Op-Ed: “Carriage by Sea or Package Holiday? AG Norkus’ Opinion in Costa Crociere (C-629/24)”

The recent Opinion of Advocate General Norkus in Costa Crociere (C-629/24, Opinion), delivered on 4 September 2025, examines the different EU legal acts that may be concurrently applicable to the claims for injuries sustained by passengers on board a ship. A request for a preliminary ruling from the French Court of Cassation concerned the interpretation of Articles 2, 3(1), and 7(1) of the Regulation  No 392/2009 on the liability of carriers of passengers by sea in the event of accidents where a maritime carrier operates a cruise that constitutes a ‘package holiday’ within the meaning of Directive 90/314/EEC. The request was made in the context of two joint liability actions brought by passengers who were injured during cruises operated