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Costa denies offering discounts to Concordia survivors
Costa Cruises has stongly denied a newspaper report that it had offered discounts to survivors of the Concordia tragedy.
In a statement on its website, Costa said the reports were "totally unfounded", and claimed this was backed up the English passenger quoted in the newspaper.
It added: "Costa Cruises reiterates that after the tragic accident the company’s priority has always been to provide the maximum possible assistance and solace to the people involved.
"From the outset the company has been fully aware of and saddened by the suffering and hardship endured by guests and crew members and has acted with this firmly borne in mind.
"On a joint basis with rescue teams, the company worked to provide evacuated passengers and crew members with all the necessary assistance to ensure they were able to return home. Subsequently it contacted guests by telephone, after they had returned home, to check on their physical and emotional wellbeing, and to confirm that they will receive a refund for the cruise and all material expenses relating to it."
It said customers who had already booked with Costa who no longer wished to travel would be given refunds if they cancelled no later than February 7.
"Costa Cruises would also like to clarify that starting on the day after the accident, all advertising initiatives planned were cancelled out of respect for those affected by this tragedy," it added. "The company was unable to stop only one postal promotion which had already been sent to some customers at the end of December."
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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