Fuel Supplement Charge

[dta87]

http://www.eturbonews.com/2315/disney-cruise-line-adopts-fuel-surcharge

DCL should have just stuck with their original 30 day policy and they could have avoided most of this PR nightmare.

Probably the most palatable solution to this for all parties involved is to continue to charge the surcharge to all bookings (except the pre-May 28, 08 bookings) and give a planned OBC if DCL determines the surcharge to be unnecessary. This way the only people definitely sailing without a surcharge are the pre-May 28 bookings and those that booked after May 28 will either have an OBC (to pay tips, etc) or not. This way there will not be the situation where you have some passengers that booked after May 28 having to pay the surcharge and and those that booked after Dec 1 that do not.

 

[Michelle2]

Michelle, that is the way I understand it as well. My original arguement was that DCL is anticipating that the fuel will not cost as much for the December sailings or they would not have removed it for the new December bookings. They have deviated from their own policy by removing it for those new bookings prior to the December 18th fuel price review. Again, if they are going to deviate from the policy and remove it from the new bookings they should remove it from all people sailing on those cruises. The policy should be uniformly applied.

It apparently won't matter to me since they are going to review for the December 18th sailing (ours) so I should just shut up about it, but I'm still irritataed for those of you who are sailing before the 18th and feel that a policy that is not appropriately applied is problematic.

I totally agree with you, if its one way for some, it should be for all.

I spoke with my TA and emailed DCL. We sail December 14th on the Wonder. I will not receive an OBC for the $216 fuel surcharge ( 3 cabins booked). Yes, we lose.

I am so sorry, and I am in the same boat with you, no pun intended. The worse part is, is that I am also on the 4 day Wonder too, so I lose twice!

DCL should have just stuck with their original 30 day policy and they could have avoided most of this PR nightmare.

Probably the most palatable solution to this for all parties involved is to continue to charge the surcharge to all bookings (except the pre-May 28, 08 bookings) and give a planned OBC if DCL determines the surcharge to be unnecessary. This way the only people definitely sailing without a surcharge are the pre-May 28 bookings and those that booked after May 28 will either have an OBC (to pay tips, etc) or not. This way there will not be the situation where you have some passengers that booked after May 28 having to pay the surcharge and and those that booked after Dec 1 that do not.

I agree!

 

[dta87]

I am not sure if this has been posted yet or not. I found this on another board.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/business_tourism_aviation/2008/12/disney-cruise-l.html

 

[MichelleB]

We sail 12/13 and I've not had any luck either. I think the whole thing stinks. I agree with the earlier poster....the gas prices are down NOW. So they should do something for those of us that are sailing NOW. We miss this darn thing by 5 days and it really is wrong.

 

[bigbootee]

I just printed off a copy of the terms and conditions from the DCL website (the one where you have to check the box in order to proceed with your booking). As of right now they don't have anything in there that speaks specifically to the fuel surchage BUT the do have the following:



The way I read this is that they in fact can add a fuel surcharge to any reservation that is not already paid in full.

Actually, it means they can increase your fare if you don't pay on time.

 

[pixiedustaholic]

Hey, ya'll! I just booked my June 13, 2009 cruise exactly 1 week ago. I was charged $154.00 for the fuel supplement. I thought I would take a stab at getting it removed from my reservation...no such luck. I was super sweet to the agent but that didn't get me anywhere. She basically told me that I would have to rebook the cruise in order to save the $154.00. However, the amazing category 12 rate I snagged is now sold out and the cruise would be about $6000 for category 11 verses the $2800 rate I have now. She also told me the only way for me to get an OBC was to rebook?!
I thought it would be worth a shot since I found out yesterday that my DD needs $5600 worth of orthodontic treatment!
The agent was very nice and reassured me that I have an amazing rate and should be happy...but I still feel like we should get at the very least an OBC. Good luck everyone.

 

[Suz D]

Hey, ya'll! I just booked my June 13, 2009 cruise exactly 1 week ago. I was charged $154.00 for the fuel supplement. I thought I would take a stab at getting it removed from my reservation...no such luck. I was super sweet to the agent but that didn't get me anywhere. She basically told me that I would have to rebook the cruise in order to save the $154.00. However, the amazing category 12 rate I snagged is now sold out and the cruise would be about $6000 for category 11 verses the $2800 rate I have now. She also told me the only way for me to get an OBC was to rebook?!
I thought it would be worth a shot since I found out yesterday that my DD needs $5600 worth of orthodontic treatment!
The agent was very nice and reassured me that I have an amazing rate and should be happy...but I still feel like we should get at the very least an OBC. Good luck everyone.

Pixiedust, I don't think that the agent told you correctly. If I understand it correctly, if oil is below $70.00/barrel at the beginning of the quarter in which you sail you will be granted an OBC for the fuel surcharge. It appears that they will review it every quarter to determine whether to give OBC for the fuel surcharge. Is that what others understand?

 

[cats mom]

For anybody considering canceling and re-booking to avoid the fuel surcharge of your previous booking, can DCL add a fuel surcharge to your new booking if the fuel prices go back up? I was not on these boards when they first added the fuel surcharge - how did it apply - only to new bookings or was it added previous bookings as well?

Only new bookings

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong... but I don't think this is accurate info.


DCL definitely can add a surcharge to an existing reservation and IIRC they did exactly that with the current fuel fees.

They weren't just added to new bookings; they were also added to existing reservations, although DCL did waive the fees for reservations that were paid in full by the 5/28 effective date.

I remember because quite a few people who were close to their final payment date anyway (and even some who were not all that close) paid off their cruises by 5/28 in order to avoid the fuel surcharge.

 

[melsherard]

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong... but I don't think this is accurate info.


DCL definitely can add a surcharge to an existing reservation and IIRC they did exactly that with the current fuel fees.

They weren't just added to new bookings; they were also added to existing reservations, although DCL did waive the fees for reservations that were paid in full by the 5/28 effective date.

I remember because quite a few people who were close to their final payment date anyway (and even some who were not all that close) paid off their cruises by 5/28 in order to avoid the fuel surcharge.

I did not have my cruise paid for, and no charges were added to my reservation. I booked on March 10th for our Jan 25th sailing.

 

[Anjelica]

I thought that when they instituted this fuel surcharge this year that if your cruise was not paid in full by xx date (which at the time was a future date about 2-4 weeks away) then you would get charged the fuel surcharge. Is that right?

 

[CACruisin']

It was for new bookings after 5/28. We had one booking for Thanksgiving 2009 and scrambled to get the rest of our party booked before 5/28. We were told if we change that booking in any way the fuel surcharge would be added. We have made a change to one of the bookings and yes, the fuel surcharge has been added to that one booking and not the other. Neither booking is paid in full yet.

 

[mindelmouse]

Some people are getting their charges removed no problem and others are going through Hell. They are being very short sighted. I'm a very big fan of the company, but they got this one very wrong. If you're going to do it for some, than do it for all. Some of us who booked and have non refundable deposits are being held captive. My TA has tried and tried and can't get anyone to drop the fee. My husband called and had someone who would do it, but couldn't because it was booked through a TA. I can't rebook because my cruise has sold out of all Cat 1-4 cabins...and I'll lose mine. We're going to try to go through Disney corporate

 

[Pansy]

Goofy me I booked May 13th so I missed the surcharge. Glad I checked had been reading all the post. Hope DCL will refund the charges.

 

[Brooklyn]

The only way to be sure of not paying it, is to cancel the cruise....

Are you trying to tell me something?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

They aren't holding our money hostage! We all paid a deposit, and it doesn't include the fuel surcharge. That won't need to be paid until final payment, a few months before the cruise, IF it is still being charged. If there is still a need for a fuel surcharge, we will all have to pay it. If not, the worst that will happen is that it will be an onboard credit.

A lot can happen between now and Summer of 2010. It's certainly not worth losing sleep over now...

Yes they are holding it hostage. It is still in our balance due. I can rebook and save $95 or hold my breath and hope for $490. It is not right. If fuel goes over $70 for just one day out of 2 quarters then the people who booked on day 1 would be paying more then people who booked 6 weeks later. It is not right.

If you do not want to lose sleep over then don't, just don't tell me what to do or how to feel.

 

[Brooklyn]

Some people are getting their charges removed no problem and others are going through Hell. They are being very short sighted. I'm a very big fan of the company, but they got this one very wrong. If you're going to do it for some, than do it for all. Some of us who booked and have non refundable deposits are being held captive. My TA has tried and tried and can't get anyone to drop the fee. My husband called and had someone who would do it, but couldn't because it was booked through a TA. I can't rebook because my cruise has sold out of all Cat 1-4 cabins...and I'll lose mine. We're going to try to go through Disney corporate

What I was told is if you wanted to rebook they would keep your same stateroom. I know that is not much consolation for you...I am feeling the same frustration you are!

 

[cats mom]

I thought that when they instituted this fuel surcharge this year that if your cruise was not paid in full by xx date (which at the time was a future date about 2-4 weeks away) then you would get charged the fuel surcharge. Is that right?

OOPS!

See, I told you someone would correct me if I was wrong.
I just didn't think it would be within minutes of my post.


My bad. Sorry for the misinformation.


Anjelica, I think we're both mixing up the fuel surcharge with the additional port fees DCL also tacked on last year.

The port fees were charged to any reservations not paid in full by a certain date.

Apparently the fuel charges were only added to new ressies.

*Although I still stand by my statement that DCL can add additional fees to any reservation at any time. As was pointed out earlier in this thread; the language in the terms and conditions you have to agree to in order to book spells that out pretty clearly.

 

[Paula13]

Question... I called my TA yesterday, she in turn called Disney. She was told, " Yes they started the day before with no fuel surcharge" They will not refund what I have paid, thou! She was told if they do that for me, they would have to do that for everyone! I think they should! I'm sailing in June 09. Any suggestions on what I can do? Should I email them? Canceling & rebooking is not an option. The cat 12 is sold out. Another question is that the TA told me the fuel surcharge is $154... does that seem right? There is 4 of us, 2 adults, 2 children age 13. Sorry for such a long post.

 

[ga9497]

Question... I called my TA yesterday, she in turn called Disney. She was told, " Yes they started the day before with no fuel surcharge" They will not refund what I have paid, thou! She was told if they do that for me, they would have to do that for everyone! I think they should! I'm sailing in June 09. Any suggestions on what I can do? Should I email them? Canceling & rebooking is not an option. The cat 12 is sold out. Another question is that the TA told me the fuel surcharge is $154... does that seem right? There is 4 of us, 2 adults, 2 children age 13. Sorry for such a long post.

The only time they can adjust the fuel cost to be taken off is if the cruise price has not increased since you first booked and if the category you are booked in is still available. If not then you will get the fuel sucharge as an OBC if the fuel is still lower then $70 on March 18, 2009

Cancelling and rebooking will not give you back the price you had since the the category you booked is no longer there. For 4 people on a 7nt sailing the fuel surcharge is $154

 

[mindelmouse]

The only time they can adjust the fuel cost to be taken off is if the cruise price has not increased since you first booked and if the category you are booked in is still available. If not then you will get the fuel sucharge as an OBC if the fuel is still lower then $70 on March 18, 2009

Cancelling and rebooking will not give you back the price you had since the the category you booked is no longer there. For 4 people on a 7nt sailing the fuel surcharge is $154

There are many even on this board that had the fuel charge taken off without any problem. It just depends on what CM you get on the phone. Some of them are just doing it (perhaps they realize the ridiculousness) and some are going by "the book". As I said before, we had one that was going to take it off, but since we booked with a TA, he had to have her call. When she did, she couldn't get back to that person and they wouldn't do it for her.

 

[jnadelman]

I had mine done, but I think they had no choice.
1 - I hadn't paid anything more than the deposit
2 - I could book and see the new price online.

Basically if they said no to me, I would have simply been able to cancel and rebook and get the lower price.