Fuel costs have continued to overshadow Carnival’s performance, rising by 77 per cent and bearing down on the cruise operator’s profits.

The global market leader, which has 11 brands, including P&O Cruises and Cunard Line, said advance bookings for the rest of the year and the first half of 2009 were “slightly behind” the previous year. Ticket prices for these bookings were at higher levels, Carnival said.