When Your Cruise Goes Wrong
When your cruise does not go according to plan, knowing who is responsible—and what to do next—can make a complicated situation easier to navigate.
A cruise combines transportation, lodging, dining, entertainment and international travel into one trip. When something goes wrong, the answer may depend on why it happened, where the ship is, who arranged the affected part of the journey, what the passenger contract says and whether travel insurance applies.
Here you will find straightforward guidance for missed embarkation, canceled or delayed cruises, changed itineraries, missed ports, mechanical problems, medical issues, unexpected expenses and other cruise disruptions.
Missed Your Cruise? What to Do If You Can’t Reach the Ship
A canceled flight, highway closure, medical emergency or missing document can put your cruise at risk before it begins. Learn whom to call first, whether you can still reach the original port, when joining the ship later may be possible and what travel insurance may cover.
Cruise Canceled or Delayed: Refund or Future Cruise Credit?
Your cruise is canceled or departure gets pushed back. Should you take the Future Cruise Credit, or can you get your money back? Here's what the federal three-calendar-day rule actually means and what to check before accepting the cruise line's offer.
Mechanical Problems on a Cruise: What Are Your Rights?
A mechanical problem can cause anything from a minor inconvenience to a canceled or prematurely ended cruise. Learn what the Cruise Industry Passenger Bill of Rights says about refunds, transportation, lodging and keeping passengers informed when the machinery doesn't cooperate.
Your Cruise Was Refunded. What About Your Flights, Hotel and Excursions?
The cruise line refunded your sailing, but you also paid for airfare, a hotel, transportation and private excursions. Those bookings may have their own cancellation rules. Here's how to untangle the rest of your vacation one reservation at a time.
Your Luggage Was Damaged: Who Pays for It?
A missing wheel or cracked suitcase is frustrating, but who pays can depend on where the damage happened and who had your bag. Here’s what airlines may owe, why cruise claims get complicated, and why you should report the damage before you leave.
Missed the Cruise Ship in Port? What to Do Next
The ship sailed without you—now what? Learn how to find the port agent, contact the cruise line, protect your insurance claim and determine where you may be able to rejoin your cruise.
Your Cruise Changed or Skipped a Port: Are You Owed Anything?
You booked the itinerary partly because of the ports. Then one disappears. Does the cruise line owe you a refund or compensation? Here's why a skipped port isn't the same as a canceled cruise, and what to check when your itinerary changes.
Sick or Injured on a Cruise: What Happens and Who Pays?
What happens if you need medical care hundreds of miles from home? Learn how onboard medical care works, why your regular insurance may not cover everything, when medical evacuation becomes important and why one sick passenger isn't the same as a shipwide outbreak.
Cruising During Hurricane Season? Have a Plan Before You Book
A hurricane-season cruise can mean a great fare, but it can also mean changed ports, extra sea days or disrupted travel plans. Here’s how to decide whether the bargain is worth it, why insurance matters, and why Semper Gumby may be the best cruise-planning advice of all.