AIDA Cruises faces court ruling invalidating three contract clauses

The Higher Regional Court of Rostock has invalidated three key clauses in the general terms and conditions of AIDA Cruises. This ruling follows a lawsuit filed by the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv).

The court found that certain provisions unfairly disadvantaged travelers. One invalidated clause required a flat 80 percent cancellation fee for individuals in multi-occupancy cabins who canceled their trip, regardless of how early the cancellation occurred. Additionally, the company reserved the right to rebook remaining travelers into smaller cabins under such circumstances.

Other contested regulations involved unclear cost structures regarding quarantine cases on board and the extensive powers granted to ship captains. The court ruled that while tour operators may secure themselves against costs, they cannot unilaterally shift all economic risks onto the passengers.