Cancelled or delayed boat travel

The EU rules apply in the following cases:

• When you travel within the EU.

• When you travel between countries and one of the countries is a member of the EU.

These rules also apply to Norway, Iceland and Switzerland in the same way as for all of the EU countries.

Entitled to rebooking or a refund

If your trip is covered by the EU rules, as a passenger, you are entitled to a refund or rebooking if your trip is cancelled or delayed by at least 90 minutes.

If you choose to rebook, you have the right to an alternative journey free of charge at the earliest opportunity and under comparable conditions. If you choose a refund, you should get your money back within seven days.

Right to financial compensation

If your trip is covered by the EU rules and you are affected by a delay, you may be entitled to financial compensation from the boat company.

The compensation you can demand

How much money you get depends on how long the trip is delayed and how long the boat travel was planned to take.

• Trips of up to four hours: If the delay is between one and two hours, you are entitled to get back 25 per cent of the ticket price. If you are delayed by more than two hours, you are entitled to get back 50 per cent of the ticket price.

• Trips of between four and eight hours: If the delay is between two and four hours, you are entitled to get back 25 per cent of the ticket price. If you are delayed by more than four hours, you are entitled to get back 50 per cent of the ticket price.

• Trips of between eight and 24 hours: If the delay is between three and six hours, you are entitled to get back 25 per cent of the ticket price. If you are delayed by more than six hours, you are entitled to get back 50 per cent of the ticket price.

• Trips of more than 24 hours: If the delay is between six and 12 hours, you are entitled to get back 25 per cent of the ticket price. If you are delayed by more than 12 hours, you are entitled to get back 50 per cent of the ticket price.

Compensation for expenses due to the delayed or cancelled boat

If you can prove with receipts or the like that you had expenses due to the delayed or cancelled boat, you may be entitled to demand compensation for those expenses.

However, the boat company is not obliged to pay any compensation to you if the boat was cancelled or delayed due to an extraordinary circumstance that was beyond the boat company’s control. For example, this can involve weather conditions.

If the compensation you are entitled to is less than EUR 6, the boat company does not need to pay you the compensation.

Right to food and lodging

If your trip is covered by the EU rules and you are affected by a delay, you may be entitled to food and lodging from the boat company. What you can demand depends on how long the trip is delayed.

If a trip is cancelled, you should receive food and drink from the company free of charge. What you receive should be in proportion to how long you need to wait. You can demand this on condition that it is actually possible for the boat company to offer food and drink.

If you are delayed by so much that you have to stay overnight, the boat company should arrange lodging for you on-board the boat or on land free of charge. The company has a right to limit the cost to EUR 80 per night and needs to arrange lodging for a maximum of three nights. The company does not need to offer you lodging if the cancelled trip or delay is due to weather conditions.