Carnivals cruise fuel surcharge is being dropped as of December 17, 2008. Carnival which had a charge up to $15 a day will be refunding fuel surcharges all ready collect via ship board credit starting after the 17th.

In a statement on Thursday, Carnival’s director of marketing, Bill Harber, said oil prices have dropped low enough for the company to lift the surcharges. “As the price of oil has dropped to $46 per barrel, it has now reached a level where we are able to suspend the fuel supplement,” Harber said.

They also were careful to say that if fuel prices rise again they could re-instate the fees.

I think this is a good for carnival and should help with bookings some what. When all the fuel surcharges were put in place to begin with there were many unhappy cruisers.

Royal Caribbean still has an up to $10 a day fuel surcharge for cruise in 2009 but has dropped the charge beginning in 2010. They have also stated that they will take a look at the fuel situation each quarter in 2009 and determine if they will or will not refund the charge.

I think this change in the Carnivals cruise fuel surcharge will put incredible pressure on Royal Caribbean to follow suit and drop their charges completely as well.