Faremax: Travel Forums

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/02/travel/02prac.html?_r=1&oref=slogin


Cruise lines make a lot of claims about their itineraries and ports of call. But they may be under no contractual obligation to keep to their schedules, and they sometimes do not. When that happens, the compensation to passengers is entirely up to the lines. Their policies are uneven, ranging from a small credit for port taxes issued to a passenger's onboard account to, in extreme cases, a free cruise.

Really. I didn't know that. Thanks! If I ever decide to go on a cruise I'll have to make sure to read the super fine print all the way at the bottom or hidden somewhere and see what they have to say.

I didn't know it either, and it sounds as if it happens a lot. Kind of a big drag of you're olanning to go someplace specific.

I've never really felt that attracted to cruises. It's probably just the thought of being stuck on a ship with the same people.

However, I do love ferries! Some of the Scandinavian ones, and ones out of Hull are great! I probably like them because you are only on them for a short time as opposed to the whole holiday.

That doesn't surprise be about cruise lines not responsible for the changed schedules. Think about what it means to a ship everytime there are storms in the forecast.

I can't believe the cruise lines can stop wherever they want.  I really had no idea they could do that.  I know I would book a cruise dependant on the actual ports we were stopping at.

This is correct and sometimes there is no compensation at all and you should check with and confirm with your cruise line. Also keep in mind that when they are behind schedule, instead of making it worse they may need to miss a port in order to make up the time otherwise they will only get further behind schedule.

well at the same time regardless to what they say, you are floating on water and when floating on water, you really have no control over time. You can only move so fast and at the same time, a cruise is "take your time" type of trip.