Cruise Industry Adopts Passenger Bill of Rights

                                       

   

                                        Cruise Industry Adopts Passenger Bill of Rights:

On May 22, 2013, in an unprecedented move, CLIA, the Cruise Line International Association, has announced that it is immediately adopting a Cruise Line Industry Passenger Bill of Rights.

The Significance of the Passenger Bill of Rights:

"The significance of the Passenger Bill of Rights is that it provides consumers with a single source of clearly communicated information that demonstrates the industry's commitment to our passengers.  Consumers should be very interested in this bill of rights, because it is a contractual agreement and legally enforceable promise, between a cruise line and its passengers, to provide the ten specified rights.  This means the Passenger Bill of Rights forms part of the contract between the line and its passengers.  The CLIA Board unanimously agreed to approve these rights, which further demonstrates our commitment to the more than twenty million passengers, who enjoy a cruise vacation holiday every year."

Compliance With the Passenger Bill of Rights:

"The Passenger Bill of Rights is now an effective policy for the industry beginning with CLIA's twenty six member cruise lines in North America.  Soon all sixty CLIA Global member cruise lines will adopt and implement the Passenger Bill of Rights.  Cruise line CEO's have already verified, in writing, that they are in compliance with the Passenger Bill of Rights.  This is a condition of membership in our association."

Where to Find the Passenger Bill of Rights: 

"CLIA's cruise line members are required to post the Passenger Bill of Rights on their websites."

(Christine Duffy, President & CEO- CLIA)

The Ten Rights of Passengers Contained in the Passenger Bill of Rights:

The Members of the Cruise Lines International Association are dedicated to the comfort and care of all passengers on oceangoing cruises throughout the world. To fulfill this commitment, our Members have agreed to adopt the following set of passenger rights:

1. The right to disembark a docked ship if essential provisions such as food, water, restroom facilities and access to medical care cannot adequately be provided onboard, subject only to the Master’s concern for passenger safety and security and customs and immigration requirements of the port.

2. The right to a full refund for a trip that is canceled due to mechanical failures, or a partial refund for voyages that are terminated early due to those failures.

3. The right to have available on board ships operating beyond rivers or coastal waters full-time, professional emergency medical attention, as needed until shore side medical care becomes available.

4. The right to timely information updates as to any adjustments in the itinerary of the ship in the event of a mechanical failure or emergency, as well as timely updates of the status of efforts to address mechanical failures.

5. The right to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures.

6. The right to an emergency power source in the case of a main generator failure. 

7. The right to transportation to the ship’s scheduled port of disembarkation or the

passenger’s home city in the event a cruise is terminated early due to

mechanical failures. 

8. Therighttolodgingifdisembarkationandanovernightstayinanunscheduled

port are required when a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures. -more-

9. The right to have included on each cruise line’s website a toll-free phone line that can be used for questions or information concerning any aspect of shipboard operations.

10.The right to have this Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each line’s website.

The entire final version of the Passenger Bill of Rights can be found here.