SHORE EXCURSION INJURIES
The cruise line sold you the excursion. It may still answer for the injury.
Zip lines, ATV rides, snorkel trips and bus transfers are booked through the ship, yet the cruise line often says the operator was independent. Because of that, who is responsible depends on who ran the tour, what you were told when you booked and what your ticket says.
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 EXCURSION INJURIES HAPPEN
Booked through the ship, run by someone else.
Excursions are sold at the cruise desk, in the app and on the line’s own website, so it is natural to assume the cruise line vouches for them. In practice, however, the tour is often run by a local operator, and the cruise line may say it is not responsible.
Responsibility can turn on several things. For example, the line may have chosen the operator, promoted the tour as safe or collected the fee itself. Once someone is hurt, the ticket and the booking terms also matter, because they can set the court and the deadline. That is why every receipt, email and confirmation is worth keeping.
Zip lines & adventure parks
Harness, cable or brake faults, and rushed safety briefings.
ATV & off-road tours
Rollovers, missing helmets and guides with little training.
Snorkeling & scuba
Weak supervision, faulty gear and poor headcounts.
Boat & catamaran trips
Overcrowding, too few life jackets and unsafe docking.
Parasailing & water sports
Worn lines, risky weather calls and unsafe launches.
Bus & van transfers
Crashes, unlicensed drivers and vehicles in poor repair.
Horseback, bike & hiking tours
Unfit animals, rough trails and little guidance.
Beach, waterfall & cave stops
Slippery rocks, hidden drops and no lifeguards.
Anywhere else on shore
Docks, markets, restaurants. A hazard isn’t limited to the places listed here.
WHAT YOU HAVE TO PROVE
Who was responsible, and what went wrong.
Under general maritime law, a cruise line owes passengers reasonable care under the circumstances. For an excursion, however, the first question is often who was responsible for the tour. That can mean showing the line chose the operator, promoted the tour as safe or knew of a danger and did nothing, while the operator may owe its own duty as well.
Responsibility
Who ran the tour, who chose or promoted it, and what the ticket and booking say.
A failure of care
Unsafe equipment, weak training, no warnings, or a site the line should have known about.
Injury and loss
Medical records, lost income and the trip itself.
WHAT TO DO AFTER AN EXCURSION INJURY
Evidence is split between the ship and the operator.
Report it right away
Tell the guide and the ship’s excursion desk, then ask for a copy of any incident report. Do not sign statements you have not read.
Get medical care
Visit a local clinic or the ship’s doctor, because it creates a record. Save every bill and receipt, since they show the cost of the injury.
Photograph everything
Next, take pictures of the equipment, the site, your injuries and any warning signs, or the lack of them.
Save your booking
Your receipt, confirmation email and ticket show who sold and ran the tour. They also set the deadlines and the court.
Get names and contacts
Finally, collect names and numbers for the guide, the operator and other guests who saw it happen.
Call a Cruise Injury Attorney
Waivers, photos and ship records can all matter, and a signed waiver does not always end a claim. We can send a written request that records be preserved.
SHORE EXCURSION RESULTS
All resultsATV TOUR
$150,000Settlement for T.S., a passenger injured on an ATV tour during a cruise stop.
EXCURSION TRANSFER
$25,000Settlement for P.M., a passenger who fell while walking to an excursion bus at a cruise port.
ATV TOUR
$25,000Settlement for J.W., a passenger injured on an ATV tour booked through the cruise line.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
IN CLIENTS’ WORDS
“Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers is the best law firm in town!!! Jason and suzy helped me step by step with my case. They got me the outcome I know I deserved. Thank you Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers, you’re amazing!!!”
“Can’t say enough good things about Chalik & Chalik! They helped me get what I needed after my accident. Dell was always friendly and helpful. Highly recommend this team!”
QUESTIONS BEFORE THE CALL
Can I sue a cruise line for a shore excursion injury?
Often, yes, depending on the facts. A cruise line can be held responsible when it fails to take reasonable care, for example by choosing an unsafe operator or ignoring known dangers. However, the ticket and the booking terms 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 if the cruise line says the excursion company is independent?
Cruise lines often describe the operator as an independent contractor, and the booking page may say so. That does not automatically end the question. Responsibility can still turn on who chose the operator, how the tour was sold and what the line knew about the risks. Because the facts differ so much, each case needs its own review.
Does a signed waiver mean I cannot sue?
A signed waiver can be raised as a defense, but it does not always end a claim. How a waiver is treated can depend on its wording, when you signed it and the law that applies. For that reason, please do not assume you have no case, and keep a copy of anything you signed.
Where can I file a lawsuit if I was hurt in another country?
That depends on the law and the contracts involved. Your cruise ticket often names a court, and the excursion booking may add its own terms. In addition, an injury abroad can bring other countries’ rules into play. We look at these questions at the start, so that nothing is filed in the wrong place.
Does it matter if I booked the tour myself instead of through the ship?
It can change the picture. A tour bought through the ship may tie the cruise line more closely to what happened. If you booked directly with a local company, however, the line’s role may be smaller, and the claim may focus on the operator. Either way, keep your receipts and messages, because they show who sold and ran the tour.
How long do I have to file a shore excursion 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. Excursion bookings may carry their own deadlines as well. Since the clock may already be running, call as soon as you can, and we will check the dates that apply to your ticket and your tour.
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.
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Hurt on a cruise? Talk to Debi’s team today.
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