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Carnival Corp has agreed to settle a lawsuit over a ‘cruise from hell’ that took guests into the path of a strong cyclone. The company will pay a total of A$2.4 million, with about half allocated to guests who were aboard the P&O Cruises Australia ship Pacific Aria during the ill-fated voyage.
The ship departed Brisbane for Noumea in 2017 but sailed into the path of Category 5 Cyclone Donna, leading to what passengers described as a “miserable seven days.”
Peter Carter of Carter Capner Law, which filed the class action lawsuit in 2023, said passengers endured rough conditions that forced the closure of onboard facilities, canceled activities, and prevented port visits.
The cruise company agreed to compensate guests but admitted no liability for the ordeal.
“By sailing into the path of Cyclone Donna without giving passengers the opportunity to cancel and obtain a full refund, it subjected passengers to a miserable seven days,” Carter said.
The lawsuit also stated that “the enjoyment of the cruise was not as desired and, generally, the cruise was a rather unpleasant experience.”
As part of the settlement, Pacific Aria passengers will receive payouts of approximately A$1,800 each to cover refunds of their cruise fares and compensation for distress and disappointment.