Maritime Travel
What are my passenger rights when travelling by boat in Europe?
You are entitled to information, assistance, and compensation in the event of a delayed or cancelled journey. You are also protected by law if you have reduced mobility. Maritime and waterways legislation apply to passenger vessels carrying 12+ passengers (except excursions and tours). Find out all you need to know about passengers rights when travelling by boat in the EU, Norway or Iceland below.
EU Regulation 1177/2010
When travelling by boat over sea or inland waterways, you are protected by the European legislation outlined in Regulation 1177/2010. EU maritime rights apply to passengers travelling on most large ferries and cruise ships over sea, rivers, lakes, or canals within the EU, Norway and Iceland.
Maritime Travel rights
Passengers in the EU are protected by a set of rules when travelling by sea and inland waterway. Such as the right to care and assistance, and compensation in case of long delays. Read on to learn more about your passenger rights.
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EU maritime passenger rights cover all sea and inland waterway passengers and apply to the following types of maritime/inland waterway journeys:
- Journeys originating in an EU country
- Journeys originating in a port outside the EU — if the service is operated by an EU transport company
- Journeys whose the port is disembarkation is within the EU
- Journeys whose service is operated by an EU carrier
- Journeys that are recreational in nature and where accommodation involves 2 overnight stays on board
These EU maritime passenger rights do not apply in respect of passengers travelling:
- On a ship certified to carry up to 12 passengers
- On ships which have not more than three crew members
- On journeys where the distance of the overall passenger service is less than 500 metres
- On excursion and sightseeing tours other than cruises
- On ships not propelled by mechanical means
In addition to passenger rights, EU rules cover your luggage, vehicle, and mobility equipment in the event of an incident at sea — both domestically and internationally — provided that:
- The ship is registered in an EU country
- The contract for the journey was concluded in an EU country
- The ship departs and/or arrives in an EU port
Maritime and inland waterway travel is governed at EU level by the terms of Regulation 1177/2010, which guarantees the following rights.
Maritime and inland waterway travel is governed at EU level by the terms of Regulation 1177/2010, which guarantees the following rights.
Information
If you are a maritime or waterway passenger who buys their ticket in an EU country, you should receive information on your rights both before and during your journey — at terminals and on board of ships. If you depart from a non-EU country, this type of information should be provided to you on departure at the latest.
Cancellation
If the journey is delayed or cancelled, the terminal management must inform you, the passenger, of the new estimated departure and arrival times within 30 minutes of the originally scheduled departure time.
If the service is cancelled altogether, the carrier should offer a choice between:
- A ticket refund
- A free return journey to your initial departure point
- Rerouting to your final destination under comparable conditions — at the earliest opportunity and at no extra cost
If you miss a connecting transport service due to a cancellation, the carrier must inform you of alternative connections and provide assistance in the following ways:
- Snacks, meals, or refreshments, in proportion to the waiting time, provided they are available or can reasonably be supplied on the ship or at the terminal
- Accommodation for up to 3 nights at a maximum rate of €80 per night — if (an) overnight stay(s) is(/are) required
- Transport from the terminal to your accommodation and back — if (an) overnight stay(s) is(/are) required
Please note: you are not entitled to accommodation i.e. if the cancellation is caused by extraordinary circumstances not covered by legislation, such as severe weather conditions
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If the service is delayed or cancelled, the terminal management must inform passengers of the new estimated departure and arrival times within 30 minutes of the originally scheduled departure time.
Delay at departure (90+ minutes)
If the service is delayed for more than 90 minutes, you will be offered a choice between:
- A ticket refund
- A free return journey to your initial departure point
- Rerouting to your final destination under comparable conditions — at the earliest opportunity and at no extra cost
If you miss a connecting transport service due to a delay, the carrier must inform you of alternative connections and provide assistance in the following ways:
- Snacks, meals, or refreshments, in proportion to the waiting time, provided they are available or can reasonably be supplied on the ship or at the terminal
- Accommodation for up to 3 nights at a maximum rate of €80 per night — if (an) overnight stay(s) is(/are) required
- Transport from the terminal to your accommodation and back — if (an) overnight stay(s) is(/are) required
Please note: you are not entitled to accommodation — i.e. if the delay is caused by extraordinary circumstances not covered by legislation, such as severe weather conditions.
Delay at arrival (60+ minutes
If your arrival at your destination is delayed by more than 1 hour, you are entitled to compensation of 25%-50% of the ticket price, depending on the length of the journey.
Please note: you are not entitled to compensation if the delay is caused by extraordinary circumstances not covered by legislation, such as severe weather conditions, natural disasters (like fires or earthquakes), or security threats.
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If you are disabled and/or have reduced mobility, you are entitled to the following:
- Free assistance at port terminals and on board of ships
- Financial compensation for loss of or damage to mobility equipment
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If your baggage and/or vehicle got lost, delayed, or damaged due to an incident or accident at sea, compensation from the service carrier is due as follows:
- Cabin baggage: approximately €2,700
- Vehicle (including baggage in the vehicle): approximatly €15,500 per vehicle
- Valuables (money, jewellery, works of art, etc.): approximately €4,100 ‚— on the condition that you deposited them with the carrier for safekeeping. Special rules apply to the loss of or damage to monies, negotiable securities, gold, silverware, jewellery, ornaments, works of art, or other valuables.
- Wheelchair or other mobility equipment: compensation to cover the cost of replacing or repairing it.
Please note: compensation is not due where the carrier can prove it was not at fault.
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If you were injured in an incident or accident at sea, you are entitled to compensation of approximately €300,000 - €490,000 from the carrier or its insurer, depending on the level of damage and care required.
You are also entitled to an advance payment, in proportion to the damages suffered, to cover any immediate needs if your injury was caused by shipwreck, capsizing, collision, the ship running aground, an explosion or a fire on the ship, or a defect in the ship.
Please note: you are not entitled to compensation if the carrier can prove that the incident was caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond its control, such as natural disasters or security threats, which are not covered by legislation.
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If you are a dependant of a victim of a fatal incident at sea, you are entitled to compensation of approximately €300,000 - €490,000 from the carrier or its insurer.
You are also entitled to an advance payment of no less than €21,000 to cover any immediate needs if the victim's death was caused by shipwreck, capsizing, collision, the ship running aground, an explosion or a fire on the ship, or a defect in the ship.
Please note: you are not entitled to compensation if the carrier can prove that the incident was caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond its control, such as natural disasters or security threats, which are not covered by legislation.
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How to file a complaint with the business?
Carriers and terminal operators must have a complaint handling mechanism available to all passengers.
To make sure the carrier or terminal operator can assess and respond to your complaint as quickly and efficiently as possible, you should provide the following when submitting it:
- Your name and contact details
- A detailed description of your complaint
- The resolution you seek
- Copies of relevant supporting documentation, including your correspondence with the business to date
How to file a complaint about a delay or cancellation?
You should make a complaint to the carrier within 2 months of the scheduled service during which the problem occurred. The carrier must respond within 1 month and give you a final reply no later than 2 months after receiving your original complaint.
How to file a complaint about an incident at sea?
If your cabin baggage and/or vehicle got lost or damaged at sea, you should inform the carrier or its agent in writing. Preferably before you leave the ship or when your baggage is eventually delivered.
At the very latest, you should inform the carrier within 15 days of disembarking the ship or delivery of your baggage. If you fail to do so, you lose your right to compensation.
How to file a complaint with an enforcement authority?
If you are not satisfied with the response or solution offered by the carrier, you can lodge a complaint with the relevant national enforcement body and upload this complaint with the relevant national authorities in your country of residence, and it will provide you with a non-binding legal opinion on how to proceed with your claim.
How to file a complaint with an alternative dispute resolution body?
Alternatively, you can use out-of-court procedures, such as alternative dispute resolution, or submit your complaint via the Online Dispute Resolution platform.
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If you have submitted complaints and used out-of-court procedures, and none of these have yielded a solution, you may wish to take formal legal action and submit a claim for compensation under EU rules using the European Small Claims procedure.
You can submit a claim for compensation for any loss or damage caused by an incident at sea to a court in the country where:
- The carrier has its main place of business or permanent establishment, or
- You country where you departed or arrived, or
- You have permanent residence – if the carrier has a place of business there and is subject to that country's jurisdiction, or
- The travel contract was concluded – if the carrier has a place of business there and is subject to that country's jurisdiction
You may also bring the matter before the court in the country where the carrier is registered. The time limits for bringing an action against a carrier in a national court are defined in accordance with national rules on the limitation of actions — and each EU country has their own. Generally, however, you must bring your claim before the court within 2 years from the date of the actual or scheduled disembarkation — whichever date is later.
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Where can I get assistance and advice?
The European Consumer Centres Network provides free legal advice and support on cross-border purchasing issues. It can also help consumers deal with disputes relating to travelling in the EU, Norway, and Iceland. If you have tried to resolve a dispute with a business to no avail, click here to contact your local ECC and submit an enquiry.