Ferry Cancelled Twice

Barfly99

Sorry if this is in the wrong place but a search for ferry cancellation doesn't bring me any results.

Anyway. We booked a holiday in France and our travel through Irish Ferries. Shortly before we were due to travel they told us our homeward bound ferry from France to Ireland was cancelled and the only alternative was to stay in France another 2 days and book a hotel on the end of our stay. Now we're in France and we got a text to say our homeward ferry is cancelled again and that we can now end our holiday early and come home now or extend it by three extra nights and come home late. Extra nights in a hotel and coming home late isn't an option due to the extra cost and work commitments. Therefore we're having to come home early, leave our property we booked and cancel the hotel that the original cancellation caused. Does anyone know what our rights are in this scenario ?

Thanks in advance

Mark

Alan_Bowen

EU1177 is your friend. If a ferry is cancelled you are entitled to up to 3 nights accommodation at 80 Euros a night maximum and meals whilst you are delayed. Compensation is based on 50% of the fare paid for the delayed journey for delays over 6 hours but if you have chosen to come home early, I suppose they will argue you have chosen not to be delayed. The duty to look after you occurs whatever the reason for the delay but if the delay is outside the company's control, I assume this is Irish Ferries whose ship has not been built in time, they may try and argue it is outside their control and not offer compensation. However as far as I can see the only ground for denying compensation is adverse weather and they must have known months ago the ship wasn't going to be ready for the summer season.
For other expenses, you need to look at the terms of your travel insurance

Barfly99

Thanks for the reply. The original delay was caused by one of their ships not being refurbed in time for the summer season. The second delay was caused by the Holyhead to Dublin boat breaking down and taking our Cherbourg to Dublin boat to stand in. That's left hundreds of families now left with the decision on wether to cut their paid for holiday short in France or stay longer, should their work permit.

We've lost today trying to sort out alternative travel and we'll be leaving our villa, that's paid till Saturday, a day early as well.