How does Norwegian cruise line Hurtgruten impose fuel surcharges?
With oil prices pushing $100 a barrel and unleaded regular at $3.10 a gallon, no one is surprised to learn that fuel-hungry airlines and cruise companies are also feeling the pinch. Unfortunately, while no one questions that expenses for jet fuel and bunker oil are reaching unprecedented levels, these surcharges are basically marketing ploys. Two weeks ago, Carnival Corp., the world’s largest cruise operator, announced it’s adding a fuel surcharge of $5 per day each for the first two passengers in a cabin on all of its ships, which includes lines such as Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn. A few days earlier, the luxury operator Regent Seven Seas began collecting a $7.50-per-person-per-day fuel surcharge. Carnival’s surcharges apply to bookings for cruises departing on or after Feb. 1, with a cap of $70 per person, per voyage, while Regent’s are on new bookings for 2008 made after Dec. 1, 2007, as well as existing bookings not paid in full by then. They joi
