What to do in the first 24 hours after a cruise ship injury
The steps you take before you leave the ship often decide whether a claim can be proven. Here is what to do, in order, from the moment you get hurt.
TL;DR:
The short version of this guide
- Get medical care first, even for an injury that seems minor, so there is a dated record.
- Report the injury to guest services before you leave the ship and note who took the report.
- Photograph the scene and get names and contact details of witnesses right away.
- Don’t sign releases or guess about what caused the injury in writing.
- Your ticket sets short deadlines, often 6 months for notice and 1 year to file a lawsuit.
A cruise ship injury is different from an injury on land. The ship moves on to the next port, the crew who saw what happened may rotate off, and your ticket contract sets deadlines that are much shorter than most people expect. What you do in the first 24 hours shapes what can be proven later.
This guide covers passengers injured on board or during a cruise. If you were hurt while working on a ship, different rules apply to Jones Act crew claims.
Step 1 Right away
Get medical care, even if the injury seems minor
Go to the ship’s medical center as soon as you can. Some injuries, such as concussions, back injuries and internal bleeding, can feel minor at first and get worse over the next day.
The visit also creates a dated medical record that ties your injury to the ship. Ask for a copy of your medical records before you disembark, and keep every receipt. Medical center charges are usually billed to your onboard account.
Step 2 Within the first hour, if you can
Document the scene before it changes
Crew will often clean or fix a hazard quickly. If you can’t take photos yourself, ask a travel companion to do it.
- Wide shots showing where you were, plus close-ups of the hazard
- Wet floors, spills, broken steps, loose railings or poor lighting
- Missing or hard-to-see warning signs
- Your injuries, and the shoes and clothing you were wearing
Step 3 Within the first few hours
Report the injury to the cruise line
Report what happened to guest services or the security office. This creates an official record that the injury happened on board. Without one, the cruise line may later argue it happened somewhere else.
Ask for a copy of the incident report. Cruise lines often decline to hand it over, so write down the date, time and name of the crew member who took your report.
Step 4 The same day
Get names of witnesses and crew
Other passengers will scatter at the end of the cruise, and crew members may move to a different ship. Get the details while everyone is still on board:
- Full names, cabin numbers, phone numbers and email addresses of passengers who saw what happened
- Names and positions of crew members who helped you, saw the hazard or responded
- Anyone who mentioned seeing the same hazard earlier or seeing someone else get hurt
Step 5 Before you go to sleep
Write down what happened while it is fresh
Write a short private account in your own words. Include the date and time, where you were, what you were doing, what you saw, what you felt, and who you talked to afterward. Small details, such as which deck you were on or whether music was playing, are easy to forget within a few days.
Keep this account for yourself and your attorney. It is not something to hand to the cruise line.
Still on the ship, or just got home?
We can tell you what to do next and which deadlines apply. The call is free.
Step 6 Before you leave the ship
Keep your evidence
Save everything that could help show what happened and what it cost you:
- Your cruise ticket and booking confirmation
- Medical records and receipts from the ship and from any doctor you see at home
- Your onboard account statement
- The shoes and clothing you were wearing, unwashed and unrepaired
- Photos, videos and your written account
Cruise ships record CCTV in many public areas, but footage may be overwritten. An attorney can send a written request asking the cruise line to preserve it.
What not to do in the first 24 hours
- Signing a release or waiver in exchange for a refund, credit or future cruise discount.
- Guessing about the cause or blaming yourself in a written statement. Stick to facts.
- Giving a recorded statement to the cruise line or its insurer before you get advice.
- Posting about the injury or your trip on social media.
- Skipping follow-up care once you get home. Gaps in treatment are used to argue an injury is not serious.
Check the deadlines in your cruise ticket
Federal law allows cruise lines to shorten the time you have to bring a claim, and most ticket contracts use the shortest periods allowed.
| Requirement | Typical deadline |
|---|---|
| Written notice of the claim to the cruise line | Often 6 months from the injury |
| Filing a lawsuit | Often 1 year from the injury |
| Where the case must be filed | Set by the ticket, often a specific federal court |
These terms vary by cruise line and voyage. Read your own ticket or have an attorney review it as early as possible.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to report an injury to the cruise line?
You should. Reporting the injury before you leave the ship creates an official record that it happened on board. Without one, the cruise line may later argue the injury happened somewhere else.
Can I get a copy of the incident report?
Ask for one. Cruise lines often decline to hand it over on board. If they do, write down the date, time and name of the crew member who took your report so an attorney can request it later.
Will the cruise line pay for treatment in the ship’s medical center?
Usually not automatically. Medical center visits are typically charged to your onboard account. Keep every receipt, because these costs can be part of a claim.
How long do I have to file a cruise injury claim?
Most cruise tickets require written notice within six months and a lawsuit within one year of the injury. Federal law allows these short limits, so check your ticket or have an attorney review it early.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case depends on its own facts and the terms of the passenger ticket.
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