Cruise defects: changed route, cancellations and reduction

A cruise is usually a package holiday, with all travel rights. If promised ports are cancelled, the cabin is worse than booked or services are missing, a travel defect may exist. However, routes may be adjusted for safety reasons (weather, heavy seas), and then the assessment is more nuanced.

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Your chances of getting your money back

As a package holiday, the travel defect rights apply to cruises (§§ 651i ff. BGB). For promised services not provided, a worse cabin or ports cancelled without reason, a reduction may be considered.

Route changes for safety reasons (storm, high seas) are often permissible and do not automatically lead to a reduction. What matters is whether the operator is responsible for the change and how strongly the travel value drops.

What you should do now

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1. Check the promises
Compare the booked route, cabin and services with what was actually provided.
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2. Report the defect
Report defects on board immediately to the ship's management/operator and demand remedy. Document everything.
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3. Clarify the reason for the change
For port cancellations, clarify the reason. Safety-related changes are assessed differently than organizational ones.
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4. Assert a reduction
After the trip, assert the reduction for services not provided or worse in writing.

How to spot the scam

Several promised ports were cancelled without a comprehensible reason.
You got a worse cabin than booked.
Promised services on board were permanently missing.

Frequently asked questions

Do travel rights apply to cruises?

As a rule yes: a cruise with several services is usually a package holiday to which the travel defect rights apply (§§ 651i ff. BGB). You can report defects and reduce the travel price.

Can I reduce the price for cancelled ports?

That depends on the reason. If ports are cancelled for organizational reasons, a reduction may be considered. For safety-related route changes (weather, heavy seas) the assessment is more nuanced and a reduction is often not justified.

What must I do to reduce the price?

Report defects on board immediately, demand remedy and secure evidence. After the trip you assert the reduction for services not provided or worse in writing with the operator.

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General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.