Cruise Ship Sexual Assault BLOG

A recent report from CruiseCritic.com indicates that an elderly couple was recently booted off a cruise ship after skipping out on the ship’s safety drill.  The incident, which occurred on Saturday, seems to show that at least some cruise line captains are getting the message, to put safety first.

According to CruiseCriti.com member Seabourntraveller, after the passengers boarded the 450-passenger ship, the Seabourn Sojourn, the captain announced that anyone who did not take part in the safety drill would not be permitted to sail.  Apparently that warning was not heeded by a particular elderly couple which was sailing at the time.

“[The passengers] in [cabin] 627 did not respond to numerous requests, phone calls and announcements to proceed to the Restaurant for the muster drill, and, much to their chagrin, they are spending the next 12 days somewhere other than Seabourn Sojourn,” said Seabourntraveller.

The couple was ordered to leave the ship, which was docked at Lisbon, Portugal at the time.  ”He was not bluffing, and they were re-packed, removed and escorted off the gangway,” reported Seabourntraveller.

This is a bit of an extreme example, but it does underscore just how important the muster drills are.  After the sinking of the Costa Concordia in January, in which 32 people were killed and many more injured, it is about time that the cruise lines begin to take safety more seriously.

But, considering this was an elderly couple, this example also puts a spotlight on the possible need by cruise lines to ensure they are providing the elderly and those with disabilities the adequate assistance in receiving the muster drill insrtuction.

Hickey Law Firm, P.A. – Miami Cruise Ship Accident Attorney

An 18 year old man is suing Princess Cruise lines, after having been left to the elements as he drifted in the sea.  The man says that the ship passed by him, and 2 of his fishing companions, as they drifted helplessly in the sea – in a fishing boat whose motor had blown.

The man filed the lawsuit in Florida, claiming negligence on the part of Princess.  The lawsuit says that the actions of the crew of the Star Princess were:

“outrageous and, under the circumstances, so beyond all bounds of decency as to be regarded as shocking, atrocious and utterly intolerable in a civilized community.”

The three men had set out on a night time fishing trip.  Their boat’s motor malfunctioned on the way back to shore, setting the men adrift in the ocean off the coast of Panama.  After drifting for about 15 days, the men were spotted by three passengers aboard teh Star Princess.  They alerted the crew to them’s distress calls.  But the ship did not stop.

Two days after alerting the ship’s crew to the stranded men, the passengers followed up with one of the ship’s officers – asking what became of the men.  The officer did not have an answer.

The attorney for the survivor has speculated that the ship did not want to stop because it could have caused a delay in the itinerary, costing the company money.

But, Princess, in a statement, has denied this:

“Because of what we suspect was a case of unfortunate miscommunication, regretfully the captain of the Star Princess was never notified of the passengers’ concern. Had he been advised, he would have had the opportunity to respond, as he has done numerous times throughout his career.  This is an upsetting and emotional issue for us all, as no employee onboard a Princess ship would purposefully ignore someone in distress. It is our ethical and maritime responsibility to provide assistance to any vessel in need, and it is not an uncommon occurrence for our ships to be involved in a rescue at sea. In fact, we have done so more than 30 times over the last decade.”

Hickey Law Firm, P.A. – Miami Cruise Ship Accident Attorney