Fuel Supplement Charge

[ga9497]

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.

I know I am repeating myself but the people that had it changed without a problem were the ones whose price of the cruise had not changed since booked and their category was still available. I personally have changed over 100 reservations without a problem but only because the price hasn't changed. The ones whose price has increased or category no longer available DCL would not let us update it

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.

Just to prove what I have been saying. This is the reason these types of reservations can be updated because it isn't stopping anyone from cancelling and rebooking if the price is the same. What DCL has to do is to actually re-price the reservation to take the Fuel surcharge off and if the price is higher the reservation would change to the higher price and the reason they cannot take it off in this instance.

 

[dta87]

Does anyone know if DCL is planning on adding the fuel surcharge to the ressies of the people that book after Dec 1 if they determine it is needed during their quarterly reviews? If that is the case most of these discussions are not necessary since their new policy will be fair to the three classes of bookings (pre May 28, May 29-Nov 1, and post Dec 1).

If it is necessary and DCL adds it to these new bookings it will be the same as we had prior to Dec 1 (anyone booking prior to May 28 08 should not have a fuel surcharge and anyone booking after May 28 will). If DCL determines in their review that it is not needed everyone will be sailing without a surcharge and those that booked between May 28 and Nov 30 should have a refund/OBC in their account. The sticking point is if in their quarterly review it is determined that a fuel surcharge is needed and they do not add it to these new bookings (after Dec 1).

Since DCL didn't state their policy very well and we have cruisers getting different answers from different CMs and TAs we have the situation that we have right now.

But like I said before DCL should have just stuck with their original policy and eliminated the fuel surcharge after the 30 day threshold was met and all of this could have been avoided or implemented a more customer friendly policy similar to MSC cruise line (see post).

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=28766998&postcount=100

 

[shasess]

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.

Same here...My TA was able to have mine taken off.......

Hopefully DCL will make this right for all cruisers.

 

[Suz D]

But like I said before DCL should have just stuck with their original policy and eliminated the fuel surcharge after the 30 day threshold was met and all of this could have been avoided or implemented a more customer friendly policy similar to MSC cruise line (see post).

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=28766998&postcount=100

ITA with this. MSC really did what Disney should have done (even though it would not have helped me with a December sailing). They should not have removed the fuel surcharge for new December bookings but started with January when they could follow their own policy of reviewing the price of fuel for the quarter. Or stuck with the 30 day policy as the above poster mentioned. Then everyone would have been treated equally. Of course with the 30 day policy you have other problems when oil goes above $70 for just one day as it did on November 4th). I'm still feeling bad for those people who are sailing prior to December 18th. I know it's not a lot of $ but as one poster pointed out, it's a t-shirt for everyone!

I'm definately not opposed to the fuel surcharge if it's necessary and agree with grandfathering in those who booked prior to May 28th. The next big issue will be if those who booked after December 1st are not grandfathered in. They would potentially have to fork over several hundred $$ later when they are not expecting the charge if they implement a new fuel charge.

IMO Disney just didn't think this through in their effort to lower prices and encourage people to book.

 

[Anjelica]

I'm pretty sure the price of my cruise did not go up since the first day of booking (I have been watching it since). I had it moved over to DU after I booked online myself. With that in mind I am going to contact DU to see if they can have it removed because the price hasn't change (seems to be the one that Disney doesn't gripe about removing the fuel surcharge so far). I will let you guys know if I have any issues.

 

[lbgraves]

DU is in contact with DCL to try and get this worked out. They know which reservations would need to be changed once they get DCL to agree to make the changes.

 

[Anjelica]

DU is in contact with DCL to try and get this worked out. They know which reservations would need to be changed once they get DCL to agree to make the changes.

Oops - I already sent my email. I had to request my trip insurance be taken off anyways so I just one email about all of it.

 

[WebmasterJohn]

I know I am repeating myself but the people that had it changed without a problem were the ones whose price of the cruise had not changed since booked and their category was still available. I personally have changed over 100 reservations without a problem but only because the price hasn't changed. The ones whose price has increased or category no longer available DCL would not let us update it

Just to prove what I have been saying. This is the reason these types of reservations can be updated because it isn't stopping anyone from cancelling and rebooking if the price is the same. What DCL has to do is to actually re-price the reservation to take the Fuel surcharge off and if the price is higher the reservation would change to the higher price and the reason they cannot take it off in this instance.

I just want to 'back-up' what ga9497 is saying here.

I know some folks here are saying that DCL is removing the fuel surcharge when they call. While the fuel surcharge has been taken off their cruise what has happened is DCL actually re-priced their cruise for them.

I realize that for those that had it removed it is just a matter of symantecs - but for some re-pricing is not an option due to the possible change in price or loss of a stateroom.

For anyone still waiting on a response from DU we appreciate your patience. We are working on what will be best for our client's at this time (as I'm sure all TA's are doing).

Just be aware that if you call DCL and cannot get the fuel surcharge removed it may not be a bad thing - they are still going to give you the SBC if no future fuel charge is applied. You will make out better by taking that SBC than by running the risk of losing money if the price went up and the fuel charge is still applied.

I do realize many fall in that 'grey' area of December sail dates. We are hopeful DCL will step-up and do the right thing and give you the SBC as well if the fuel surcharge is not being applied to new bookings.

 

[Suz D]

I do realize many fall in that 'grey' area of December sail dates. We are hopeful DCL will step-up and do the right thing and give you the SBC as well if the fuel surcharge is not being applied to new bookings.

On behalf of all of the December cruisers, THANK YOU for trying to work with DCL on this. If the TA's go to bat for their clients, DCL might be more inclined to work something out.

Suz

PS, DCL is probably hating me right now for starting this thread. Oh well, if it wasn't me it would have been someone else. I just hope they don't take away my cat 12 to cat 9 upgrade!

 

[ga9497]

I just want to 'back-up' what ga9497 is saying here.

I know some folks here are saying that DCL is removing the fuel surcharge when they call. While the fuel surcharge has been taken off their cruise what has happened is DCL actually re-priced their cruise for them.

I realize that for those that had it removed it is just a matter of symantecs - but for some re-pricing is not an option due to the possible change in price or loss of a stateroom.

For anyone still waiting on a response from DU we appreciate your patience. We are working on what will be best for our client's at this time (as I'm sure all TA's are doing).

Just be aware that if you call DCL and cannot get the fuel surcharge removed it may not be a bad thing - they are still going to give you the SBC if no future fuel charge is applied. You will make out better by taking that SBC than by running the risk of losing money if the price went up and the fuel charge is still applied.

I do realize many fall in that 'grey' area of December sail dates. We are hopeful DCL will step-up and do the right thing and give you the SBC as well if the fuel surcharge is not being applied to new bookings.

Thanks John - It does take time to go through each reservation a TA has booked to see if they qualify for the cost to be removed then having DCL go through the process of removing, waiting for confirmation to make sure everything is correct, etc. I hope all that are booked through any TA is patient while they work on this

To also post some other information DCL really didn't have to even offer taking off the cost for any sailing. RCCL is not taking off any fuel surcharge for any existing or new bookings for 2009 sailings. They are starting with their 2010 sailings

 

[trimix]

Does anyone know if DCL is planning on adding the fuel surcharge to the ressies of the people that book after Dec 1 if they determine it is needed during their quarterly reviews? If that is the case most of these discussions are not necessary since their new policy will be fair to the three classes of bookings (pre May 28, May 29-Nov 1, and post Dec 1).

I rebooked the EB TA to get rid of the fuel surcharge, reviewed the small print on the reservation confirmation as well as the cruise contract (www.disneycruise.com/cruisecontract), and did not find any language that would allow them to retroactively apply a fuel surcharge to current bookings.

And I have seen this as a point of contention in other posts, so let's be clear - if you paid a deposit before the surcharge was implemented, the fuel surcharge was never applied to your reservation even if you weren't paid in full. I made my 8/09 reservation in 2/08, only paying a $1,000 deposit, and the fuel surcharge was never applied to that reservation.

 

[Suz D]

Thanks John - It does take time to go through each reservation a TA has booked to see if they qualify for the cost to be removed then having DCL go through the process of removing, waiting for confirmation to make sure everything is correct, etc. I hope all that are booked through any TA is patient while they work on this

To also post some other information DCL really didn't have to even offer taking off the cost for any sailing. RCCL is not taking off any fuel surcharge for any existing or new bookings for 2009 sailings. They are starting with their 2010 sailings

Your point is a valid one and does give Disney extra points in the "taking care of customers" category. I did think about that when I was shopping for cruises on the RCCL website on Monday. Disney was one of the last (if not actually the last) CL to add the fuel surcharge and although it was one of the last to take it off as well, they did make it effective earlier than RCCL and others as you point out.

That being said, as John indicated, we all hope DCL does the right thing for those sailing before the 1/4'ly fuel evaluation on December 18th. The rest of the future sailings will take care of themselves based on the cost of fuel.

 

[WebmasterJohn]

I want to make sure that those who have had the fuel surcharge removed (which means they were re-priced or re-shopped) that your shore excursions could have been removed from the reservation in DCL's system.

This is just the way DCL's systems work - so please be aware.

The shore excursions are fairly easy to get reinstate but I don't want anyone to be surprised to find at a later date that their shore excursions were removed when the fuel surcharge was removed and then they can't book them at that time because they are sold out.

Please go back and check your shore excursions if you called to have the fuel surcharge removed.

I'm sure TA's know about this and will do their best to make sure their client's shore excursions do not get removed from the reservation.

 

[Paula13]

Not to sound stupid.. I want to make sure I'm getting this correctly. Being Disney will not remove the surcharge, they will give me an OBC??? Is this something I have to ask for or are they just doing it on their own? Thanks!

 

[WebmasterJohn]

Not to sound stupid.. I want to make sure I'm getting this correctly. Being Disney will not remove the surcharge, they will give me an OBC??? Is this something I have to ask for or are they just doing it on their own? Thanks!

Correct - if the fuel surcharge is not applied to your cruise and you do nothing DCL will automaticaly give you a shipboard credit in the amount of the fuel surcharge. You do not need to contact them to have the SBC applied.

We have also found out that any unused amount of these shipboard credits will be refundable (unlike other SBC's). So if you don't spend it all you will get it back.

The SBC can be used for any and all purchases onboard the ship (merchandise and services), shore excursions you book through DCL and gratuities.

 

[Suz D]

Correct - if the fuel surcharge is not applied to your cruise and you do nothing DCL will automaticaly give you a shipboard credit in the amount of the fuel surcharge. You do not need to contact them to have the SBC applied.

We have also found out that any unused amount of these shipboard credits will be refundable (unlike other SBC's). So if you don't spend it all you will get it back.

The SBC can be used for any and all purchases onboard the ship (merchandise and services), shore excursions you book through DCL and gratuities.

John, do you have any idea how they will distinguish between the fuel surcharge OBC and other OBC that you get for re-booking?

 

[WebmasterJohn]

OBC's are always listed seperately on the room folio. For example if you get an OBC from rebooking onboard and then one from your TA they will be listed seperately.

I assume (but do not know for sure as it happened yet) that the one for the fuel surcharge will be listed seperately on the room folio as well. I have no idea how it will be noted though.

 

[dta87]

I rebooked the EB TA to get rid of the fuel surcharge, reviewed the small print on the reservation confirmation as well as the cruise contract (www.disneycruise.com/cruisecontract), and did not find any language that would allow them to retroactively apply a fuel surcharge to current bookings.

Thanks for the info

If that is the case the people in the middle booking window (May 28 - Nov 30, I fall in that category) and some Dec travellers definitely have reason to complain to DCL.

In my case the only difference in price for my cruise in May is the fuel surcharge (over $400 for my 3 rooms). It is not fair if someone can book the same cruise today without the surcharge and no retroactive way to apply it. If DCL determines on Mar 18, 09 that they need the surcharge for the second quarter the only group that will pay the surcharge is the middle booking group (May 28 - Nov 30), the pre May 28 group is grandfathered and according to your paperwork from DCL the post Dec 1 bookings are exempt as well.

 

[Suz D]

OBC's are always listed seperately on the room folio. For example if you get an OBC from rebooking onboard and then one from your TA they will be listed seperately.

I assume (but do not know for sure as it happened yet) that the one for the fuel surcharge will be listed seperately on the room folio as well. I have no idea how it will be noted though.

Or which OBC will be used first. It doesn't really matter as I was just curious and will have no trouble spending all my OBC by shopping, shopping, shopping. Thanks for clarifiying how OBC are listed.

 

[JoiseyMom]

OBC's are always listed seperately on the room folio. For example if you get an OBC from rebooking onboard and then one from your TA they will be listed seperately.

I assume (but do not know for sure as it happened yet) that the one for the fuel surcharge will be listed seperately on the room folio as well. I have no idea how it will be noted though.

It will probably just say refundable, where as the OBC for rebooking will say non-refundable.