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British couple awarded over $35,000 for "loss of enjoyment" on cruise
When Terence and Cynthia Milner booked a 15-week, $100,000 round-the-world cruise on Cunard's Queen Victoria, they were expecting the trip of a lifetime. Instead, they claim the experience was so horrible that they had to get off the ship early in Hawaii, at which point they were "in a terrible state."
The problem: apparently the first night they heard unbearable noise in their cabin. They were moved, and moved again and again but continued to find each successive cabin equally unsatisfactory until they could take it no more. Cunard refunded the couple nearly $80,000 for the portion of the cruise they missed, but the Milners wanted more. The took Cunard to court, and were awarded an additional 22,000 pounds (about $36,600) with the majority of the money awarded for "distress and disappointment." Another portion of the settlement was awarded to cover the £4,300 worth of formal dresses Mrs. Milner bought, which she is now unable to wear because they are an "unwelcome reminder of the cruise."
According to the BBC, the Milners claim they were first moved to a cabin fitted for the disabled, which was located near the engine and was very noisy. They were then moved to another cabin, but were concerned that they wouldn't have it the whole time because it was booked by another couple joining the cruise later. By this time, Milners were terribly afflicted with mouth ulcers and breathing difficulties, so they jumped ship in Hawaii, where they vacationed for six weeks, all the while "exhausted and inconsolable."
Exhausted and inconsolable in Hawaii? I suppose that could be true....if they Milners couldn't find contentment on a $100,000 round-the-world luxury cruise, I doubt they could find it anywhere.
Gallery: The newest innovations in cruise ship entertainment
Filed under: Activism, Europe, North America, United Kingdom, United States, News, Cruises
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Amortentia Dec 7th 2009 8:43AM
Some people disgust me. Hey Milners, how about donating me some of that money, I guarantee I can have fun with it!
TotalBiscuit Dec 7th 2009 8:39AM
Or alternatively, rather than responding to greed with more greed, give it to charity.
drhcruises Dec 12th 2009 3:31PM
difficult to understand people who feel so angry when others have more... how does a person know how difficult it was to acquire their wealth.
YongQing Dec 7th 2009 8:40AM
Come on, they have a right to that money. A cabin beside the engine room? They won't be able to sleep a wink! The cheapskates who designed the ship would think twice the next time they try to squeeze a cabin next to an engine room.
TimH Dec 7th 2009 11:31AM
@YongQing -- Cruise lines have cabins at the ends of the ship to provide paying space for those passengers willing to put up with the rocking motion (fore and aft) and in the after portion of the ship engine noise and vibration for a lower-cost vacation. Some people don't mind the "additional features" to their cabin if they can save a dollar or two. I for one; always upgrade to the highest category I can afford.
Don't forget; there is something in this world for everyone. Be flexible, you'll have more fun.
YongQing Dec 8th 2009 7:26PM
Gee I didn't know that. But since they paid 100k for their vacation, they should not have been assigned a cabin near the engine room. It is possible to tolerate and endure such a cabin on a short cruise but they're on a round-the-world vacation. I'm sure they planned extensively for their long trip but the cruise company ruined it for them. they should get the money. plus its not a lot, for a company.
Amortentia Dec 7th 2009 8:47AM
I don't know about you, but I don't have $100,000 for a round-the-world cruise. I barely have enough to get by, so don't accuse me of being greedy. I'd feel blessed and spend the money wisely. ( a car that works properly, a small house, etc...) My smart @ss comment was due to my disgust that some people just have money to throw away and can't even try to enjoy life while some of us can't know what that's like and don't have money to p*ss away.
stu Dec 7th 2009 9:00AM
usually the actual engine room would be well below guest cabins. perhaps they had some sort of other mechanical room next door. This happens in hotels too. there are laundry services, elevator mechanisms, heating & plumbing. it's inevitable that some rooms have to be placed next to these things. It's a shame that these poor whiny people couldn't find a way to make more noise than the room next door. you're on a cruise for F's sake.
Lucian Dec 7th 2009 9:32AM
So.. is it so hard to imagine for you guys that when you spend 100.000$ for a cruise.. you want to feel like a king? No king I heard of ever slept in a room next to the stables (assuming they don't have engines on castles).
And about the cruise operator.. WTF.. you get 100.000 usd from someone who will eat food worth of 2-3-5000, and for the rest of the 90k+ you are not able to give them a room worth the money? I think that building a small luxury room on the ship costs less than 90.000, and they are unable to RENT a decent one for that price for one trip. They jam the customers in the 20k-cost-to-build room when they paid 100k?
This can be considered as a scam and they should have rewarded them more than 36k usd as damages (36k is less than 50% from cruise cost). When you buy a 1$ apple at the store, and find it rotten, and get a replacement one , also rotten, and so on, would you leave that shop happy if you get reimbursed with 1.36$ usd :))?
bob Dec 7th 2009 10:55AM
read the whole article. they were already refunded 80,000 BEFORE they went to court.
Adam Dec 7th 2009 9:35AM
Give them a break, they probably worked really hard for their money and deserve to enjoy the way they spend it.
For all you know they could be extremely generous giving millions to charities. While $35K is a little excessive, they definitely deserve to get the full amount of their trip back.
Andrew Dec 7th 2009 10:33AM
Just because you don't have $100k doesn't mean other people shouldn't. They're in their 60s, so no doubt got some life savings. This article explains some more: http://bit.ly/7X9WFh
carol h. Dec 7th 2009 6:44PM
Who cares?
drhcruises Dec 12th 2009 3:31PM
This is the problem, no one cares and cruise lines get away with close to murder.
drhcruises Dec 12th 2009 3:31PM
If you have been on a few cruises you would understand the problem and agree with the court decision. Sick that cruise lines do not have responsibility without going to a great extent more than you would would with an expensive hotel. I spent 16 days on Holland America with noise duing the night that no one could or would explain. Finally, I awaked to find an inch of water on our bedroom floor. We travel a great deal and know if something happens we just work around it. I had to go to the hotel manager and finally recieved about 15% credit for a next cruise. I will take pictures and record problems on other cruises for court room proof if needed. I say BE PREPARED and DON"T give up with the scum who make the decisions. I really like cruising but I know there will be problems and if one allows it to continue it will not get better. Complain easy at first and get MORE agressive as the problem progresses and don't book the bottom of the ship.
drhcruises