US Makes it Easier for Cruise Passengers to Get Refunds
A rule change in the United States aims to make it easier for cruise ship passengers to receive refunds after their voyages have been canceled or delayed.
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) announced on Wednesday it is amending its regulations governing "non-performance" by passenger vessel operators to establish new requirements for when cruise passengers should be provided refunds. The changes define non-performance as canceling a voyage or delaying a voyage by three or more calendar days if a passenger elects not to embark on delayed or substituted voyage.
"Hundreds of thousands of Americans enjoy taking a pleasure cruise every year. For some, these are trips of a lifetime where people have worked hard to save the cost of a ticket. Amending the Commission's regulations to provide passengers more rights and options when a cruise line has not performed is good for consumers," said Commissioner Louis E. Sola.
In addition, the Commission changed its regulations to allow passengers of delayed or canceled voyages to make direct claims against financial responsibility instruments, such as bonds, maintained by operators, after the passenger's unsuccessful attempt to receive a refund directly. The rule also makes all fees, including ancillary fees, paid by a passenger to a cruise line eligible for a refund.
https://www.marinelink.com/news/us-makes-easier-cruise-passengers-refunds-495113