CLIA Introduces Cruise Passengers Bill of Rights

The Board of Directors at CLIA (Cruise Line International Association) have approved a Bill of Rights for passengers on cruise ships.  The CEOs of cruise lines are verifying in writing that they have adopted these measures and that they are committed to the comfort, safety and care of the guests on board.

In the aftermath of several problems on cruise ships, most notably when the Carnival Triumph had a fire break out in one of the ship’s engine rooms causing the ship to lose power, cruise lines are taking extra steps to make sure that passengers on board are taken care.

There has been an outcry from many asking for cruise lines to take these extra steps.  While these ten Bill of Rights may not be perfect, they are a step in the right direction and most of them seem like “common sense”.

What steps are being taken?  Below are the 10 rights that passengers will now have when they step on board their next cruise.

INTERNATIONAL CRUISE LINE PASSENGER BILL OF 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 on board, 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. The right to lodging if disembarkation and an overnight stay in an unscheduled port are required when a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures.
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.

What do you think of these 10 rights?  Do you think they are fair or that the cruise lines should do go even farther?  Cruise Fever would love to hear your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.