Cruise line abruptly adds extra charges for passengers; travelers worry others may follow

05 Apr 2026 By foxnews

Since the start of the Iran conflict, oil prices have skyrocketed, and many cruise passengers are worrying they'll be slapped with extra surcharges related to fuel issues in the coming months as a result.

Some cruise operators are already introducing additional fees on certain trips. StarDream Cruises, headquartered in Malaysia, said it added a daily fuel surcharge to Asia sailings booked after March 20.

The added cost will vary by itinerary, but it is expected to be between $19 and $26 per guest per day for travelers age 2 and up, according to Condé Nast Traveler.

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Some worry larger cruise lines may follow.

"Everyone should be concerned," Tom Baker, CEO of Cruise Center, a Houston-based national seller of more than 10,000 discount cruises, told Fox News Digital.

"This war is already spreading its tentacles. It's going to impact every traveler on the planet in some capacity."

Nearly 39.6 million people worldwide are expected to take a cruise in 2026, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, based in Washington, D.C.

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Oil prices have surged more than 40% since the start of the Iran conflict, Fox Business reported.

Many booked passengers are concerned some cruise companies are reserving the right to add fuel surcharges, even after bookings are paid in full.

Recently, a passenger posted comments to that effect in the Facebook group Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips, Tricks and Deals.

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"I was going through some paperwork for my cruise next week, and I saw it said the cruise lines reserve the right to impose a fuel surcharge on guests if oil prices rise, even after a booking is paid in full."

A commenter responded, "Right or wrong, but if a worldwide company charges me a fuel surcharge after paying my total, that would be the last time I did business with them."

A different commenter said, "I feel like people need to start reading the contracts and fine print."

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Chris Woronka, a New York City-based director and senior equity analyst at Deutsche Bank, told Fox News Digital the fine print in cruise contracts is common.

"If you look at the fine print listed on most reservations, you will find that many cruise lines have the ability to add a fuel surcharge of approximately $9 to $12 per person, per day, when the price of a barrel of oil exceeds a generally pre-defined level," Woronka said.

"Since many cruises are purchased many months - perhaps even one year or more - in advance, the cruise operators wanted to leave themselves the flexibility to recapture a portion of the impact of rising fuel prices since the time the ticket was sold," he continued.

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Nevertheless, two of the largest cruise companies told Fox News Digital they do not anticipate higher ticket prices or supplemental fuel surcharges in the near future.

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"We do not expect any immediate impact on ticket prices or the guest experience due to current oil market disruptions," a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings told Fox News Digital this week.

A Carnival Corporation spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "We have no plans to change our current pricing model."

If surcharges are enacted, they could be temporary. A higher ticket price might stick around.

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"Surcharges tend to be temporary," said Woronka. "But if there is an opportunity to perhaps embed higher fuel costs into ticket prices, that could actually have longer staying power."

Fox News Digital reached out to StarDream Cruises for comment.

Fox News Digital's Eric Revell contributed reporting.