A cruise can be the ultimate low-effort vacation. People looking for adventure or relaxation don’t need to spend months planning every detail. They simply need to arrange for time off work and transportation to and from the boarding location for their cruise.
Cruises are frequently all-inclusive, meaning that passengers enjoy unlimited food and beverages. The employees running the cruise may plan various special events on board and daily excursions. Passengers can drink without worrying about driving back to their hotels, see local sites without planning for each stop along the way and relax more than they might in a traditional vacation scenario.
However, vacations on cruise ships are not without risk. Passengers may end up dealing with a medical emergency while in international waters or another country. That they may have significant medical expenses and other losses to recover. What are some of the most common sources of cruise ship passenger injuries that vacationers can watch for to minimize their risk?
1. Slips and falls
Vacationing in a maritime environment inevitably means that people have to adjust to the movement of the ship on the ocean. They also need to be ready to traverse decks that may be wet due to splashes from waves or recent precipitation.
Same-level falls on cruise ships can lead to brain injuries, soft tissue injuries or broken bones. Falls from an elevation, such as a tumble over an inappropriately low guardrail, could have devastating consequences for cruise ship passengers.
2. Violent crimes
Cruise ship passengers are at risk of violent criminal activity both on board and during excursions. Crimes that occur on a vessel may happen in international waters, creating complications for those who want to seek justice after the fact.
The failure to check the criminal history of employees or to establish appropriate security measures on board could lead to passenger injuries and claims of negligent security. When cruise ship staff members do not make appropriate plans and instruct passengers about local crime risks, excursions into tourist areas could result in assaults and other crimes.
3. Foodborne illnesses
Many cruise ship medical issues begin with improper food handling. Serving expired food, improperly managing food temperature and allowing contamination caused by sick employees can all lead to passengers falling ill while on the cruise or immediately afterward. Foodborne illnesses can put people in the hospital and lead to major medical complications.
Those sickened or injured due to unsafe conditions on a cruise ship may have grounds for a compensation claim. Reviewing what happened on board and the aftermath of the incident can help injured cruise ship passengers evaluate their options for seeking financial compensation.