Cruise passengers are worried about extra charges because of rising oil prices
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Oil prices have skyrocketed since the start of the Iran conflict, and many cruise passengers are worried they will face extra surcharges related to fuel problems in the coming months as a result.
Some cruise operators already impose surcharges on certain cruises. StarDream Cruises, headquartered in Malaysia, said it is adding a daily fuel surcharge to Asian sailings booked after March 20.
Additional cost will vary depending on itinerary, but is expected to be between $19 and $26 per guest per day for travelers ages 2 and up, according to Condé Nast Traveler.
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Some worry that larger cruise ships may arrive.
“Everybody should be worried,” Tom Baker, CEO of Cruise Center, a Houston-based national retailer that sells more than 10,000 discounted cruises, told Fox News Digital.
He told Fox News Digital that Norwegian Cruise Line does not expect an immediate impact on ticket prices. (Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group)
“This war is already spreading its tentacles. It will affect every traveler on the planet to some extent,” he said.
According to the Cruise Lines International Association, headquartered in Washington, D.C., approximately 39.6 million people worldwide are expected to cruise in 2026.
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oil prices As Fox Business reported, it is up more than 40% since the beginning of the Iran conflict.
Many booked passengers are concerned that some cruise lines reserve the right to add fuel surcharges even after reservations have been paid in full.
“We have no plans to change our current pricing model,” a Carnival Corporation spokesperson told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
A passenger recently posted comments to this effect in the Facebook group Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips, Tricks and Deals.
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“I was reviewing some paperwork for my cruise next week and saw that cruise lines reserve the right to travel. apply fuel surcharge “Even after the reservation has been paid in full, guests will be harmed if oil prices increase.”
Royal Caribbean had previously added a fuel clause to its contract for travelers. (Joe Raedle)
One commenter responded: “True or wrong, but if a world-class company charges me a fuel surcharge after I’ve paid my full amount, that will be the last time I do business with them.”
A different commenter said: “I think people need to start reading contracts and the small print.”
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Chris Woronka, a manager and senior equity analyst at Deutsche Bank who lives in New York City, told Fox News Digital that fine print is common in cruise contracts.
“If you look at the details listed on most bookings, you will see that when the price of a barrel of oil generally exceeds a predefined level, many cruise lines are able to add a fuel surcharge of approximately $9 to $12 per person per day,” Woronka said. he said.
About 39.6 million people worldwide are expected to cruise in 2026, according to the D.C.-based Cruise Lines International Association. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group)
“Since many cruises are purchased months, perhaps even a year or more in advance, cruise operators wanted to leave themselves with the flexibility to recapture some of the impact of rising fuel prices since the time the ticket was sold,” he continued.
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However, two of the largest cruise lines told Fox News Digital that they do not expect higher ticket prices or additional fuel surcharges in the very near future.
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“We do not anticipate an immediate impact on ticket prices or guest experience due to current oil market disruptions,” a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings told Fox News Digital this week. he said.
Fuel costs are currently a concern for both cruise operators and cruise passengers. (Joe Raedle)
“We have no plans to change our current pricing model,” a Carnival Corporation spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
If additional fees apply, they may be temporary. A higher ticket price may be permanent.
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“Supplemental charges are usually temporary,” Woronka said. “But if there’s an opportunity to factor higher fuel costs into ticket prices, that could actually have more staying power.”
If additional fees apply, they may be temporary. Industry sources have suggested that higher ticket prices may continue. (iStock)
Fox News Digital has reached out to StarDream Cruises for comment.
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Fox News Digital’s Eric Revell contributed reporting.
