Couple Canceled Cruise over £892 Fuel Surcharge

Ron and Gwenda Bennett, from Verwood in Dorset, lost their £900 deposit on the £9,000 Mediterranean cruise which was due to set sail in September.

Voyages of Discovery, which runs the cruise, blamed the surcharge on rising global fuel costs and said it had followed industry rules issued by the Association of British Travel Agents.

It said there had been an “incredible and unanticipated” rise in fuel costs which had led to the surcharge to the Bennetts.

The firm said the couple were not entitled to a refund of their deposit as the surcharge was still less than 10 percent of the total holiday cost. Under travel industry rules issued by ABTA customers are only entitled to a refund on their holiday if the surcharge is more than 10 percent.

However, despite being £892 the Bennetts’ surcharge was under the 10 percent level by just £8. The couple were offered a shorter cruise or a smaller cabin on the 28-day trip which takes in Lisbon, Rome, Venice and Croatia, amongst other places.