AmaWaterways itinerary change prompts dispute over travel credit
The river cruise line said unusual river conditions forced route changes, but the sailing still operated and therefore did not qualify for a refund.
Brian Lobaskie said AmaWaterways informed him 24 hours before his scheduled flight that it could not operate his planned river cruise in full. He said the trip was supposed to include a sailing from Amsterdam to Switzerland, along with purchased excursions and a rail pass, but the company instead proposed a route through the Netherlands and Belgium.
AmaWaterways said extraordinary river conditions required it to adjust the original itinerary. The company maintained that the cruise was not cancelled and did operate, meaning a refund was not available under the circumstances.
According to an AmaWaterways spokesperson, affected guests were given alternatives. Passengers who accepted the revised itinerary were offered future travel credit worth 50 per cent of their cruise fare. Those who declined the altered route could postpone their trip and receive credit equal to 100 per cent of the cruise fare.
Lobaskie received a $22,000 travel credit, according to the report. He objected to the absence of a refund, saying prices for the following year had already risen.