Cancellation or delay of your boat trip
Was your boat trip delayed? Or even cancelled? Then you will need to know what to expect. The carrier must thereby immediately (no later than thirty minutes after the scheduled time of departure) inform you of the:
- estimated times of departure and arrival
- (any) alternative connections
Your boat trip is delayed: meals and overnight accommodation
Suppose you are facing a delay of more than ninety minutes. Or your boat trip has been cancelled. As a passenger, you are in this case entitled to:
- free meals, snacks and beverages (in relation to your waiting time)
- decent, free overnight stay (on board or on land) of at least € 80 per night, up to three nights – except if the cancellation or delay of the boat trip is due to weather conditions that could endanger the safety of the passengers.
Delay of your boat trip: alternative trip or refund
In case of a cancellation of the boat trip, or a delay exceeding ninety minutes, the carrier should also give you the choice between:
- an alternative journey to the final destination: at no additional cost, under similar circumstances and within the best possible time frame
AND
- refund of the ticket and of the part of the trip you have already travelled (in vain), including return transport to the original point of departure, if necessary
Delay of your boat trip: compensation
Did your ship reach its destination late? Then you are entitled to compensation. You will be refunded at least 25 percent of your ticket if your boat trip is delayed. The exact amount depends on the total duration of the journey:
|
Number of hours of delay at arrival |
For a travel duration of ... |
| 1 hour |
4 hours |
| 2 hours |
4 to 8 hours |
| 3 hours |
8 to 24 hours |
| 4 hours |
more than 24 hours |
Is the delay of your boat trip twice as long as the figures in the above table? For example: two hours instead of one hour (for a journey that takes four hours)? Then you are entitled to a refund of 50%.
Delay of your boat trip: no compensation for bad weather
Passengers will not receive compensation for the cancellation or delay of their boat trip in the following cases:
- in poor weather conditions that could endanger passengers: severe storm, harsh winter, exceptionally high or low tide, hurricane, etc.
- in extraordinary circumstances that could not be avoided
The European Union protects you as a passenger. How exactly? ECC Belgium will tell you.
