The Norwegian Pearl, a cruise ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, recently experienced a mechanical problem in the midst of a 13-night cruise.
Although the issue did not stop the cruise, it forced the ship to travel at a slower speed and cancel several ports of call. Passengers, stranded aboard the vessel, have taken to social media to express their outrage.
Moreover, the cruise line cancelled an upcoming voyage on the Norwegian Pearl three days before the date of sailing in order to perform “necessary repairs.”
This incident has affected thousands of passengers, ruining a very costly vacation that they’d likely had on the books for months ahead of time.
Passenger’s Reaction Seemingly Leads to Better Norwegian Response
While researching your next cruise, you may have run into this story. The mechanical issues aboard the Norwegian Pearl had occurred during a voyage slated to last from June 22nd through July 2nd.
The slower speeds and cancelled ports of call left many passengers stranded aboard the vessel for long days at sea, and no doubt facing a bit of cruise ship cabin fever.
Ultimately, the cruise line announced that it would offer passengers a 50% cash refund, and a 50% future cruise credit based on the original cruise fare paid by each passenger.
Prior to this announcement, one passenger tweeted: “The Norwegian Pearl has now cancelled two ports of call during its voyage without giving passengers compensation. Absolutely unacceptable, especially for a vacation this expensive. Will never sail NCL again.”
Norwegian Gets Ahead of the Curve on Additional Cancellation
In order to perform “necessary repairs” to the Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Cruise lines cancelled an upcoming cruise three days prior to the sailing. The cruise was set to carry up to 2,400 passengers, many of whom had already taken international flights to Europe.
The cruise line will offer a 100% cash refund to passengers on this sailing, plus a 100% future cruise credit. The cruise line will also cover up to $300 in flight change fees.
In response to the incident, the cruise line issued an apology stating, “We recognize the disappointment and inconvenience our guests have experienced as a result of this unforeseen situation and we offer our sincere apologies. Our team is working diligently to assist all of our guests, and we thank them for their continued support and loyalty.”
The Takeaway? Get Travel Insurance Before a Cruise… and Be Ready to Fight Back
Cruises involve many moving parts, any one of which could potentially cancel or ruin your trip when something goes wrong. They’re also more expensive than many vacations. Therefore, it’s recommended to purchase travel insurance for cruises in particular.
Travel insurance generally covers the following:
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption: If your trip is cut short or cancelled by an emergency situation, you may have to pay for additional lodging and airfare. These costs are covered by travel insurance, and the rest of your trip will likely be refunded.
- You Have to Cancel: If you fall ill before your trip or lose your job and decide that you shouldn’t be spending that kind of money, you’re covered. There may be fees for trip cancellation, but most of your money will be refunded.
Sometimes, unforeseen circumstances can wreak havoc on your dream cruise, potentially costing you thousands. Travel insurance can protect against these losses.
If you have questions about how to select cruise-related travel insurance or need help discerning the fine print in the paperwork, your Florida cruise attorney can assist!
About the Author:
Andrew Winston is a partner at the personal injury law firm of Winston Law. For over 20 years, he has successfully represented countless people in all kinds of personal injury cases, with a particular focus on child injury, legal malpractice, and premises liability. He has been recognized for excellence in the representation of injured clients by admission to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, is AV Preeminent Rated by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, enjoys a 10.0 rating by AVVO as a Top Personal Injury Attorney, has been selected as a Florida “SuperLawyer” from 2011-2017 – an honor reserved for the top 5% of lawyers in the state – and was voted to Florida Trend’s ”Legal Elite” and as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Florida and one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the Miami area for 2015, 2016, and 2017.
