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Costa Concordia Passengers Offered £9,000 Compensation

Costa Concordia

Huffington Post UK   First Posted: 27/01/2012 11:18 Updated: 27/01/2012 12:10

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Costa Concordia survivors have been offered around 11,000 euros or £9,199 to compensate for lost baggage and psychological trauma, after their cruise ended in disaster.

The amount offered by Costa Cruises, the company that operates cruise liner Costa Concordia, was offered to passengers who did not suffer any physical harm after the ship sank off the Italian coast on 13 January.

But for some passengers the £9,200 payout will only just cover the cost of their lost baggage.

German passenger Herbert Greszuk told AP he estimates that he lost at least 10,000 euros worth of belongings alone when the Costa Concordia sank.

The head of Italian Consumer Watchdog, Codacons said the payout to non-injured passengers was "absurd".

“The passengers are absolutely not to accept the compensation offered by Costa," Carlo Rienzi said.

"The distinction made between who has been physically injured and who hasn’t is absurd. This is why we urge every passenger to undergo medical visits which would confirm any eventual permanent psychological damage. This could give them access to much larger compensations.”

The compensation will cost Costa Cruises some £38m, and passengers will be able to take legal action against the company if they are unhappy with the amount.

On Thursday dramatic pictures emerged of the rescue operation, showing listing liner Costa Concordia still illuminated and lifeboats scattered in the dark water surrounding the ship.


The Costa Concordia just hours after it struck rocks off the Italian island of Giglio

The cruise liner continues to list at a sharper angle, as more water enters the boat


For many, any amount of money would seem like paltry recompense, as more than 16 people lost their lives in the disaster and 16 are still missing.

Earlier this week the BBC reported that the sinking of the Costa Concordia was likely to cost the company more than $95m (£62m; 75m euro)

Shares in Carnival, the parent company of Costa Cruises, have plummeted by 16%.

Costa Cruises have offered passengers the opportunity to cancel and receive a full refund for any trips booked before the Costa Concordia sank, up to the 8 February.

Despite the sinking of the Costa Concordia, bookings for Cruise holidays are actually up from the last year, according to the Telegraph.

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View of the Costa Concordia taken on January 14, 2012, after the cruise ship ran aground and keeled over off the Isola del Giglio, last night. Three people died and about 70 were missing Saturday after an Italian cruise ship with more than 4,000 people on board ran aground and keeled over, sparking scenes of panic. AFP PHOTO/FILIPPO MONTEFORTE
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Costa Concordia survivors have been offered around 11,000 euros or £9,199 to compensate for lost baggage and psychological trauma, after their cruise ended in disaster. The amount offered by Costa...
Costa Concordia survivors have been offered around 11,000 euros or £9,199 to compensate for lost baggage and psychological trauma, after their cruise ended in disaster. The amount offered by Costa...

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Vapula
Failure is not an option
1167 Fans
21:39 on 29/01/2012
Unless damages are assessed on a case by case basis then some people will get less and some more than they should be entitled to. But that is the nature of class actions. As to the fatalities damages are calculated according to the effect on dependents. What is not going to happen is that the $60 billion claimed by a US lawyer will be upheld: that is nonsense and if such an outrageous claim were made in the UK the lawyer would be sanctioned. Damages are about giving people reasonable compensation they are not about punishing people. Punishment is for the criminal law.
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loulou11
0 Fans
07:33 on 28/01/2012
Sadly the only way to make corporations accountable & take more care is hit them in the pocket. Money is the only language they understand.

No amount of money would ever compensate someone for this. Even if they got off the boat with no injuries, the sights, smells and terror will be with them forever.
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wakyracir
16 Fans
01:39 on 28/01/2012
The fact that up to 32 people lost their lives in the disaster is tragic - but should it mean that the rest of the passengers who suffered no physical injury should make millions in compensation?

No.

In the vast majority of situations where people suffer loss payouts are far less than these isolated "disasters" which catch the attention of the media. It's unjust and disproportionate.
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esso man
43 Fans
04:39 on 28/01/2012
you obviously know nothing about trauma,ask ANY man or woman who has seen action in the military,even the most brave (or seem to be) are affected,may be not emmediately but later on,(including myself 50+ years later on still having flash backs!!) imagine yourself sat at dinner on that ship eating your meal fully relaxed next thing there is a huge bang ,the lights dim items are thrown all over the place,you are then told "no problem but go to your stateroom,the next thing the ship starts listing (BADLY) then you are told "ABANDON SHIP" you are wearing a lifejacket by this time being push & shoved out of the way by ignorant pillocks ,then attempting to get over the side into a lifeboat,not really understanding whats going on,or having to jump off the side into icey water wearing clothes only suitable for indoor use,& you say there is NO TRAUMA??!! but because they were not injured they do not deserve compansation,you really do need to go & see people that have been affected by trauma to understand how debilitating it can be,or better still suffer an event on the lines of these people have,you will without ANY DOUBT (unless you are a total fruitloop) suffer the same symptons as they have,you will soon change your mind,& your comments about "UNJUST & DISPROPORTIATE will come back & bite you on the ass!! AS a person who has seen a lot of actions during my service time,I can gaurantee everybody is effected
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Vapula
Failure is not an option
1167 Fans
21:43 on 29/01/2012
It is not what you decide should be paid out as damages no matter how angry you feel. It is for the courts to decide and the courts only award damages for trauma where it can be shown that a medical condition has resulted from the actions of the tortfeasor. In addition everyone suffers traumas in life and not ever trauma is actionable or compensated. If they were there would be no end to litigation and no end to damages which would be paid and that is not justice.
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Reality always bites
92 Fans
23:04 on 27/01/2012
I have never been attracted to cruising. It is both expensive and a way to meet and be confined with so many people you wouldn't normaly wish to be with.
The majority of those affected by this tragic incident will claim on their travel insurance.
If they did not have insurance- they should not have been on the cruise..
Keeping things in perspective- a compensation offer- tax free from the Costa cruise company will cover the trauma. How many of the normal working class 'cruisers' can refuse £9,200 as a compensation.
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george easton
2 Fans
23:31 on 27/01/2012
one thing it certainly is not is confined there is so much to do and pleanty of places to do it eg 2or three pools and saunas at least three caberet areas almost two or three of everything except the fantastic theatre at the afterend of the ship and usually 5 or six bars and and on the top deck a running track and tennis courts and pleanty of room to sunbathe i almost forgot the television rooms with sky sports etc and the fully equiped gym and excellent casino
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esso man
43 Fans
03:21 on 28/01/2012
from your reply i guess you too are a cruiser ! you are perfectly correct as to your discription of on board amenaties,but you forgot the private clubs for Diamond & diamond plus members (on RCI ships) or the private clubs for "Elite Captains clubs members on Celebrity X, plus the spa pools,usually 2 on the pool deck + 2 in the solarium,the ice rink on the larger ships & the flow rider, the cinema,library,computor rooms,sports rooms (excluding the gym) climbing wall,crazy golf,hair dressers for both ladies & men,retail shops of all kinds,photographic shop, numerous cafe"s,coffee shops selling specialst coffee"s with free pasteries,sandwich"s, fantastic dinning rooms,specialist dinning areas,tv"s in every state room some with coffee making facilities most with a small but well stocked fridge,a safe for valuables, drinks & nearly any type of food you wish being available 24/7 although after 12pm only through room service,I could go on but whats the point,most who say they would never cruise do so only because they have never tried it, & as my reply to "Reality Always Bites" re his comment about meeting people he "would not like to associate with" how many times have you gone to a hotel & met some "REAL DOGS" its the same no matter where you go,you cannot like every person you meet,but at least on board ship you can easily avoid them as the ships are so big,PLUS if they are at your dinning table you can always see the matre D & get
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esso man
43 Fans
18:14 on 29/01/2012
hi george ! NO offence taken! just hope you can add to your tally of cruises,as there are now more & more "deals" on offer which average out at about £100.00 pp.pd,keep looking on line or better still cruise specialists (better not mention names as this comment WILL be removed)
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esso man
43 Fans
02:04 on 28/01/2012
do you consider £100.00 per day for 5 star accomadation & first class food 24/7 at no extra charge expensive ?? where in any 5 star British hotels can you get all of that at that cost,as far as meeting people "you would not "normaly" wish to meet" these ships are big enough that its very easy to meet someone once & even if you did wish to see them again, even on a 25 night cruise,not to do so,the average class of passenger on these ships are business class,who if anything would far rather not mix with people of a "different" class anyway" unless you have been on any of the new generation of ships 90,000 tons but averaging 150.000 tons,one being 225,000 tons its like being in a small "CITY",i would suggest you try a cruise!! you will more than likely change your mind, try RCI. Royal Caribbean International or Celebrity X,which I would say is the safest cruise line around,& most certainly has the highest safety precautions i have ever seen on any ship.
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Anne13
13 Fans
22:47 on 27/01/2012
I do think this amount is an insult. I probably had £2000 worth of luggage on a recent cruise including jewellery , laptop etc and I think many people brought a lot more expensive items than I, especially on formal cruises where you are expected to dress up.But for the trauma and fear and having been deserted by their captain these passengers deserve so much more. There was talk of £100,000 which seems fairer.
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DISGUSTED WITH COST
2 Fans
23:33 on 27/01/2012
I doubt if the shipping company would have £400,000,000 to pay them £100,000 each.
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Anne13
13 Fans
12:45 on 28/01/2012
The company is owned by Carnival who have I beleive 60% of the world's cruise ships and business. They have the cash.If there were more Americans and their lawyers on the case they would be paying.
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catfrog47
0 Fans
21:27 on 27/01/2012
What a joke. I would want a damn site more than that. Some of those people will b scarred for life. I was actually thinking of going on a cruise one day because i won't fly. I think i will pass on that now and stay where i am!!
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Reality always bites
92 Fans
23:07 on 27/01/2012
Scarred for life? Many of them had the sense to swim to a close shore. Many were saved by the lifeboats. Adventure and experience are life enhancing! Some of the passengers will get over it very quickly. People who can afford to Cruise usually do!
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KellyRyan
A micro-bio for one who has none.
373 Fans
19:50 on 27/01/2012
The first US lawsuit has been filed in the US seeking both compensatory and punitive damages for $100m. As to the the increase in bookings, highly doubtful, as I have received numerous emails for discounted cruises since 1/13/2012.
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DISGUSTED WITH COST
2 Fans
23:34 on 27/01/2012
No chance through the Italian courts.
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earlsspg
61 Fans
19:48 on 27/01/2012
Well I was not there but the psychological damage to me has been quite severe, I know I will never want to book a cruise again which will cause me great expencse as I will now have to fly abroad.
Any compensation lawyers, please contact me, we can go 50/50.
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SwissRon
17 Fans
21:23 on 27/01/2012
If you werent there then how on earth are you psychologically damaged ? What a prune.
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bulldog77
35 Fans
08:30 on 28/01/2012
Hate to mention it earlsspg but aircraft "sink" sometimes too.......no parachutes and you can't fly! Ooh err!
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earlsspg
61 Fans
15:42 on 28/01/2012
Oh dear, I shall have to stay at home then.
Ah! the Chunnel!
At least the train can get me abroad.
speaking of broads..., OK no more Groucho
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mfa11e
41 Fans
19:39 on 27/01/2012
"Special offer,nine grand in cash or you can travel at discount on our new submersibles around the Italian coast .We supply nylon suits,great if they get wet ,dry very quickly,and as an extra bonus you will,at a small charge, have your own lifebelt.As with company policy the safety advice will be given just before you disembark.Our captain will welcome you from the safety of his own boat .The ability to swim an asset .Further details on...."
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cdnman
Still a free spirit...
1959 Fans
19:24 on 27/01/2012
That's just peanuts.
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agent black
1 Fans
19:17 on 27/01/2012
9k not bad for wet socks!!!!!!!
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honesttaxpayer
34 Fans
17:58 on 27/01/2012
The fine should be big enough to drive the Company out of Buisiness as that is the only way commercial companies ever learn.
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PowerLee
2 Fans
17:38 on 27/01/2012
If people actually bothered to read the FULL statement Costa have put out about how they are trying to help / compensate people instead of the bias reported in the press.

http://www.costacruise.com/B2C/USA/Info/concordia_statement.htm
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gadgetamor
0 Fans
21:59 on 27/01/2012
Thanks for posting the link. I agree that Costa is being more helpful than this article lets on.

Costa definitely has great responsibility in this incident as they were responsible for the training of their employees and ensuring proper procedures are followed; however, I feel most of the blame lies with the captain and possibly more of the head crew if they didn't voice concern when he changed the course of the ship.
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Reality always bites
92 Fans
22:47 on 27/01/2012
I do like the fact that you have researched and not just taken the article at face value!
Keep up the good work!
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cofi
1 Fans
16:49 on 27/01/2012
This is a disgusting amount, the company should be taken to the cleaners. If the captain was as guilty as we are lead to believe what will the company do to him, give him another job or something supid like that. The people on board deserve at least 50K.
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SwissRon
17 Fans
21:27 on 27/01/2012
Why 50k then? I know, lets make it 1 million pounds each if we want to get silly. This is the problem with the claim culture. People go overboard (excuse the pun) with claims, and they become out of proportion, and although I agree if you were on the ship it would have been scary, but and I would be embarrassed to claim for too much.
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garethl
28 Fans
16:41 on 27/01/2012
And I think we all know where the survivors are going to tell them to stuff this offer.
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