The Florida Attorney General’s Office said two cruise lines have agreed to refund about $3 million to consumers nationwide who were charged fuel surcharges after they booked their cruise.
The AG’s office said the investigation was sparked by “several hundred” complaints it received about the entire cruise line industry. Oceania Cruises agreed to pay more than $2.1 million in restitution and Classic Cruise Holdings, which does business as Regent Seven Seas Cruises, will pay more than $1 million. Under the agreements, all consumers who were retroactively charged a fuel supplement by the companies will be refunded the full cost of the surcharge. Some of it will come in the form of onboard credits for consumers who have not yet sailed, the state said.
“Our guests and our residents deserve the most accurate information about the costs of their vacations,” said Attorney General Bill McCollum, in a written statement. McCollum said the agreements will “uphold Florida’s reputation as an attractive vacation destination.”
Consumers may file complaints with the Attorney General’s Office by calling the fraud hotline at 1-866-966-7226 or by visiting http://myfloridalegal.com.
