Passengers Rights For Ship Travel

Rights of passengers traveling by ships:

· Traveling by ferry and the route is delayed?

· His trip was canceled?

· Waiting to travel and his ship is not at the port?

· He was not given the seat or cabin he is entitled to?

· Wants to cancel his ticket?

· How will he be compensated and where should he address?

Before traveling by ship, the traveler must be informed about their rights and the obligations of the ferry companies.

20 useful questions - answers

1.What am I entitled to if the seat or type of cabin indicated on the ticket is not provided?

(a) To withdraw and receive the value of the fare paid (passenger or vehicle) and a cash compensation increased by 100% of the fare price for the passenger or

(b) To travel in a lower class seat and receive the price difference of the passenger fare between the categories increased by 100% or

(c) After your request and agreement of the company, to travel in a higher class seat by paying the price difference of the fare reduced by 50%. Payment of the difference does not apply if the company provides a higher seat on its own initiative without your request.

2.Do I have the right to cancel my ticket?

You are entitled to withdraw and depending on the time of return of the ticket, to receive a refund of the ticket fare as follows:

-50% if you return the ticket up to 12 hours before the scheduled departure.

-75% if you return the ticket up to 7 days before the scheduled departure.

-Full fare if you return the ticket up to 14 days before the scheduled departure.

-Full fare regardless of the notice period for proven force majeure reasons.

In the above cases of cancellation, reservations for third parties and VAT are refunded.

3.Do I have the right to modify my ticket?

You have the right to modify your ticket if seats are available up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure.

4.What am I entitled to carry without paying extra fare?

-You are entitled to carry hand luggage weighing up to 50 kilograms.

-If you are a person with reduced mobility, you are entitled, in addition to hand luggage, to carry all the equipment required for your autonomous movement.

5.Who is responsible for damage or loss of my luggage within the ship?

If your luggage has been delivered for safekeeping and you have been issued a relevant receipt, the company is responsible.

6.What am I entitled to if the ship is delayed in departing from the port due to damage or loss of the ship or the company's fault?

(a) To withdraw and receive compensation equivalent to the ticket fare you paid.

(b) To remain on the ship and be forwarded to the destination of your sea journey with the care and expense of the company.

(c) To be provided with food for a delay of more than 4 hours and accommodation on the ship or in a hotel, if possible, when the expected departure time is the next day from the initially scheduled departure time and at least 6 hours have elapsed or if departure is expected more than 6 hours after the scheduled departure time and the scheduled departure time is between 00.00 and 05.00. If accommodation is not feasible, a monetary compensation twice the passenger fare is provided.

(d) To receive compensation of 25% or 50% of the fare or another compensatory provision upon agreement only if you were ultimately forwarded to your destination by the same or another ship at the expense of the company and your delay exceeds 3 or 6 hours respectively from the scheduled arrival time at your destination port.

(e) To receive double the passenger fare as compensation as well as the refund of the vehicle fare you paid or another compensatory provision upon agreement, if due to the company's fault you were not forwarded to your destination by the same or another ship within 24 hours of the scheduled departure time.

7.What am I entitled to if the ship is delayed during the journey due to damage or loss of the ship or the company's fault?

-To withdraw and receive a refund of the fare corresponding to the remainder of the route or

-To continue your journey and receive compensation of 25% or 50% of the fare or another compensatory provision upon agreement when, due to the delay, the scheduled arrival at the destination port exceeds 3 or 6 hours respectively.

Exercising one of the above rights is evidenced by completing a form provided by the company when you are informed of the delay of the journey.

8.What am I entitled to if the journey is interrupted at an intermediate port due to damage or loss of the ship or the company's fault and if I eventually reached my destination?

To receive compensation of 25% or 50% of the fare or another compensatory provision upon agreement, provided that you were eventually forwarded to your destination by the same or another ship at the expense of the company and the delay exceeds 3 or 6 hours respectively from the scheduled arrival.

9.What am I entitled to if my journey is interrupted at an intermediate port due to a ship breakdown or damage, and I am not forwarded to my destination and did not exercise the right of withdrawal?

You are entitled to be offered by the company food for delays exceeding 4 hours and accommodation on board or in a hotel, if feasible, when the expected departure time is the next day from the originally scheduled time of departure from the intermediate port, and there is a minimum of 6 hours between them, or if departure is expected to be delayed for more than 6 hours and the interruption of the journey occurred between 00:00 and 05:00. If accommodation is not feasible, you are entitled to double the fare as compensation, and additionally double the fare or another compensatory provision upon agreement.

The exercise of this right is evidenced by signing a relevant form provided by the company when you are informed about the interruption of the journey.

10.What am I entitled to if the journey is delayed or canceled due to a ship breakdown or the fault of the company, and I miss the connection for the continuation of the sea journey?

If you have a connecting ticket, you inform the company and are entitled to be forwarded to your final destination by the most appropriate means, at the expense of the company.

You are entitled to food and accommodation at the connecting port, at the expense of the company, when due to the loss of the connection you are forced to depart the next day from your arrival and there is a minimum of 6 hours between them, or when arrival at the connecting port occurred between 00:00 and 05:00 and departure to your final destination is expected to be more than 6 hours later.

11.What am I entitled to if the departure of the ship is prohibited due to adverse weather conditions?

Modify your ticket.

Stay on board if, according to the judgment of the captain, conditions permit.

Withdraw and be refunded the corresponding fare.

12.What am I entitled to if the journey is canceled due to the fault of the company?

You are entitled to receive full compensation or other compensatory benefits of your choice if:

You were not informed one week before the scheduled departure of the canceled itinerary and the ticket price was not refunded, or

You were not informed at least 12 hours before the scheduled departure of the canceled itinerary and were not forwarded by other means to your destination within 12 hours of the scheduled departure of the canceled itinerary.

13.What am I entitled to if the journey is canceled due to a ship breakdown or damage?

You are entitled to be informed in advance and if you agree, to be forwarded to your destination at the expense of the company within 24 hours, or to withdraw and be refunded the ticket price.

If you are not forwarded to your destination or do not withdraw according to the above case, you are entitled to food for delays exceeding 4 hours and accommodation on board or in a hotel, if feasible, when the expected departure time is the next day from the scheduled departure time and there is a minimum of 6 hours between them, or when the scheduled departure time is between 00:00 and 05:00. If accommodation is not feasible, you are entitled to double the fare.

Double the fare as compensation or other compensatory provision upon agreement if, due to the fault of the company, you are not forwarded to your destination within 24 hours.

14.What am I entitled to if I am denied boarding the ship despite having a valid ticket?

Receive compensation triple the value of the fare or

Be forwarded to your final destination as soon as possible, at the expense of the company, with food for delays exceeding 4 hours and accommodation on board or in a hotel, if feasible, when the expected departure time is the next day from the scheduled departure time and there is a minimum of 6 hours between them, or when the scheduled departure time is between 00:00 and 05:00, or transfer at a time of your choice. In this case, you receive additional compensation equal to the value of the fare.

15.Where can I return my ticket?

You can return or modify your ticket where you purchased it or to the designated port agent by the company or to any person issuing passenger tickets and vehicle transportation documents for the specific ship.

16.How will the fare be refunded and the compensation paid to me?

You must deliver the intact ticket or the stub to the company or the ticket issuer or the port agent designated by the company up to 7 days after the scheduled departure of the ship.

17.Does the company have any other obligations that I should be aware of?

Yes, you should know that companies are obliged to:

Publicly announce the schedules with any suitable means and inform the public in advance about their execution.

Announce with accessible to passengers forms any delay in departure, arrival, and docking of the ship, mentioning both the estimated time and the cause of the delay.

Inform the interested passenger before issuing the ticket about the prices and discounts and not increase the price for which a reservation was made through the reservation system until the agreed date and time of collection or payment of the ticket.

Provide detailed information to the passenger about their rights and obligations arising from the provisions of the law.

Provide any possible assistance to persons with reduced mobility or persons in need of special care such as infants, small children, and their escorts, pregnant women, and elderly persons.

18.What obligations do I have towards the company?

As a passenger, you are required to:

Arrive at the ship half an hour before the scheduled departure time and bring your vehicle to the loading area at least 1 hour before departure.

Occupy the corresponding seat indicated on your ticket, refrain from placing your luggage or other items on seats or in other passenger areas so as not to deprive another passenger of their seat, and comply with the ship's regulations as well as the instructions of the captain or ship personnel related to the tranquility, orderliness, cleanliness, and safety of the ship.

Not transport explosive, flammable, incendiary, or generally dangerous materials.

Provide your accurate information and, if desired, contact information for notification in case of delay, cancellation, or termination of the itinerary.

19.Where can I address complaints or grievances if the company fails to fulfill its obligations?

For any complaint or grievance regarding the non-compliance with the company's or ticket issuer's obligations, as specified in the provisions of Law 3709/2008, as well as for any claim arising from the provisions of the same law, you initially address the company or the ticket issuer or the shipping agent. During the voyage, to the officer designated by the captain of the ship. You fill out the special complaint form, which you can obtain accordingly within the ship, at ticket issuing offices, and at port authorities.

After 15 working days have elapsed without receiving responses or adequate explanations from the company or the ticket issuer regarding complaints or grievances, you can fill out and submit the same special complaint form, attaching a photocopy of the original complaint form you filled out directly: a) to the Port Authority of embarkation or disembarkation, or b) to the Hellenic Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy or the Directorate of Transport of the General Secretariat of the Aegean and Island Policy and the address specified on the back of the special form.

20.In which cases are any of my demands not applicable?

No claim can be justified for delay, interruption, cancellation, or modification of the itinerary due to reasons of public order and safety, the application of legislative provisions (such as case d of paragraph 3, article 6 of law 2932/01), or orders of the competent Authority in general, especially for providing assistance to ships or persons in danger or for any approved modification of scheduled itineraries related to serving emergency transport needs or serving the public interest.

For more information and updates on Law 3709/08 (Government Gazette 213 A) and Ministerial Decision no. 3332.12/01/09/23-2-2009 (Government Gazette 427 B), passengers can contact the Port Authorities and the Consumer Association of Greece.