The multibillion-dollar cruise ship industry is understandably attractive to many countries who want to take a slice of the pie. That business has exploded over the past 17 years, from five million passengers to more than 20 million a year worldwide. Like Doha in Qatar, South Africa has now also announced its intentions to become one of the new must-visit cruise ship destinations.
South Africa is officially one of the fastest growing cruise ship markets in the world. Drawing from Africans alone, it has recorded a 144% increase in cruise activity between 2012 and 2013–with passenger figures growing from 67,000 in 2006 to 217,000 in 2014.
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South Africa’s ports with cruise ship terminals include Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay, Richards Bay, and East London. Last year, Cape Town alone hosted 18 different cruise ships with 61 docking days. That commerce exerts a huge impact on South Africa’s economy.
Currently the majority of cruise lines that visit South Africa are ultra-luxury ships like Silversea, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, and Italy’s MSC. MSC recently upgraded its MSC Sinfonia, which is home ported in SA, by adding an additional 200 balcony cabins to accommodate an additional 500 passengers.
ACCIDENTS ON SOUTH AFRICAN CRUISES
With those drastic increases in cruise ship activity, unfortunately we have seen corresponding increases in mishaps for cruise ship passengers. Our law firm sues cruise lines on behalf of passengers from around the world. Each cruise line has very specific requirements as to how and where and when they can be sued by someone who has tripped, slipped and fallen, or otherwise been hurt onboard one of their ships.
Information regarding the appropriate statute of limitations (time limits to sue) and venue selection clauses (where in the world the claims must be filed) are found buried deep in the passenger contract (tickets) that most people either cannot or simply do not read or understand.
Silversea, for example, requires that claims be filed against it in Broward County, Florida, in the United States, within one year of the date of the incident–by people who may be hurt on the majority of their cruise ships anywhere in the world. Seven Seas, on the other hand, requires that all lawsuits against it be filed in Federal Court in Miami, Florida, in the United States.
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATIONS: 1-866-597-4529
Our firm offers a free initial consultation to anyone who has been involved in an accident during a cruise. We offer nearly 50 years of combined legal experience in fighting cruise lines that put their profits ahead of passenger safety. Our offices are based in Miami, near the Port of Miami, and the corporate headquarters of Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Call our offices toll free at 1-866-597-4529 or email us at [email protected] and speak with an experienced maritime accident attorney today. We work solely on a contingency-fee basis, which means we are not paid until we successfully recover monetary damages for our clients.
Injured passengers with viable claims against cruise ships are entitled to receive money for pain and suffering, time lost from work, medical reimbursement, travel expense, and loss of the enjoyment of the cruise. We encourage you to contact us as soon as possible following an accident as important evidence–such as CCTV footage, witness names and statements, your shoes, and medical records–must be preserved and obtained before memories fade or evidence is lost.
Our lawyers who sue cruise ships are ready to help you–call us today.
