Around 30 million people boarded a cruise ship for their vacation in 2019, and that number grows each year. What the vast majority of these passengers don’t know is that a passenger bill of rights protects them. This pledge was adopted by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) in 2013.
What rights does the bill of rights afford you? We’ve created this guide to help you better understand your rights and what you can expect from your cruise line.
Why There’s a Passenger Bill of Rights
Before 2013, cruise lines suffered several mishaps that cause vacationers to lose confidence in cruising. To address this, the cruise lines that were members of the CLIA agreed to abide by a passenger bill of rights.
These rights were afforded to North American passengers booking a cruise. It applied to all itineraries.
Right to Disembark
Unless there is an overriding safety concern, you have the right to disembark your docked ship if essential provisions are unavailable. Necessary provisions include things like water, food, bathrooms, and adequate medical care. You are still required to comply with the customs and immigration requirements of the country you’re visiting.
Right to a Refund
You have a right to a refund if your trip gets canceled due to mechanical failure. If your trip gets canceled early due to mechanical failure, the cruise ship should provide you with transportation from the disembarking port to your home city. This includes overnight stay accommodation at an unscheduled port.
Mechanical failures are uncommon, and you shouldn’t have any issues with your cruise. So book your Celebrity Cruises unique Thailand cruise with confidence.
Right to Medical Care
Should you need immediate medical treatment, you should receive professional emergency medical attention onboard. This attention should continue as needed until shore-based medical care can arrive and take over treatment.
Right to Emergency Preparedness
The cruise line should have emergency power sources available if the main generator fails. The ship should also have a crew that’s properly trained. They should be well versed in emergency and evacuation procedures.
Right to Timely Information
Each cruise line should have a toll-free phone line that you can use to gain information and get questions answered about onboard operations. This phone number should be located on the cruise line’s website.
While onboard the cruise ship, you should be provided with timely informational updates on your itinerary. This relates to sudden changes due to mechanical failures. The information should also include any efforts planned to correct the situation.
Know the Passenger Bill of Rights
If the cruise line you book with abides by this passenger bill of rights, then you’ll find it on their website. Before booking, do a quick search and confirm that your cruise line gives you these rights.
It’s more than likely that your cruise will go off without a hitch. However, it’s useful to know what your rights are should something go wrong.
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The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
