Costa Cruise Line announces new robot Staff! That’s right! Costa Crociere, the Italian cruise line that is wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival Cruise Lines, will be adding five new and unique additions to the crew of its flagship vessel, the Costa Diadema–robots . . . yes, robots. The robots, all named Pepper, are specifically designed to interact with passengers in several languages and to recognize and react to human emotions.
Starting this week, five Pepper robots will begin working aboard the Costa Diadema on a seven-day cruise around the Western Mediterranean. Apparently, Pepper can dance and take selfies with passengers, all while conversing in Italian, French, and English. In September, the Costa Fascinosa will get its own complement of Peppers.
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Additionally, Pepper can answer questions about the day’s itinerary, make spa reservations, book spa dates and excursions–as well as provide directions to the ship’s casino, bars, and restaurants. Disgruntled passengers can even file a complaint with Pepper, but I would not recommend it.
We wish Costa and its newest crew members the best of luck. As a lawyer who sues cruise lines, I hope that Pepper is also equipped with safety information, such as the ability to direct passengers to muster stations, transmit warnings, and identify other dangers. Unfortunately, Costa became forever linked to one of the worst cruise ship accidents in history when the Costa Concordia capsized in January 2012, killing 32 people, near the Isola del Giglio off the coast of Tuscany, Italy.
Although Costa is based in Genoa, Italy, it is owned by Carnival, which is headquartered in Miami, Florida. Passengers injured aboard a Costa ship are forced to contend with a complicated legal puzzle to figure out just where and when to bring their claims, pursuant to the passenger ticket contract. The majority of Costa cruise accident lawsuits can and must be brought in Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida, about an hour north of Miami.
The language of the Costa passenger ticket states,
All claims, controversies, disputes, suits and matters of any kind whatsoever arising out of, related to, concerned with or incident to any voyage that departs from, returns to, or visits a U.S. port and involving physical or emotional injury, illness or death in which the amount in controversy does not exceed seventy five thousand U.S. dollars (US$75,000) shall be instituted only in the courts of Broward County, Florida, to the exclusion of the courts of any other county, state or nation. All such claims involving physical or emotional injury, illness or death in which the amount in controversy exceeds seventy five thousand U.S. dollars (US$75,000) shall be filed only in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida located in Broward County, Florida, to the exclusion of the courts of any other county, state or nation. All claims brought in small claims court shall be instituted only in the small claims courts of Broward County, Florida.
If you have been injured aboard a Costa cruise ship, we recommend that you speak immediately with an experienced cruise ship accident lawyer. Our office is passionate about protecting the legal rights of people who are hurt on Costa, Carnival, MSC, Norwegian, Celebrity, Disney, Royal, and other cruise ships.
Call us today and speak with an attorney who knows how to hold the cruise lines accountable to compensate you for your lost wages, medical expenses, loss of cruise, transportation, and pain and suffering. We provide a free initial and confidential legal consultation by phone at 1-866-597-4529 or 305-441-0440, as well as by email at [email protected] SKYPE, or FaceTime–24/7. We are ready to help.
