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Crystal Cruises has announced that it will be introducing a new fuel surcharge on all new bookings made from today.

A surcharge of $12(£6.25) per passenger per day will be applied on reservations made on or after June 23rd due to the continued increase in bunker prices.

In a statement, the cruise line operator said “We regret any increased charges to our guests, but the fuel costs are escalating far beyond expectations. Unfortunately, even this amount will not fully cover the increased costs we are absorbing.”

The decision to raise its fees follows recent announcements by Norwegian Cruise Line, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Carnival Corporation that they would also be increasing their fuel surcharge.

Earlier this month Fred Olson Cruise Lines said that it would be raising its surcharge on all new bookings for cruises up to and including 16 April 2009 made from 10th June 2008. The supplement has been increased from £3.50 to £5.00 per person per night for the first two occupants of a cabin. A £2 surcharge will apply to third and fourth cabin passengers.

Speaking about the price hike, Mike Rodwell, managing director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines said “The global price of fuel has increased significantly and we have delayed implementing this increase for as long as we possibly can.”

Also in June, Carnival Corporaton, the world's largest cruise operator, raised its fuel surcharge this month to $9 per person, per day for all new bookings made from June 2nd, its second fuel surcharge increase in two months.

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced last week that bookings made on or after June 30, 2008, will be subject to a revised fuel supplement of $10 per person, per day, for the first and second passengers in a cabin - $2 higher than before. The latest price increase comes less than two months after the company hiked its fuel surcharge from $5 to $8 per person, per day.

In a statement the company said "We have gone to great lengths to minimize the impact of rising fuel costs. Unfortunately, as fuel prices have reached record highs, we are forced to take this extraordinary step to offset our record costs and to remain competitive within our industry."