PASSENGER ACCIDENTS ON CRUISE SHIPS
Hurt on board? Find out if the cruise line kept you safe.
Gangways, elevators, balconies, pools and tender boats are all part of the trip, so a cruise line is expected to keep them safe. If an accident came from a broken fixture, poor maintenance or too little supervision, however, the cruise line may have to answer for it. Because ships keep their own records, early action can matter.
Most cruise tickets give you one year to file, and often six months to give written notice. So the clock started the day you were hurt.
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Results
- $150KCarnival · passenger accident
- $80KRoyal · slip & fall
- $35KRoyal · slip & fall
- $100KHolland America · slip & fall
- $38KMSC · slip & fall
- $70KCarnival · slip & fall on deck
HOW PASSENGER ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
A cruise ship is a small city, and every part of it needs upkeep.
Thousands of guests use the same stairs, elevators, pools and decks every day, and the ship keeps moving while they do. Because of that, a loose fixture or a missed repair can hurt someone quickly, often in a place guests had no reason to doubt.
A cruise line owes the people on board reasonable care. For example, a case may look at how the ship inspected and repaired its equipment, how crew were trained and whether guests were warned about known risks. In addition, maintenance logs, incident reports and camera footage can show what the line knew and when.
Gangways & tender boats
Moving ramps, wet steps and rough boarding in port.
Elevators & automatic doors
Doors that close too fast, stalled lifts and sudden stops.
Balconies & cabins
Failed rails, broken furniture, loose fixtures and hot surfaces.
Pools, hot tubs & slides
Weak supervision, faulty drains, water that is too hot and slippery steps.
Falling objects & furniture
Items that tip, drop or collapse in lounges and on decks.
Rough seas & ship motion
Sudden movement with no warning, or items left unsecured.
Crowds & tight spaces
Crushes at boarding, in stairwells and at entertainment venues.
Recreation & fitness areas
Climbing walls, sports courts and gym equipment that were not kept up.
Anywhere else onboard
Restaurants, theaters, shops and more. A hazard isn’t limited to the places listed here.
WHAT YOU HAVE TO PROVE
The cruise line knew, or should have known.
Under general maritime law, a cruise line owes passengers reasonable care under the circumstances. In an accident case, that usually means showing the line knew, or should have known, about the danger, for example because crew saw it, it had been there a while or it had hurt others before. It can also mean showing the line did not repair, warn or supervise as it reasonably should have.
A dangerous condition
A broken fixture, defect or unsafe practice that made the area risky.
Notice
Crew knew, or it existed long enough that they should have.
Injury and loss
Medical records, lost income and the trip itself.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A CRUISE ACCIDENT
Evidence on a ship disappears quickly.
Report it to the ship
Ask for a copy of the incident report. Do not sign statements you have not read.
Get medical care
See the ship’s doctor, and your own doctor once you are home, because each visit creates a record. Keep every bill and receipt.
Photograph the scene
Next, take pictures of the spot, the equipment, your injuries and any warning signs, or the lack of them.
Get names
Collect names for fellow passengers and crew who saw the accident or the hazard.
Keep your ticket and folio
Your ticket sets the deadlines and the court. Save your folio, photos and messages from the cruise line too.
Call a Cruise Injury Attorney
Camera footage and maintenance records can be overwritten. We can send a written request that they be preserved.
PASSENGER ACCIDENT RESULTS
All resultsESCALATOR
$40,000Settlement for S.J., a passenger injured on an escalator aboard a cruise ship.
RESTROOM FIXTURE
$30,000Settlement for M.W., a passenger injured by a broken fixture aboard a cruise ship.
SLIDING DOOR
$25,000Settlement for T.T., a passenger struck by a sliding door aboard a cruise ship.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
IN CLIENTS’ WORDS
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“I never do reviews but i had to this time. I spoke to Rosa Letona (paralegal) she was so kind and patient lol with me. I appreciated her time and for making understand the process. Thank you!”
QUESTIONS BEFORE THE CALL
Can I sue a cruise line for an accident on board?
Often, yes, depending on the facts. A cruise line can be held responsible when it fails to take reasonable care, for example by ignoring a known hazard or skipping a needed repair. However, the ticket can limit where and when you can file. For that reason, a free case review is the quickest way to learn where you stand.
What kinds of cruise ship accidents can lead to a claim?
Many kinds can. Injuries on gangways, in elevators and doors, from balcony or cabin hazards, in pools and hot tubs, from falling objects and from ship motion are all common examples. Because the facts matter more than the label, we look at what the cruise line did or failed to do.
What if the accident was partly my fault?
It can be raised by the defense, but it does not automatically defeat a claim. Fault can be shared, and it is one factor among several. Even so, the cruise line’s own conduct still matters, so please do not rule yourself out before you call.
Do I need proof the crew knew about the hazard?
Generally, you typically have to show the line knew, or should have known, about the danger. Prior complaints, maintenance logs and how long the problem existed are often what make or break this point. Since the cruise line holds most of those records, we ask that they be preserved early.
Can I still file if I have already gone home?
Yes. Most of this work happens after the cruise ends anyway. What matters is acting before your ticket’s filing deadline, not where you are when you call.
How long do I have to file a cruise accident claim?
Most cruise tickets give you one year to file, and often six months to give written notice, both far shorter than usual injury deadlines. Because the clock may already be running, please call as soon as you can. We will then check the dates that apply to your ticket.
What does it cost to find out if I have a case?
Nothing. The case review is free, and if we take your case, we work on contingency, so our fee comes only from what we recover for you. If we do not win, you owe us nothing in attorney fees.
FREE CASE REVIEW
Hurt on a cruise? Talk to Debi’s team today.
No fee unless we win. The call costs nothing, and we respond as soon as possible.