by Philipp Steger  

The current or looming – depending on whom you talk to – energy crisis has struck the lofty reaches of luxury travel: The New York Times reported recently that the aficionados of floating vacations aboard a cruise ship will have to contend with fuel surcharges that many cruise lines are now starting to add to their already hefty prices. While one may safely assume that the customers concerned will be able to handle this latest consequence of the dramatic increase in world crude oil prices, the assumption that the US will be able to successfully address the challenges inherent in its dependence on foreign oil imports is a much less secure bet.