Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
28 July 2014 08:53
Cruises account for the largest number of consumer complaints
Cruise holidays are the biggest cause of grievance among travellers around the world, research suggests.
Over a quarter (27%) of the cases that law firm Irwin Mitchell dealt with in 2013 were to do with cruises, meaning trips on the seas have topped the consumer complaints list for the past four years in a row.
A number of popular vessels were the target of the criticisms. So, no matter who you're travelling with, it's important to ensure you're protected by adequate cruise travel insurance just in case something goes wrong.
Irwin Mitchell is currently representing passengers involved in group actions against cruise operators, following cruises upon the Island Escape, Boudicca, Oriana and Thomson Dream, plus several others around the world.
It is therefore calling on travel companies and cruise firms to take more responsibility for the welfare of their guests.
Cruise passengers falling ill on board cruise liners is still of particular concern, as is the fact that many of the destinations, individual hotels and cruise liners featured have appeared in the research on previous occasions.
Poor food preparation and storage and unclean swimming pools are responsible for the majority of illnesses.
Gastric illness and food poisoning are unfortunately common. Many of Irwin Mitchell's clients have even contracted potentially fatal illnesses including Salmonella, Cryptosporidium and E-Coli while on holiday.
Turkey accounted for 17% of the complaints - according to the figures for 2013 - followed by Egypt with 15% and the Dominican Republic with 12%.
Spain, meanwhile, accounted for 10%. Its appearance in the top four could be explained by the fact that the country remains the most popular holiday destination in Europe among British holidaymakers.
Explanations for Turkey, Egypt and the Dominican Republic are less clear and require further investigation.
28 September 2016
The English tourism industry is predicted to grow faster than the overall economy every year for the next decade, according to new research.
[more...]
27 September 2016
Monarch Airlines says its flights are operating as normal amid fears the firm is in financial trouble.
24 September 2016
Slim people who look physically healthy may still be at increased chance of being diagnosed with bowel cancer if they have raised insulin levels, according new research.
23 September 2016
Theresa May is being urged to give the go-ahead for flights to resume between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh by the head of the cross-party parliamentary group on Egypt.
22 September 2016
Budget airline Jet2.com is to open its first base in the south of England at Stansted.
21 September 2016
Smoking rates have dropped to the lowest level on record in England, new figures show, suggesting messages about the health effects of cigarettes are hitting home.
20 September 2016
Concerns have been raised over flight disruptions caused by heavy drinking among passengers.
17 September 2016
British Airways' decision to launch direct flights from London to Tehran earlier this month positions Iran as one of the hottest destinations to visit in 2017, according to experts.
16 September 2016
More than 100 flights have been cancelled as French air traffic controllers go on strike again.
15 September 2016
Two thirds of MPs would support an expansion at Heathrow.
14 September 2016
TripAdvisor is launching a new homepage, making the booking of holiday activities and tours even easier.
13 September 2016
Travellers are to be charged to use fast lanes to get through passport checks in an attempt to cut queues.