Cruise Lines Levy Fuel Cost Supplements

Following a move that is spreading throughout the cruise industry, more lines announced new fuel supplements on Friday, including Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) brands (Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises), Crystal Cruises, Windstar Cruises, Majestic America Line and Viking River Cruises.

RCCL will levy a fuel supplement of $5 per guest per day for sailings that depart on or after Feb. 1. "Unfortunately, as fuel prices have reached record highs, we are forced to take this extraordinary step to offset those costs." The supplement will not be charged on any bookings already paid in full. In addition, guests who were booked before Nov. 16, and who do not agree to pay the supplement, may cancel their reservation before Dec. 7 for a full refund and no cancellation charges.

The supplement will apply only to the first and second guests in each stateroom and will not exceed $70 per person, per sailing. RCCL will provide travel agents with an administrative fee of $12 per existing booking to help offset the costs associated with contacting guests with existing reservations and collecting payment of the supplement for each booking that sails on or after Feb. 1. Sister companies Windstar and Majestic America also announced fuel surcharges of $8.50 per person, per day.

The surcharge applies to all currently published sailings through March 2009 that have not been paid in full by Dec. 15. Majestic America said the surcharge applies to new bookings made after Dec. 15 and to existing bookings that are not paid in full by the same date.Crystal's fuel surcharge is $7 per guest per day for all 2008 reservations that are not paid in full by Jan. 1.

"Escalating fuel costs continue to affect virtually everyone, and the impact on Crystal Cruises' daily operations is no exception," said Crystal President Gregg Michel. "We set our 2008 cruise fares in late 2006, yet the price of fuel rose 66 to 70 percent from February to November 2007." Crystal is protecting 2008 bookings that are made and paid in full prior to Jan. 1 and the current fare, without the fuel surcharge.

There will be no change to the current fuel surcharge of $5 per person, per day that is currently in effect for all 2007 voyages.Viking River Cruises is adding a fuel surcharge of $7 per guest, per cruise night for all reservations that are not paid in full by Dec. 19. The surcharge will apply to all currently published sailings through December 2008. For more information, visit www.rclinvestor.com, www.majesticamericaline.com, www.windstarcruises.com, www.crystalcruises.com or www.vikingrivercruises.com.