Cruise Line Scenic recently lost a class action lawsuit that spanned almost a decade.
The court ruled that the cruise line owes 1,200 of its passengers damages due to distress and disappointment, to the tune of $15.22 million. The company has also been mandated to reimburse the plaintiffs’ legal expenses of about $2 million.
The passengers’ complaints stemmed from Scenic’s response to flooding and extreme conditions in the rivers Rhine and Danube during April and May 2013.
These developments severely hampered cruise vessels from safely navigating the waterways.
According to the plaintiffs, instead of canceling cruises traveling between Budapest and Amsterdam, the company facilitated lengthy journeys by bus for its passengers and berthed at industrial ports.
Ben Hemsworth, who represented the cruise passengers legally, stated that Scenic fought them in court at every turn. He also congratulated the passengers for their perseverance.
In a public statement, Scenic Luxury remarked that it was disappointed with the final ruling. However, it added that the result is “in line with our financial provisioning, given the previous court decisions and subsequent appeals.”
They also wrote that they were pleased to have the issue settled and assured the public that they remain committed to passenger safety and enjoyment.
“Scenic Group is committed to delivering scheduled itineraries, without compromising on the guest’s safety or the services we provide… Whilst the prospect of schedule interruptions is unpredictable, we take nothing for granted and continue to invest in our River Cruise Cover and itineraries for the benefit of our guests.”
Scenic Cruises was not the only river cruise line that opted for the practice of using ships and buses in 2013.