Carnival to refund fuel surcharges

Carnival Corp. plans to give $40 million in refunds to customers nationwide who were assessed fuel surcharges after they booked their trips.

It’s the second cruise company to reach an agreement with the Florida attorney general’s office, which received more than 300 complaints about fees added by several cruise operators last fall. Customers said the charge was tacked on after they made their reservations.

The Carnival settlement affects more than 1.1 million bookings, but the precise number of people affected was not available.

After the attorney general’s office launched its investigation, Royal Caribbean Cruises said in early March that it would refund about $21 million. Both cruise lines also agreed to clearly disclose the charges in advertisements and while reservations are being made.