Economic Crimes Division News

Attorney General Bill McCollum filed a lawsuit against a Broward County cruise ship company for failing to adequately disclose fuel surcharge fees. According to the lawsuit, Imperial Majesty Cruise Line LLC has collected approximately $4m in fuel surcharges from late 2006 to present. The company, which offers two-day cruises to the Bahamas, is also accused of falsely representing those fees as governmental taxes or fees. Consumer complaints indicated that when travelers arrived to board the ship they were charged the surcharge, even though it was not, in any way, mandated by any governmental entity. Many consumers first learned of the $20-$30 surcharge only when they arrived to embark on their cruise.