CHICAGO — Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a multistate settlement with Norwegian Cruise Line, specifically NCL Bahamas Ltd. (NCL), following an investigation of NCL’s cancellation procedures and sales practices, which the attorneys general allege misled consumers about the safety of travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bipartisan settlement prohibits NCL from incentivizing sales over the health and safety of consumers during disaster declarations.
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“I am pleased that this settlement sends the clear message that in times of emergency, it is crucial to put people before profits,” Raoul said. “I remain committed to advocating for consumers to ensure that their rights and safety are protected.”
The settlement recounts that overall, between March 13, 2020, and Nov. 30, 2025, NCL issued reimbursement to consumers of more than $3 billion dollars nationwide, including approximately $2.6 billion in credit card refunds and nearly $505 million in future cruise credits. NCL is also required to pay $2 million total to the states that signed onto the settlement, including $116,000 to Illinois.
Raoul and the attorneys general obtained critical injunctive relief. For instance, under the agreement, NCL is prohibited from generating or disseminating deceptive or unsubstantiated sales statements to consumers. The company is also required to implement mandatory training for consumer-facing employees regarding appropriate sales communications and is required to designate senior management to approve prospective sales communications before their use during a declaration of a disaster in the future.
Joining Attorney General Raoul in the settlement are the attorneys general of Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.
