What are my rights if my cruise is cancelled?
March 28, 2022 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Sophia Breitwieser
Dear travel law attorney,
my name is Sebastian Müller and I recently booked a cruise that I was very much looking forward to. Unfortunately, the cruise line has now cancelled the cruise for unforeseen reasons and I am now faced with the question of what rights I have as a customer.
The cruise was supposed to start in two weeks and I have already planned my entire holiday around it. I am now naturally disappointed and frustrated as I have been looking forward to this trip for a long time and now I don't know what to do next.
My concerns are that I will lose my money and not receive any compensation for the missed trip. I have invested a lot of time and effort in planning this cruise and it is frustrating that it is now falling through.
Therefore, my question is: What rights do I have as a customer if my cruise is cancelled? Is there a way to get my money back or take a replacement trip? What steps do I need to take to assert my rights and what rights do I have in this situation?
I would be very grateful if you could help me in this difficult situation and show me possible solutions.
Sincerely,
Sebastian Müller
Dear Mr. Müller,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the cancelled cruise. I am sorry to hear that you are facing this unpleasant situation and that your holiday plans are now disrupted. In such cases, it is important to know your rights as a consumer and to be aware of what entitlements you have.
When a cruise is cancelled, as a customer, you generally have the right to a refund of the already paid travel price. This applies even if the cancellation is due to unforeseen reasons that are not within your responsibility. In such cases, the cruise line is obliged to refund you the full travel price.
Furthermore, you may be entitled to compensation for lost holiday enjoyment and inconvenience caused. This compensation may vary depending on the individual case and is influenced by various factors, such as the duration of the trip and the timing of the cancellation.
To assert your rights, you should first contact the cruise line and request a refund of the travel price and any compensation in writing. It is advisable to have all relevant documents, such as booking confirmation and payment receipts, ready and attach them to the request.
If the cruise line does not respond to your demands or refuses to refund you the full amount, you can seek assistance from a lawyer specializing in travel law to represent your interests. An experienced lawyer can help you enforce your rights and, if necessary, take legal action.
Overall, it is important to remain calm and approach the situation in a rational manner in order to effectively assert your rights as a consumer. I hope that this information is helpful to you and wish you success in resolving this matter.
Best regards,
Sophia Breitwieser, Attorney at Law specializing in Travel Law
