Cruise Injury Blog

For many, this past New Year’s Eve was a way of saying, “good riddance” to 2016 and hello to a (hopefully) better year. If part of your New Year involves a cruise vacation, congratulations! Cruise ships can be a great way to see the world in comfort and luxury – without breaking the bank.

One thing to pay attention to before heading out on your cruise is safety. Generally speaking, cruises are a very safe way to travel. They aren’t without incident, though, and it’s worth paying attention to the news so you understand what you could be getting yourself into. One such incident from the end of 2016 appears to have resulted from possible negligence by the staff of

On March 7^th, 2015, Cameron Smook, a senior at Virginia Tech, lost his life after falling overboard on a Carnival cruise ship. The incident occurred just one day after Smook and his friends boarded the cruise ship, turning what should have been a relaxing vacation into a nightmare.

Naturally, this tragedy has elicited an outpouring of condolences and support for the family. But it has also sparked something else—outright rage. Some people, including United States Senator Richard Blumenthal, have been arguing that Smook’s death was entirely avoidable and that Carnival should be “ashamed and embarrassed” that it allowed this tragedy to happen. And they’re not wrong.

Embracing Cruise Ship Technology

As Sen. Blumenthal pointed out, there is current

Soothed by the gentle crash of the ocean, the warm rays of the sun, and the promise of a tropical destination, its easy for passengers on a cruise to forget their worries. While you certainly should feel relaxed and carefree on vacation, it’s important to always remain aware of the many hazards and risks that accompany cruise vacations. All too often, passengers who have let their guard down during their cruise vacation have experienced serious injury, illness, and accidents.

Avoiding these mistakes could mean the difference between an enjoying a relaxing vacation or suffering a health emergency.

1. Excessive partying. On cruises, passengers are prone to excess. They drink more than normal, eat more than normal, and engage in more

 

Avid cruisegoers know that the peak time to head to the Bahamas is from December to February. People travel there from colder climates everywhere to kiss the snow goodbye and bask in temperatures that typically range from the low 60s to the high 70s – warm enough for sandals and shorts, but cool enough that they don’t have to worry about baking in the sun.

 

Unfortunately, everything during this time period fills up so quickly that you often need to book months in advance just to get there. Because of this, people may be excited to hear that a new cruise line will be offering more trips to the Bahamas this February out of the Port of Palm

 

Most people are familiar with the pre-vacation To Do’s—get someone to watch the pets, make sure you’ve packed all the essentials (cell phone, passport, tickets), and get things squared away at work. But when it comes to cruises, there are a few significant additions that you’ll need to include on that list.

 

When you travel within the United States, there are certain things that you generally just don’t have to think about—for example, access to medical care, problems that could arise as a result of citizenship, and various significant legal issues. When you’re on a cruise, though, all of these things—and more—need to be taken into account before you leave.

Important Things to Remember

 

 

Because cruises

Ask cruise passengers about the highlight of their trip and you’ll likely hear a lot of different answers, ranging from exciting shore excursions to luxurious spa experiences. But one thing a lot of cruise passengers are especially thrilled about is the gourmet food they’re served onboard. These days, major cruise lines offer much more than just a buffet line and cafeteria. The organizers often work hard to provide passengers with a seemingly endless variety of food—including regional specialties—and stunning settings for dining.

 

Unfortunately, cruise passengers can’t enjoy all the fine food offerings, or anything else, for that matter, if they eat something bad and end up suffering from food poisoning for the rest of their trip. Although not a

Drowning deaths occur every year on major cruise lines, yet almost none of those cruise lines bother to employ lifeguards. Now, the parents of a Central Florida boy who drowned on a Carnival cruise last fall are speaking out about this gross negligence.

 

Caselle and Tashara Hunter lost their 6-year-old son, Qwentyn, on the final day of their five-day cruise on the Carnival Victory. The decks and midship pool were packed for a final party when Qwentyn, who was playing in the pool, went under the water. A ship DJ noticed and yelled for someone to rescue Qwentyn, but it was too late. Passengers and cruise ship staff attempted to revive the young boy using CPR, but to no