Urinating in the glass: Court protects cruise passenger from being thrown out!

Urinating in the glass: Court protects cruise passenger from being thrown out!

A remarkable incident on a cruise ship has led to a far-reaching ruling by the Düsseldorf Regional Court. A passenger who allegedly urinated in a glass received compensation following the controversial incident. This raises interesting questions about the responsibilities and rights of travelers in the cruise industry. Loud Focus the court ruled that an immediate exclusion measure without prior warning was inadmissible.

The incident occurred while the passenger was sitting at a bar with two companions. Other guests reportedly observed the man urinating into a glass. As a result, three days later, the captain asked him and his companions to leave the ship and arrange their own return flight. However, the court found that even if the allegation were true, it did not constitute a serious breach of contract that would justify immediate termination of the travel contract.

Judgment and compensation

The regional court decided that the passenger should receive a refund of around 4,300 euros for the travel price, an additional 1,600 euros for return flights and taxi costs and 3,100 euros for the lost vacation joys. The judges emphasized that urinating in a glass was inappropriate, but not violent or offensive. There was also criticism that the expulsion from the ship was only issued three days after the incident, even though the ship had called at another port in the meantime.

What is particularly noteworthy is that the man's two companions were also asked to leave, even though they were not actively involved in the incident.

The cruise industry is changing

The cruise industry has experienced significant growth in recent years. In 2023, the industry recorded 31.7 million passengers worldwide, including 8.2 million from Europe and 18.1 million from North America. The forecasts for 2025 assume sales of around 40.447 billion euros, with Royal Caribbean having a market share of around 13 percent in the cruise business in 2024.

There was also a new record: Hamburg recorded over 1.2 million passengers who set sail from there in 2023. The continuous increase in the number of passengers poses challenges for the cruise industry, particularly with regard to compliance with legal framework conditions and the handling of possible travel deficiencies.

Travel and passenger rights

The travel law for cruises essentially treats them as a package holiday, which means that the tour operator is responsible for any shortcomings. Passengers must inform the tour guide on site in the event of travel defects, such as missed port stops or mismatched cabin categories, and write a report of the defect upon return. If there are defects, travelers could request a price reduction, although the deadline for submitting a report of defects has been two years since July 1, 2018.

In summary, this incident shows not only the complexity of legal regulations in the cruise sector, but also the increasing need to defend the rights of travelers. Such judgments could potentially bring future trips into greater focus.