surcharge of $63 so REALISTICALLY the price should now be back to $500pp right? Nope, they raised the price across the board to......you guessed it....$563pp!!!! I KNOW this is on new bookings only. My point, as the OP is trying to make is, if you're going to do away with the surcharges and then raise the price of the cruise to make up for the surcharge, why not just keep the surcharge and not try to "get something over on us" by "doing away with the surcharge"? My question on this hypothetical cruise is....if you're going to do away with the surcharge, the price should be the prior-to-the-surcharge rate of $500pp right??? It just seems utterly ridiculous to do away with the surcharge and raise the rate accordingly. Just keep the cotton pickin' surcharge and call it good!!!

[Kurbanfan]

 

Lets hypothetically say that there was a week long cruise prior to the surcharges that went for $500pp. Then they tacked on the surcharge of $9 pp per day. Now that cruise is $563pp. Then they drop the surcharge of $63 so REALISTICALLY the price should now be back to $500pp right? Nope, they raised the price across the board to......you guessed it....$563pp!!!! I KNOW this is on new bookings only. My point, as the OP is trying to make is, if you're going to do away with the surcharges and then raise the price of the cruise to make up for the surcharge, why not just keep the surcharge and not try to "get something over on us" by "doing away with the surcharge"? My question on this hypothetical cruise is....if you're going to do away with the surcharge, the price should be the prior-to-the-surcharge rate of $500pp right??? It just seems utterly ridiculous to do away with the surcharge and raise the rate accordingly. Just keep the cotton pickin' surcharge and call it good!!!

 

You are forgetting that when they charged the fuel charge separately and your cruise price went down........your fuel charge stayed the same;) So in essence this is a better deal in the long run........

[Vanessa L]

 

You are forgetting that when they charged the fuel charge separately and your cruise price went down........your fuel charge stayed the same;) So in essence this is a better deal in the long run........

 

Concur. And as long as the now increased prices continue to drop (as I suspect they will to fill ships) this argument works. The folks getting the shaft are the people who book at the new higher-but-no-fuel-surcharge price (probably during peak season). They might as well have just kept the surcharge for those folks since they are coming out the same anyway. $63 is $63 no matter what you call it.

[Cruise Cat]

 

Lets hypothetically say that there was a week long cruise prior to the surcharges that went for $500pp. Then they tacked on the surcharge of $9 pp per day. Now that cruise is $563pp. Then they drop the surcharge of $63 so REALISTICALLY the price should now be back to $500pp right? Nope, they raised the price across the board to......you guessed it....$563pp!!!! I KNOW this is on new bookings only. My point, as the OP is trying to make is, if you're going to do away with the surcharges and then raise the price of the cruise to make up for the surcharge, why not just keep the surcharge and not try to "get something over on us" by "doing away with the surcharge"? My question on this hypothetical cruise is....if you're going to do away with the surcharge, the price should be the prior-to-the-surcharge rate of $500pp right??? It just seems utterly ridiculous to do away with the surcharge and raise the rate accordingly. Just keep the cotton pickin' surcharge and call it good!!!

 

The Variables that are many times forgotten in these equations are "Time" and "Demand (popularity)" of certain cruises. Forget a fuel chage at all for this one: What if the cruise price is $500 on September 1 when someone books a cruise sailing June 1 the following year, with that $500 being the cost the cruise was when bookings were originally opened also; then on December 1, this popular cruise is selling very well and some categories are even almost sold out; so the cruise line raises the price to $650. On this particular cruise itinerary, the pattern is that 98% of the time the prices for every category go up the closer it is to the cruise (because it is so popular).----- Was everyone who went to book on December 3rd ripped off for $150 OR did they just lose a gamble they made that the price would go down? ADD The Fuel Supplement to the equation now and keep the date the same as Carnival with the December 4th and 17th thing; HOW do you know the price was not destined to go up in December anyway had the fuel supplement never even existed? They are not necessarily linked for each and every sailing like some are assumming.

[waiting4acruise]

What I find amazing is that some people can't figure out is that Carnival has always factored the cost of fuel in the price of a cruise, whether listed seperately as a fuel surcharge or in the overall price.

[BND]

And what I find amazing is that people haven't figured out that cruiselines can charge whatever the market will bear. And, that so many think it's their right to demand prices are lowered. Do you demand hotels charge less? Grocery stores? How about restaurants? Why should cruiselines be any different? There is too much energy put into complaining and whining.

[fllady61]

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:

 

 

I did not notice an increase in the cruise i am interested in. yesterdy it was 2595 for 3 people. today it was 2295 for 3 people. but I am also sure it will go down between now and when I book. which will be tax time.

[FromHereToThere]

As the main poster seems to be upset with this suspension, those who really are to benefit are those of us who booked a cruise with a fuel supplement. Now since it is getting suspended, we get a lower overall cruise fare, and if it gets re-instated, it was something we had already planned to pay. Ultimately those who waited to book their cruises, will still pay the higher cruise fares. Sorry for anyone who had not yet booked their cruise for 2009.