Hi Nineczka, I experienced the same prior to my trip.

My advice is to grin and bear it, the trip will soon take your mind off it.

Antarctica is the most wonderful experience, far FAR better than any documentary can prepare you for.

I would love to go again, it's just stunning! I know you will have a wonderful time

Enjoy!!!

Skies

I am going on the Dec 1 - Dec 11 trip. I got the same letter, There is pretty nothing you can do. If you decide to cancel they will charge you a cancellation fee and you will lost your deposit or whatever was stated in the contract signing.

Have just been searching Quark Expeditions fuel surcharge. It is now 2007 (Oct) and we are going in 2008. Given that this blog was posted in 2005 it appears this is something they do all the time.

WHAT A SCAM! Their "unexpected" fuel surcharge! Must be something we can do! I suppose people should start to let them know and cancel trips - then it will "suddenly" come off!!!

I will do my best to let all the unsuspecting travellers know,

not to mention contact our Fair Trading organizations here in Oz.

Jordan

I travelled with Quark in 2005 and there was a last minute fuel surcharge too. Unimpressive.....

Although, I have to say the cruise was fantastic, best food I've every had on holiday, comfortable beds, knowledgeable/accommodating staff, and overall the best trip I've EVER been on. Nothing beats Antarctica and Quark did do a great job once the trip began.

I got the same letter too. Looks like they are so used to have the last minute surcharge. I actually asked if i can cancel the trip beacuse of that without the $1000 penalty, and they refused. Therefore, you have no choose but expect accept the surcharge. BAD!!!!

It does say in the "Money matters" section of the materials they send you after you pay your deposit that there may be charges after you have paid in full because of fuel prices, etc. I was not surprised that, given the weakening US dollar and increased fuel prices, that there was a surcharge.

You could have gotten your money back if you'd read ALL of the documents they had sent way back when you paid your deposit...but I don't think most people are that thorough, including me. I didn't notice the fine print until much later. I'm still happy and will enjoy the trip regardless. With the surcharge, Quark is still a good value -- much cheaper than other outfitters.

They did it again. Quark is charging a ridiculous $58 per day per person fuel surcharge. It's just a devious way to increase their profits. It's poor business practice, that they would charge this after we booked the voyage and bought our plane tickets. They provided no warnings with my original invoice/receipt.

Does anyone know, is there any recourse? Class action lawsuits? I heard that Royal Carribean was sued and had to return all surcharges made on already booked voyages.

The entertaining thing is, in the letter they sent yesterday, they calculated that a $58 per person, per day surcharge for two people on a 10 day voyage added up to over $2000 ...

It is now early 2009, fuel prices are at a record low - $40 and Quark still impose fuel surcharge. Now they claim:

"our company was introduced to a financial instrument that had not been available to us before. This instrument, a fuel hedge, functions somewhat like an insurance policy: a financial institution takes on the risk over the variable fuel costs. As fuel costs were reaching historic highs, our passengers were, quite rightly, seeking protection from future increases. Quark Expeditions purchased a hedge to protect its clients and business against further fuel price increases, which were widely anticipated by economists and analysts."

In short, they claim they fixed the price at its all-time high. Needless to say, they want the customers to pay...