Cruise Ship Vacation Dangers
South Florida has more than 8 million visitors to its
seaportincluding the Port of Palm Beach, Port Everglades, and the Port of Miami. Cruise ships continue to grow in popularity with vacationing Americans. Annually almost 12 million passengers embarked on cruises worldwide. With the increase in this form of travel, there has unfortunately been an increase in the number of injuries on board the vessels (slip and falls, negligent security, sexual assault, assault and battery, burns, explosions, pool drownings, off-ship excursions injuries, and wrongful deaths).
Each year thousands of passengers are injured on cruise ships. You may be familiar with a couple of these recent cruise ship incidents:
- Carnival Corp’s Costa Concordia ran into a reef off the coast of the Italian Island of Giglio, began taking on water due to a 165-foot gash on the port side of Concordia’s hull and eventually capsized. Thirty-two passengers died in the accident and countless others were injured.
- A weekend cruise aboard the Carnival Victory liner turned tragic when a 6-year-old boy drowned in one of the ship’s four pools. Carnival Cruises confirmed that they do not have lifeguards on duty or fencing at their pools, but require children under 13 to be supervised by an adult.
Here are some tips to keeping you and your family safe while on vacation and cruising:
Assaults and Rape. Always keep an eye on your kids as some ships have a capacity of nearly 5,000. The crew and passengers often come from other countries and background checks and training may vary and may not be a complete as you think. Young teens can be particularly susceptible to inappropriate contact from predatory crew and passengers, so have a plan and mandatory check-in times. While kids’ clubs and daycare services are a great option for parents looking for some relaxation, make sure you meet all the crew that will interact with your child and ask questions about training and background checks. Adult passengers also should also monitor their alcohol consumption to reduce risk of physical assault and cases of rape.
Slip & Falls. Remember to drink responsibly. Cruise lines make most of their money on alcohol sales and excursions. Many of the liquor sales are often around bars and pool deck areas. Here you will often find spilled drinks and melting ice that often goes unnoticed or cleaned-up. Not to mention water from the pools, spas, and other water attractions. Watch your step near pools, stairs and pool decks.
Off-Ship Excursion Dangers. While excursions can be a safe and fun way to spend time at ports of call, they do present their own set of dangers. Some countries and ports have high crime rates for robbery, kidnapping, rape and murder. Research the port or region you are going to before you go. Take the necessary precautions about not leaving your things unattended, don’t flash signs of wealth, and always be aware of your surroundings. Even if you sign a waiver of liability to participate in activities like sightseeing tours, snorkeling, scuba diving, jet ski, parasailing, etc., you are not necessarily barred from filing a claim.
Workplace & Crew Member Injuries. The ships officers and crew members may also be injured while working on or off the cruise ship. Injury and death can occur from the mishandling of a maritime vessel, the failure to practice and enforce basic safety measures aboard a ship or improper, poorly maintained or defective equipment. Accidents may also occur due to lack of training or procedures or incomplete background checks on employees.
Cruise ships owners must provide reasonably safe premises, protection from dangers, and adequate warnings about hazards. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed while aboard a cruise ship or during an off-ship excursion, contact an experienced attorney familiar with state, federal or international laws. Because South Florida and Miami are home to many major cruise lines, it is often where many law suits are filed.
