Find out what compensation you’re entitled to, and how you can claim, if your ferry journey is delayed or cancelled.
EU regulations mean you’re entitled to compensation if your ferry is either delayed or cancelled.
If your journey’s delayed, you’re entitled to compensation worth 25% of the ticket price for the part of the journey that was affected. For example, if it’s a return trip, and only one part was delayed, that’s the part you can claim for.
What’s considered a delay depends on how long your journey is:
If the delay doubles, you’re entitled to 50% of your ticket price as compensation.
If your ferry is cancelled, or delayed by more than 90 minutes, you should be offered an alternative departure. If they can’t put you on another ferry, you should be refunded the full price of your ticket within seven days.
If the company knows your ferry is going to be cancelled or disrupted, you should be given free snacks, meals and refreshments.
When a departure is cancelled and you need to stay overnight to wait for the next ferry, your ferry operator should give you somewhere to stay for free.
There’ll usually be a limit on the cost of your accommodation - about €80 per person per night, and they normally won’t pay for more than three nights.
Your ferry operator might let you make your own travel plans and reimburse your expenses instead.
You need to claim from the ferry company.
You’ve got two months to make a claim from the date of delay or cancellation. The ferry operator has to compensate you within a month of you making a claim.
If you’re not happy with the way your ferry operator is handling your claim, you can involve ABTA (The Association of British Travel Agents). They’re there to handle complaints or unresolved compensation claims.
You won’t be entitled to compensation if:
Asides from compensation from the ferry company, taking out the right travel insurance can help too:
Travel disruption cover can help you claim compensation for things like delays, missed departures, enforced stay and unused travel or accommodation
If you need to return home unexpectedly from a trip, holiday curtailment cover can help cover the cost of the bit of your holiday you missed out on, and any travel costs from having to come home early
Protects you if you can't make your trip and have to cancel