The cruise sector has been severely affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. The consequences of such epidemic have to be assessed in the light of Directive (UE) 2015/2302 and of national emergency legislation. The cruise operator can be liable towards passengers who became infected on board; such liability can be avoided by providing evidence that all reasonable cautions have been adopted. The cruise program can be substantially altered; the cruise operator should provide alternative solutions, but this may be difficult in practice. Cruises can be cancelled, either by the operator or by the passenger; a full refund should be provided and it is debated whether such refund could be substituted with a voucher.

Marco Lopez de Gonzalo, Navigate in an emergency: Cruises and COVID-19 in "RIVISTA ITALIANA DI DIRITTO DEL TURISMO" 30/2020, pp. 424-434, DOI:10.3280/DT2020-030024