We checked popular cruise-booking beliefs against official sources from the EU, UK and US. Some are backed by an official rule, some are only partly true, some are contradicted by official sources and some have no official evidence either way. Each answer below gives the verdict, a short explanation and the official page to check.
“EU ferry passenger rights (25-50% compensation for delays, refund or re-routing) also apply to cruises”
Verdict: Official sources say otherwise. EU ship passenger rules cover many cruises departing EU ports, but Your Europe says the choice between reimbursement and re-routing, and delay compensation of 25% to 50% of the ticket price, do not apply to cruise passengers.1
In the official wording: The right to compensation does not apply to passengers travelling on a cruise.
1
“A cruise counts as a package holiday, so package-travel protections apply”
Verdict: Partly true. UK government guidance says the Package Travel Regulations 2018 (the PTRs) apply to cruises in general, because they combine carriage and accommodation, unless shorter than 24 hours without overnight accommodation. At EU level, the Directive's recitals treat a cruise differently from overnight ferries and trains, which suggests cruise accommodation counts as a travel service in its own right; no EU page we read says so as plainly.23
“If a cruise from a US port is cancelled, your money is protected by the cruise line's bond”
Verdict: Backed by an official source. Operators of vessels with berths for 50 or more passengers embarking at US ports must prove financial responsibility (insurance, bond or similar) to refund passengers for "nonperformance". Nonperformance means cancelling, or delaying by 3 or more days if you decline the delayed or substitute voyage. You claim from the cruise line first; after 180 days unresolved, or a denial, you may claim against the financial instrument.4
In the official wording: Vessel means any commercial vessel having berth or stateroom accommodations for 50 or more passengers and embarking passengers at U.S. ports.
4
“Cruise "port taxes and fees" must be included in the advertised price”
Verdict: Partly true. Where a cruise is sold as a package in the EU, the pre-contract information must give the total price including taxes and additional fees, and UK law bans hiding unavoidable charges until later. In the US, the full-fare rule covers tours combining air transportation with cruise accommodation; we found no US rule specific to cruise-only fares, and the FTC fees rule covers live-event tickets and short-term lodging only.5678
In the official wording: total price, inclusive of all taxes and where applicable all additional fees, and the payment arrangements
5
What these verdicts cannot tell you
Each verdict says what the official sources we read state, for the places they cover. Rules change, and the booking's own terms can give you more than the law requires. This is not legal or financial advice: check the official page, or the authority, before you rely on a rule.
What this page cannot tell you
- Official sources only. We did not use airline, hotel, booking-site or blog claims as evidence.
- Rules change. Check the linked official page before you rely on any of this.
Related: Travel hacks, checked · EU flight delay compensation · Pay in local currency or home currency?.
Key takeaways
- Read the verdict, then the official page linked under each answer.
- Where official sources say nothing, we say so rather than guess.
- What we would skip: any travel hack that does not say which rule or source it comes from.
Sources
Every verdict rests on official pages saved on 5 October 2026; claims with no official evidence say so. See how we research.
- European Commission, Your Europe, Ship passenger rights. Read it. Accessed 5 October 2026. © European Union, licensed under CC BY 4.0; we summarised it.
- UK Department for Business (GOV.UK), Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018: guidance. Read it. Accessed 5 October 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- legislation.gov.uk (EU text as adopted), Directive (EU) 2015/2302, introduction (recitals). Read it. Accessed 5 October 2026. © European Union, licensed under CC BY 4.0; we summarised it.
- US Code of Federal Regulations, 46 CFR part 540, Passenger financial responsibility (edition of 1 January 2025). Read it. Accessed 5 October 2026. US government work, public domain.
- European Commission, Your Europe, Package travel, package holidays and linked travel arrangements in the EU. Read it. Accessed 5 October 2026. © European Union, licensed under CC BY 4.0; we summarised it.
- Competition and Markets Authority (GOV.UK), Providing clear and accurate information about prices: summary (CMA209). Read it. Accessed 5 October 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US Code of Federal Regulations, 14 CFR 399.84, Price advertising (edition of 1 January 2025). Read it. Accessed 5 October 2026. US government work, public domain.
- US Federal Trade Commission, The Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees: frequently asked questions. Read it. Accessed 5 October 2026. US government work, public domain.
Changes made. We summarised the official pages in our own words and gave each claim a verdict: backed, partly true, contradicted (official sources say otherwise) or no official evidence. The verdicts are ours, from what those pages state. US rules are quoted from the Code of Federal Regulations edition of 1 January 2025 unless a later notice is cited.