Fuel Supplement Charge

[LivingtheWDWdream]

Just spoke with a Guest Service Manager K and As of today any new bookings won't be charged a fuel surcharge. But if you have a booking made before today then they won't issue an OBC until 2 weeks before your sailing and that is based on the price of oil at that date in time. IF they add a Surcharge on again, you won't get the OBC, and any bookings made while the FS is off won't have it added on if they put it back in effect but if the sail date is changed then they would apply it.

So I asked to speak with his manager and they are calling me back. I have 3 and soon to be 4 (once we get our 3 day voucher) cruises and I want to make sure they hear our concerns.

If they aren't charging it for new bookings, then those who followed their advice of booking early should at least get an OBC but a refund would be better.

 

[dennismcneely]

I just got this email from DCL, hope it will help others to understand the criteria DCL is using in removing fuel surcharge on existing ressies. FYI our sailing date is September 19th 2009. In my case, and since there is still availability, I think I'm going to cancel and rebook our cruise without the fuel supplement. Hope this helps others.

12/1/08

Dear Dennis,
Thank you for choosing a Disney Cruise Line Vacation!

I am happy to assist you with information regarding the fuel supplement.
For previously booked cruises, the criteria for refund will be determined on a quarterly basis by the market price of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). If the closing price on the New York Mercantile Exchange of West Texas Intermediate fuel is below $70. a barrel two weeks prior to the beginning of the calendar quarter, the company will refund fuel surcharges. These will be paid in the form of an onboard credit.
*For those sailing in the third quarter of 2009, the fuel price determination date is: June 17, 2009

I hope this information has been helpful. If you require further assistance in planning your visit, please feel free to contact us.

We look forward to sailing with you!
Have a Magical Day!
Francesca
Reservations Department
Disney Cruise Vacations

 

[Happy99]

is OBC use it or lose it? I'm not happy with being forced to spend more money on Disney, and question the legality of the policy, money should be refunded if not charged, not credited!

You can use the onboard credit towards paying your gratuities as long as you don't add them to your reservation ahead of time

 

[29apr00]

I have 5 cabins booked for Dec 09! Yeah, that's a lot of money in fuel charges we could be saving! If they aren't going to REFUND it, not an OBC, than i'm going to looking into cancelling and rebooking it without the charge! that's just a ridiculous policy to have!

 

[LivingtheWDWdream]

we'd rebook but they raised our cruises price since we booked it so we wouldn't save any more.

I'd do the same for our 2010 but we have SPH rooms and we'd lose them for sure if we tried to cancel, rebook, i'll try and think about it as less money i have to come up with later. yeah that.

Still waiting on the upper mgmt call back maybe they can fix it for me maybe not but at least my voice will be heard.

 

[Suz D]

I just got this email from DCL, hope it will help others to understand the criteria DCL is using in removing fuel surcharge on existing ressies. FYI our sailing date is September 19th 2009. In my case, and since there is still availability, I think I'm going to cancel and rebook our cruise without the fuel supplement. Hope this helps others.

12/1/08

Dear Dennis,
Thank you for choosing a Disney Cruise Line Vacation!

I am happy to assist you with information regarding the fuel supplement.
For previously booked cruises, the criteria for refund will be determined on a quarterly basis by the market price of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). If the closing price on the New York Mercantile Exchange of West Texas Intermediate fuel is below $70. a barrel two weeks prior to the beginning of the calendar quarter, the company will refund fuel surcharges. These will be paid in the form of an onboard credit.
*For those sailing in the third quarter of 2009, the fuel price determination date is: June 17, 2009

I hope this information has been helpful. If you require further assistance in planning your visit, please feel free to contact us.

We look forward to sailing with you!
Have a Magical Day!
Francesca
Reservations Department
Disney Cruise Vacations

Thanks for sending this e-mail on to us. I understand what it says, but totally disagree with the policy. Of course at the beginning of the quarter fuel was sky high so they won't remove it for those of us who booked early. But for those who book now, they will not have to pay it. That really stinks! The response I got from the manager on the phone this morning was "Well, those people who book now have to pay more for the cruise so it all works out". Crazy!

I'm still holding out that someone in upper management will see how inequitable this is. Thanks to all of you who are onboard with me on this (pun intended!).

Suz D

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

I do say we start emailing them about how upset we are.

 

[Waseller77]

This is a little crazy. I also received notice that they will be evaluating it each quarter. I agree - all should pay it or no one should. Seems like this is an "incentive" for those who have been on the fence to book their cruise while still keeping the money from those of us who have already paid. If I hadn't already made my final payment, I would most certainly be cancelling and then rebooking!

 

[dennismcneely]

"Well, those people who book now have to pay more for the cruise so it all works out". Crazy!

Suz D

That's not true at all, actually I just re-quoted my Sept 2009 cruise, and booking it today I would save $133 exactly the same amount of the fuel supplement.

 

[Happy99]

That's not true at all, actually I just re-quoted my Sept 2009 cruise, and booking it today I would save $133 exactly the same amount of the fuel supplement.

Some cruises will price out more then when the person first booked. All depends on the sailing and how quickly it moved up the pricing tier

 

[natale1980]

I booked 6months ago for our 3night cruise at the end of January and it is $69 less!!! I better get the credit.
We're past our 75 days - so it's too late to cancel and rebook... right?

-nat

 

[jilljill]

I booked 6months ago for our 3night cruise at the end of January and it is $69 less!!! I better get the credit.
We're past our 75 days - so it's too late to cancel and rebook... right?

-nat

If there is a true reduction in price to your cruise you can contact your TA or DCL, whomever is handling your reservation, and ask to get the lower price. This would not be the case if the reduction is only because of the fuel surcharge.

 

[Suz D]

The response I got from the manager on the phone this morning was "Well, those people who book now have to pay more for the cruise so it all works out". Crazy!
Suz D

I think he was just referring to our cruise which sails in 17 days so anyone booking now would definately pay more. But I agree, some cruises are less for future bookings especially with the category 12 sales that are going on.

Also, and I apologize for seeming picky, but if you quote someone be sure to put enough in the quote to clarify who is saying what. My quote above includes "the response I got..." and when you just quote "well those people paid more..." it sounds like I made that comment if you didn't read the whole thread. When I saw that quote I said "Yikes"

Hope I don't hurt anyone's feelings by pointing that out. It wasn't my intention.

Thanks!

 

[RhondaInMA]

We are sailing in less than 2 weeks and even though the prices have gone down we will still be paying the surcharge for no reason at all. It's a party of 8 so we should be refunded $216... but once again Disney takes more than they should. I'm a little disappointed. According to my TA on board credit refunds will begin in January of 2009... so those who are cruising before then are paying it for nothing.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Its not fair. It should be an ALL or NONE policy. I have emailed DCL about this. We cruise in January and shouldn't be paying it if they are not charging it right now for new bookings.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Oh and I just got a canned response...
they didn't even answer my acutal questions either....
12/1/08


Dear XXXXX,

Thank you for your interest in a Disney Cruise Line Vacation!


I would be happy to answer your question about the Fuel Supplement charge.

For already booked cruises, the criteria for refund will be determined on a quarterly basis by the market price of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). If the closing price on the New York Mercantile Exchange of West Texas Intermediate fuel is below $70. a barrel two weeks prior to the beginning of the calendar quarter, the company will refund fuel surcharges. These will be paid in the form of an onboard credit.


For those sailing in the first quarter of 2009, the fuel price determination date is: December 18, 2008


I hope this information has been helpful. If you require further assistance in planning your visit, please feel free to contact us.


We look forward to sailing with you!


Have a Magical Day!


JD

Reservations Department

Disney Cruise Vacations


*If applicable, please include your full name, reservation number, and phone number on all correspondence.

 

[Waseller77]

Oh and I just got a canned response...
they didn't even answer my acutal questions either....
12/1/08


Dear XXXXX,

Thank you for your interest in a Disney Cruise Line Vacation!


I would be happy to answer your question about the Fuel Supplement charge.

For already booked cruises, the criteria for refund will be determined on a quarterly basis by the market price of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). If the closing price on the New York Mercantile Exchange of West Texas Intermediate fuel is below $70. a barrel two weeks prior to the beginning of the calendar quarter, the company will refund fuel surcharges. These will be paid in the form of an onboard credit.


For those sailing in the first quarter of 2009, the fuel price determination date is: December 18, 2008


I hope this information has been helpful. If you require further assistance in planning your visit, please feel free to contact us.


We look forward to sailing with you!


Have a Magical Day!


JD

Reservations Department

Disney Cruise Vacations


*If applicable, please include your full name, reservation number, and phone number on all correspondence.

They didn't even answer your question! I would follow up and ask them to answer your question regarding why some people have to pay a fuel supplement while others on the same cruise do not!

 

[dennismcneely]

I think he was just referring to our cruise which sails in 17 days so anyone booking now would definately pay more. But I agree, some cruises are less for future bookings especially with the category 12 sales that are going on.

Also, and I apologize for seeming picky, but if you quote someone be sure to put enough in the quote to clarify who is saying what. My quote above includes "the response I got..." and when you just quote "well those people paid more..." it sounds like I made that comment if you didn't read the whole thread. When I saw that quote I said "Yikes"

Hope I don't hurt anyone's feelings by pointing that out. It wasn't my intention.

Thanks!

I'm sorry I've been misunderstood, the reason why I did not quote your whole post was because I wanted to focus on the stupid answer you got from DCL. I should have said that IN MY CASE that was not true at all. Suz D, it was my fault and I apologize. Still friends??

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Here is what I wrote back
Hi,
Thank you for this generic response, but my question was not answered.
What I would like to know is why are some people on my cruise paying for a fuel surcharge and some are not? Why is it not an 'all or none' policy? I find it extremely unfair to charge me this, but not the person in the next cabin. It is actually discrimination to say if you booked before June, or after December 1st, then you don't have to pay, but if you happened to book from June-Dec you must pay.
Thanks.

 

[RhondaInMA]

I personally feel that if they are not paying the extra for the fuel.. then why would they expect us to? Where is this extra money from all of the cabins going to?