Costa Concordia: 30% Discount Offered To Survivors Of Tragedy For Future Cruises
The owners of Costa Concordia have offered survivors of the tragedy a 30 per cent discount off future cruises.
The gesture – which has been branded “insulting” - comes as the firm battles to stave off lawsuits that are likely to cost it hundreds of millions of pounds.
Brian Page, who made it into one of the lifeboats, told the Telegraph: “It is a ridiculous and insulting offer.
“I’m very disappointed in them. They are not accepting their responsibilities at all.”
The 63-year-old retired accountant from Southampton added: “Our only backup is separate legal action.”
More than 100 passengers are believed to be preparing to sue the owners of the ship.
As the firm tries to limit the damage from impending lawsuits, it has also been reported passengers are receiving phone calls asking if they need counselling, information about how to claim for lost valuables and offering full refunds for the doomed voyage.
Costa Cruises is owned by an American-based company, Carnival Group, and the class action suit will see survivors seeking a minimum of £100,000 each, it has been reported.
Divers searching the wreck of the liner discovered another body this weekend, bringing the total dead to 13.
According to the Civil Protection Authority, Italian divers made the discovery on Sunday afternoon.
The body, that of a woman, was located on deck seven of the vessel’s hull around 10m below the water line. She was wearing a life-jacket.
Twenty people are still missing and only eight of the thirteen bodies discovered so far have been identified.
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Huffington Post UK Sara C Nelson First Posted: 23/01/2012 13:12 Updated: 23/01/2012 13:14