Passengers who set sail on the Norwegian Pearl on June 22 found themselves in an unfortunate situation after the cruise was suddenly cancelled mid-trip. The 2,394-passenger ship left Amsterdam on June 22 only to be kept overnight in Barcelona on July 2 where passengers were told that their vacations would unexpectedly be cut short.
Many passengers reported this trip as being a “bucket list” item for them: a 13-day cruise through Western Europe and the Mediterranean. The trip was originally planned to end in Rome on July 5, 2019. Passengers had understandably made provisions to travel out of Rome as soon as they returned to their destination on July 5. When the trip suddenly ended, these passengers were devastated. Many of them were left in a difficult situation with no sure way home.
Those on the ship were notified that there would be a deviation from the cruise’s itinerary with a public announcement made by the captain during the day on July 1, 2019. They were told that due to “propulsion issues,” the ship would be going directly to Barcelona instead of their planned stop of Palma de Mallorca. At the time of the announcement, they were told that they had no reason to believe any safety issues existed and that they would dock overnight to assess the issue and make needed repairs before they could be on their way.
After the initial announcement was made, however, passengers were never given a clear response as to what was going on with the ship’s propulsion system. Once the ship stopped in Barcelona, another public announcement was made by the captain that they would be working on the propulsion problem and would depart the next morning on their way to Livorno. Passengers were informed that this unplanned stop meant that their stop in Monte Carlo was also canceled.
Concerns began to circulate even more after they failed to leave Barcelona that next morning as planned. After passengers did a little research on their own online, some of them discovered that the media had already been informed, before the passengers were told, that the rest of the trip was being cancelled. Some passengers, such as one that reached out directly to Aronfeld Trial Lawyers regarding the incident, made alternative flight and hotel accommodations while docked in Barcelona. Thousands more on board the Norwegian Pearl were stuck on the ship as it had been forced to miss a number of scheduled ports.
The passengers who did not make their flight arrangements through Norwegian were told they would have to make their own flight arrangements from Barcelona. They were also told that they had to be off the ship by noon on July 5. All of this was provided to passengers in a written letter from the captain.
To add insult to injury, passengers were also told they would be compensated with only a 50 percent refund for the inconvenience and 50 percent credit towards a future Norwegian cruise, so long as the cruise was booked in the next 24 months.
However, the media release regarding the cancellation of the cruise said that passengers were going to be getting a full refund, which leaves many to wonder why the media was told one thing while passengers were told another. Passengers have also expressed displeasure with how information was distributed regarding the ship’s delays and the lack of prior arrangements that were made. Many have reached out to legal counsel regarding their rights with respect to the incident.
If you were one of these passengers who experienced this inconvenience, please contact Aronfeld Trial Lawyers today to discuss what steps you need to take next.
INJURED ON A CRUISE SHIP OR CRUISE SHIP EXCURSION? SPEAK TO A CRUISE SHIP ACCIDENT LAWYER TODAY: 1-866-597-4529.
If you have been injured on your cruise, on a wet and slippery deck, down a poorly lit staircase or steep gangway, in port on an excursion, or on a tender boat- it is important that you speak as soon as possible with a lawyer who specializes in personal injury claims against cruise lines. Most cruise lines, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, MSC, Disney, Holland America, Princess, Costa, Regents Seven Seas and Oceania require that claims against them be pursued in a very specific place under very strict deadlines. Failure to comply with each individual cruise lines deadlines can result in a complete loss of any and all legal rights.
Aronfeld Trial Lawyers is a personal injury firm located in Miami, Florida since 1991. We have fought hard to hold cruise lines accountable when they put their profits ahead of passenger safety. We are available 24/7 and encourage you to contact us even if you are still on your cruise. The sooner we can begin our investigation and preservation of key evidence, such as the CCTV footage of your trip and fall, slip and fall, assault or other type of injury the more likely we will be able to understand and prove how the incident occurred. Remember, the cruise lines have the most aggressive and well-funded defense lawyers in the world- protecting their profits. You need an experienced legal advocate in your corner who will fight to obtain the compensation you deserve for lost wages, medical expenses, transportation reimbursement and pain and suffering. Call us today and speak with a cruise ship claims lawyer about your potential claim- toll free 1-866-597-4529, 305-441-0440, or by email. We are ready to help.
Related Resource: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Norwegian-Pearl-cruise-canceled
