Before boarding a cruise ship, passengers are required to sign a cruise ship ticket. This ticket spells out the legal responsibilities of the cruise ship towards the passengers. It also often puts limitations- via the fine print- on how much time a person has to file a claim against the ship if they suffer from an accident.

COVID-19 has caused some very serious harm to passengers on cruise ships in Florida. The MS Zaandam has just seen four deaths, two of which are confirmed to be due to the coronavirus, and nine other passengers have tested positive. Over 170 other passengers have developed flu-like symptoms. As the MS Zaandam desperately searches for a port that will allow them to dock, the question arises as to whether they can face legal consequences for the harm suffered by their passengers, particularly, from the families of those who passed away.

Contacting an attorney who specializes in dealing with cruise liability cases is the best way to discern whether one is eligible to file a wrongful death claim or not. An attorney will be able to look at both the policies of the cruise ship and policies of the state and see whether any legal conditions were violated which lead to the death of the loved one.

Various parties can be held responsible for the death of a cruise ship passenger, including:

• The company operating the cruise
• The company that sold the ticket
• The cruise captain or other employees
• The cruise charter company

In some cases, it is not the cruise line that needs to be litigated against, but another passenger who was on the ship. Depending on the specific circumstances of the case, an attorney will be able to assist a person in investigating who is liable and launching a lawsuit against them within the required timeframe.

For individuals who lost a loved one to COVID-19, in particular, they may be eligible to file a sickness claim or lack of medical support claim against the cruise since the virus was contracted due to the passenger boarding the ship and the cruise did not have the means to respond to the situation in an appropriate manner. However, only a legal representative can advise a person appropriately regarding what their legal rights are in such a scenario.

What are some other common causes of lawsuits being filed against cruise ships?

Though sickness, contamination and a lack of necessary medical support are all common reasons for cruise ships to face lawsuits from, there are also many other causes, including:

• Unsafe areas causing slip and fall injuries
• Water-related accidents in pools and water strictures
• Injuries from recreational activities
• Improper security resulting in falling off the ship
• Cruise ship fires
• Sickness caused by contaminated or unsanitary food

Anyone who has experienced any of the above or lost a vacationing family member due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak should not hesitate to reach out to a qualified attorney to explore their legal options.

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