Ferries
When you travel by sea or inland waterway in the EU you are protected by consumer law. These rights apply if:
- you are sailing from an EEA country (EU plus Norway and Iceland)
- you are sailing to a port in the EEA on a ferry service run by an EEA transport company
- you sail on a cruise from an EEA port with accommodation of two or more nights
For the EU protection to apply, your ship must be able to carry at least twelve passengers. The protection also does not apply to:
- ships with three crew members or less
- sightseeing tours
- trips that are less than 500 metres one-way
- non-mechanically propelled ships, or historical ships
The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for enforcing these EU rules in Ireland.
Delays and cancellations
Lost or damaged items
Reduced Mobility
People with a disability or reduced mobility have specific rights when travelling. The assistance must be free. If the tour operator or ferry company require you to travel with a carer, that person must be taken free of charge.
You should notify the ferry company or port authority that you have reduced mobility when you are making your booking, or at least 48 hours before you travel.
Complaints
If you want to make a complaint, you should make it to the ferry operator or port authority first. Each company must have a complaint handling process in place. You must submit your complaint within two months. The ferry company or port authority must respond to you within one month to tell you whether your complaint has been accepted, rejected or is still being considered, and they must give you a final response within two months.
If you are not happy with the outcome of your complaint, you can appeal to the National Transport Authority, telephone: +353 (0)1 879 8300.
