Carnival Reaches Consumer Settlement as Wreck Sparks Lawsuits

Carnival Corp.’s Italian unit said it reached a damage-settlement agreement with consumer groups, as the company was sued for the first time in the U.S. over the wreck of the Costa Concordia cruise ship.

Costa Crociere SpA agreed to pay 11,000 euros ($14,500) to every passenger of the cruise ship that ran aground off the Italian coast on Jan. 13, killing at least 16, plus reimburse expenses including the cost of the cruise, according to a statement from the Genoa-based company today. The agreement was reached with consumer groups in countries including Italy, Germany, France and Spain, a company spokesman said.