Ship owner 'reserves right' to sue
Protesting passengers agree compensation with travel firm over failure to dock in Ha Long Bay, but legal experts warn they could pay a price
The owner of a cruise ship occupied by passengers demanding higher compensation for missing a stop on their tour says it "reserves the right" to sue the protesters.
The passengers yesterday reached a compensation deal with tour agency Miramar Travel over their failure to reach port in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. But legal experts said Costa Cruises, owner of the Costa Victoria, could sue the passengers for delaying a sailing to Malaysia with their 17-hour protest on Thursday, or for additional berthing fees it incurred.
Some 300 passengers refused to leave the ship when it returned to Tsim Sha Tsui on Thursday at the end of a six-day trip after tour agency Miramar offered them just HK$340 in compensation for failing to land at Cai Lan port, near the Unesco World Heritage site. Instead, passengers saw the spectacular limestone rock formations from onboard the ship.
The final level of compensation agreed with the protesting passengers was covered by a confidentiality agreement.
Costa said it "deeply regretted the discomfort and disappointment felt by our passengers" after a sunken barge prevented it from entering a navigation channel to reach the port.
"Costa Victoria, in compliance with the instruction from local Vietnamese port authorities, for safety reasons, could not navigate to the anchorage position as scheduled," it added. "This was a decision beyond the control of Costa Cruises."
The company said passengers continued to enjoy full service onboard the ship and it had, as a goodwill gesture, provided US$50 in credit to spend onboard for each cabin.