As travel professionals know all too well, the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in thousands of canceled cruise trips for clients.
Many passengers on canceled bookings received “Future Cruise Credits” rather than refunds. The Federal Maritime Commission, the agency that regulates passenger sea travel, has responded by issuing new consumer protection rules that go into effect as of April 18, 2022, for any cruise booking in the future.
“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. I am grateful for the trust my fellow Commissioners placed in me to lead Fact Finding 30 and for their support in expanding consumer protections,” said Commissioner Louis E. Sola
Any cruise canceling or delaying a trip by three or more days is placed in the “non-performance” category and entitled to a full refund of all money, including any ancillary fees including port fees and taxes paid, but excluding such items as airfare, hotel accommodations, and tour excursions. In addition, cruise lines are required to make refund policies prominent and clearly displayed on their websites. The deadline permitted for requesting a refund may not be less than six months after the scheduled voyage was to occur.
