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Italy: consumer groups win compensation for passengers of shipwrecked Costa Concordia
31 Jan 2012
Altroconsumo of Italy and other Italian
consumer organisations have helped negotiate an agreement for
compensation for the passengers of the
shipwrecked Costa Concordia, regardless of
nationality.
Consumers International member Altroconsumo
and other Italian consumer organisations met with the cruise ship
operator, Costa Crociere, and successfully negotiated an agreement
for victims of the Costa Concordia shipwreck, which includes:
- Compensation of 11,000 Euros per person as compensation for
patrimonial, and non-patrimonial loss, including damage to baggage
and personal belongings, and damage for ruined holidays
- A full refund for the cruise and all related expenses,
including port taxes
- A refund for air and bus tickets included in the cruise ship
expenses
- A full refund for unexpected trips back home
- A refund for medical expenses, and
- A refund for expenses incurred while onboard the cruise
ship.
The agreement fine print
Altroconsumo finds the agreement adequate and notes that it
applies to passengers of any age, including children, even if they
were non-paying guests.
The Italian consumer organisation does point out, however, that
the agreement does not cover the families of victims and wounded
passengers who received medical treatment at the scene. For these
people, the indemnity coverage will be calculated on a case-by-case
basis depending on the seriousness of the damage suffered.
The compensation will be credited to passengers within seven
days of their acceptance of Costa Crociere's proposal.
What else Costa Crociere is doing
Altrconsumo says Costa Crociere will:
- return all personal belongings and valuables stored in cabin
safes, wherever possible
- provide all passengers with specific psychological assistance,
and
- cancel any cruise ship reservations made before the shipwreck,
without penalty, if cancelled by 7 February, 2012.
More information
In Italy, call 848505050. Or email
rimborsiconcordia@costa.it
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