Unfall von „Mein Schiff 3“: Kreuzfahrt nach Kollision abgesagt: Was Urlaubern zusteht

The planned three-week cruise on "Mein Schiff 3" unexpectedly ended due to a collision with container ships in Bremerhaven. Tui Cruises canceled the 20-day voyage to the Canary Islands, and the ship must be repaired at the shipyard. Passengers face the reality of German autumn instead of Spanish sunshine. According to legal expert Kay Rodegra, those on such cruise cancellations due to an accident are entitled to a refund.

If a cruise company announces a cancellation at the beginning of a trip, passengers are entitled to a full refund of the trip cost, as explained by the expert. However, a passenger does not have the right to a later substitute cruise if the cruise is cancelled at the start. The company and the customer can agree to proceed with a substitute cruise if they both consent.

If the organizer offers a substitute cruise, the customer may decline. If a trip is halted, the holidaymaker can seek compensation for the lost vacation time, but only if the organizer cannot compensate them, for example, if a third party is responsible for the cancellation and it was unforeseeable and unavoidable for the organizer.

Consequently, when determining responsibility for ship damage, it must be established who is at fault. If subsequent cruises on "Mein Schiff 3" are canceled due to the incident, Tui Cruises has not yet provided information about the future. However, in case of a cancellation, the customer would receive the paid trip price or deposit, and possibly additional compensation for damages.

The holidaymaker would also have the right to cancel the contract for free if significant changes to the agreed services are made.