The Miami Herald published an interesting article last week entitled Watch Out for the Fine Print, a well written and researched article by prominent Miami maritime lawyers Robert Peltz and Carol Finklehoffe. It explains how cruise lines strip the rights of U.S. consumers by burying exculpatory fine print in the cruise line tickets. It’s a must read for every cruise passenger thinking of taking their family on a cruise vacation.

But the article didn’t sit well with the cruise lines. The cruise lines’ trade organization, CLIA, fired off a letter to the Herald written by CLIA’s vice president of public relations, Michael McGarry. CLIA said the article was unfair because CLIA has "publicly and transparently" proven that the "well-being of passengers and crew always comes first."  You can read the gobbledgook letter here.

The irony is that maritime attorneys Mr. Peltz and Ms. Finklehoffe were, for the longest time, leading lawyers for the cruise lines. Ms. Finklehoffe is the current chair of the Maritime Law Association’s Cruise Lines and Passenger Ships Committee. Mr. Peltz is the past chair and a well respected maritime commentator and author.  Both attorneys are now engaged in the representation of cruise passengers. 

Their article contains lots of information the cruise lines prefer that you not know. You can read it here. 

Here’s an article I wrote five years ago: Seven Clauses To Be Aware Of In Your Cruise Contract

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