Norwegian Cruise Line has reached a $2 million agreement with a coalition of 12 U.S. states after an investigation into how cruises were marketed during the early stages of COVID-19.

The probe found that in 2020 the company shared misleading information about onboard safety and the risks linked to the virus while encouraging bookings. At the same time, many passengers reported challenges when trying to secure refunds for canceled sailings.

Since then, the cruise line has provided over $3 billion in refunds and future cruise credits to impacted travelers. The newly announced settlement adds financial penalties for multiple states and introduces stricter rules around how cruises are sold.

Officials involved in the case stressed that companies must be transparent with customers, particularly during global emergencies when people rely heavily on accurate information.

Going forward, Norwegian Cruise Line is required to roll out enhanced training for sales teams and ensure tighter internal review of marketing messages, especially in crisis situations.

The resolution closes a case that began at the height of the pandemic, underscoring the lasting consequences of how travel companies handled that period.