Fred. Olsen must have been stung by reaction to their individual approach to fuel surcharges, adding a percentage to each passenger’s cruise fare rather than charging a fixed amount per day, which is what many other lines have done.
How else to explain a press release issued today seeking to “clarify our position”?
They have also promised to refund the supplement – in the form of on-board credit – if the benchmark price of Brent Crude oil falls below £45 a barrel – an event as likely as my winning the lottery and waking up next to Gwyneth Paltrow. On the same night.
The Olsen statement says that their imposition of a 5.5 per cent surcharge on top of the fare paid – which means that suite passengers are paying more for their fuel than those in smaller cabins – “has simplified the charging structure,” although I would have thought that most people would find a flat £4 per person per day simpler.
Bookings for some lengthy voyages, such as Black Watch’s Around the World’ ruise and Balmoral’s Around South America cruise in 2012 are exempt from surcharges.
Which only serves to complicate the matter further.
A spokesman tells me that fares in the 2012/13 brochure will incorporate the additional oil price costs, so no Fuel Cost Supplement or surcharge would be required. So far so good. But wait a minute . . .
The statement continues: “However, if the price of oil continues to increase to the degree we have seen in 2010, we may consider reintroducing these additional charges. Any future supplements and surcharges are dependant upon the fluctuations of the oil markets.” So still no promise of an end to the extra charges.
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