If the weather goes crazy, your vacation is in jeopardy. There are currently many scenarios with the storm surge on the Baltic Sea and the low water on the North Sea: whether the ferry to a German island or to Denmark or Sweden cannot leave or is even asked by the authorities to leave a coastal area.
If holidaymakers are unable to start their trip or have to cancel it due to such extreme weather conditions, the question arises as to what will be reimbursed. In general, according to the European Consumer Center for Germany: Anyone who has booked a package holiday is better protected than individual travelers. The latter may have to deal with multiple providers such as rental companies and ferry companies.
What rights do package travelers have if their trip is cancelled?
The simplest case is if a tour operator cancels the package tour because of the storm surge: then the money is refunded. But travelers themselves can also cancel a package booking and get the money refunded.
“I then have to prove to the tour operator that a vacation in this form is not possible and that I am specifically affected,” says Karolina Wojtal from EVZ . “Fears and concerns are not enough.” In order to cancel yourself, a storm surge, for example, must be “imminent” as well as the vacation itself. This is not clearly defined legally, but it is more likely to be up to three days instead of a week.
What applies if you cancel a package holiday?
If the vacation has already started and has to be canceled due to weather conditions, for example because an area is being evacuated by the authorities, vacationers can cancel the contract quit and start the return journey if the organizer does not cancel anyway. The travel service will then be reimbursed proportionately – but not automatically, you have to apply for it and document it.
If the return journey by plane or ferry is part of the contract, the organizer must organize and pay for this early departure. The following also applies: If flights or ferries belonging to the trip are canceled, regardless of whether due to cancellation or regular departure, the package provider will cover the costs of stay for a maximum of three days.
What applies to individual travelers if the ferry does not run?
If the ferry crossing you have booked is canceled or is delayed by at least 90 minutes, those affected have two options: either they get the money back and do not use the ferry or they can be rebooked on a later ferry.
If you are already on vacation and rely on the return journey by ferry, you may have to wait longer until the crossing is possible again. In such a case, consumers are entitled to care services, which can include a snack or drinks.
In this case, within the EU you are also entitled to up to three nights of accommodation on a classic ferry crossing at a maximum of 80 euros per guest per night. By the way: For flights, there may also be additional compensation for a canceled flight.
What if I can’t use the individually booked accommodation?
If accommodation cannot be obtained due to weather conditions, the landlord or hotel must reimburse the costs or they do not have to be paid at all. “But it really has to be the case that the accommodation itself cannot be offered,” says Karolina Wojtal, “it must not fail because of accessibility.”
In other words: If you can’t use the ferry to get to the holiday home you can move into, you’re out of luck and will be stuck with the costs. The same applies if the ferry runs the other way around but the accommodation cannot be used. Either you drive and look for another holiday apartment or hotel or you don’t travel and still pay for the ferry.
If individual holidaymakers are already in their holiday accommodation and have to cancel because of the storm surge, they are entitled, just like package holidaymakers, to a refund for the days not used, which they must claim.
Can I reduce the costs due to travel disruptions caused by the storm surge?
In principle, this is possible. If, for example, the hotel’s own beach is flooded and cannot be used, travelers can claim part of the costs back. The so-called Frankfurt table, on the Internet for example
ADAC Finding it gives you information about what you can ask for.
“It’s not that much, though,” says Wojtal. “And the rates only apply per day where the defect specifically exists, and not to the entire travel price.”
Does travel cancellation or interruption insurance help?
These insurance policies generally exclude natural disasters. So there is usually no money back here. “The insurance always relates to the traveler and the reasons must lie here,” explains Karolina Wojtal. Some credit cards also include travel cancellation insurance, but this protection is also the exception here.