The article is devoted to out-of-court ways of settling disputes between tourists and tour operators on the example of cruise tourism. The reasons why the consideration of disputes within the framework of the judicial process may be unprofitable for its participants are analyzed, the legislation regulating out-of-court dispute settlement methods is investigated. The authors suggest possible solutions to the situation in which many tourists avoid resorting to alternative ways of resolving conflicts on the example of real disputes between cruise companies and tourists. The possibility of introducing the institution of a tourist ombudsman at the federal level is also being analyzed. The benefit of tourists and tour operators from the settlement of the dispute out of court is justified.