| Porthole 26 Apr 18

HERE’S one way to cruise at someone else’s expense.

A German military official is set to be fully reimbursed after he booked a cruise for his family from the US back to Europe, after a court ruled he was entitled to be repaid the entire cost of the voyage.

The Bundeswehr attache worked in the German embassy in Washington, and was ordered to return to Hamburg in 2013.

Rather than flying his family home he booked a voyage on the Queen Mary 2 from New York to Hamburg.

Upon his return he sued the government, after he was only reimbursed the equivalent cost of Economy class flights.

In a judgement this month following a long-running case, the State Higher Administrative Court ruled that he should receive the full cost of the trip.

Interestingly, the judgement was based on an entitlement of Business class flights, which would have actually cost Germany’s taxpayers more than the luxury cruise.