Viking, Crystal Cruises Drop Fuel Surcharges

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As fuel prices continue to decline, Viking River Cruises and Crystal Cruises have announced that they have suspended their daily fuel surcharge for all voyages departing on or after January 1, 2009.

For Viking 2009 bookings made prior to December 8, any fuel supplements already paid will be refunded in the form of a shipboard credit for the surcharge amount. For bookings made after December 8, no fuel surcharge will be applied or charged. Should fuel costs make it necessary in the future, Viking reserves the right to reinstate the fuel supplement for all guests.

“During difficult economic times, this is a bright spot we are pleased to pass along to our guests,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking River Cruises.

New bookings for Crystal Cruises will not be charged a fuel supplement. For bookings under deposit, Crystal will adjust each booking within the next two weeks, eliminating the fuel surcharge. Guests who have paid in full will receive a shipboard credit in the amount of the assessed fuel surcharge.  This revised policy applies to all cruises departing after January 1, 2009.

Crystal Cruises had recently announced it would review oil prices quarterly and would credit fuel surcharges during 2009 if light sweet crude oil prices dipped below $65 per barrel.

“The decreased price of crude oil is significant enough to warrant the elimination of the fuel surcharge at the present time,” said Gregg Michel, president of Crystal Cruises. “We will continue to monitor fuel costs.  Fortunately, the price trend is currently positive for us and for the consumer.”

Visit www.vikingrivercruises.com and www.crystalcruises.com.