Fuel Surcharges Eliminated - for now

Happily, the fuel surcharges that were imposed by the cruise lines this year have now been eliminated. However, they carry a disclaimer - should oil prices go back above $70 a barrel, look for the surcharges to return.

Here is part of the announcement from the largest cruise line, Carnival Corp:


CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC TO SUSPEND FUEL SUPPLEMENT FOR ITS NORTH AMERICAN BRANDS EFFECTIVE DEC. 17
As fuel prices continue to decline, Carnival Corporation has announced that it will suspend fuel supplements for its six North American brands effective for all voyages departing on or after December 17, 2008.
The fuel supplement suspension applies to the following brands: Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn.
A refund of the fuel supplement will be made in the form of a shipboard credit for all bookings within the final payment period for departures on or after December 17, 2008. All bookings outside of the final payment period for departures on or after December 17, 2008 will be adjusted to remove the fuel supplement and guests will be provided with a revised final payment amount.
The company reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9 per person per day (except Seabourn, which would be up to $15 per person per day) should the price of light sweet crude oil according to the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index) increase above $70 per barrel.