Arguably one of the most beautiful cruise ship ports in the world is the rustic Mexican port of Costa Maya in the state of Quintana Roo. The Port of Costa Maya is nestled near Mexico’s border with Belize on the Caribbean. One of the interesting things about Costa Maya is that it is privately owned by the cruise industry.
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Each week thousands of cruise ship passengers disembark via the piers and are ushered into a shopping mall equipped with restaurants, a large swimming pool, and dozens of tourist-trap stores selling a variety of chachkies ranging from New England Patriot ponchos to the typical shot glasses and sombreros one would find at any Mexican tourist destination.
For a mere $2-per-person cab ride, passengers can be dropped off at the quaint “village” of Mahahual, where they can stroll a concrete sidewalk along the beach, called the malecon, and dodge vendors and hawkers trying to sell beach access, massages, wifi access, and fake Cohiba cigars.
Among the most popular destinations for passengers cruising to Costa Maya are the Mayan ruins of Chacchoben and Kohunlich. Every cruise line visiting Costa Maya offers pre-arranged excursions, which can also be purchased once one arrives at the port. An alternative is simply to hire a cab for the 45-minute trip to the ruins, have the cab wait (about an hour and a half), and then take it back to the ship. Prices will range from $75 to $150 per taxi, depending on supply and demand and one’s ability to haggle.
Cruise Lines that Dock at Costa Maya
Several cruise lines book itineraries that include the Port of Costa Maya, Mexico. For example, in January 2016 cruise ships sailing to Costa Maya will include Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Dawn; Holland America’s Ryndam; Carnival’s Splendor, Glory, Pride, and Sunshine; Princess Cruise Line’s Emerald Princess; Oceania’s Regatta and Riviera; RCCL’s Vision of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas; and Regent’s Seven Seas Navigator.
Regardless of which cruise ship or cruise line one is on, most of the major cruise lines require that any passenger injury claim be filed in Federal Court in Miami, even if the accident occurs while the ship is docked in Mexico. This fact often surprises the claimant, who may never have been to Miami. This requirement is called the venue selection clause and can be found buried deep in the fine print of the passenger’s ticket, in obscure language which most people either never read or don’t understand.
In addition to the venue selection clause, cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL, Celebrity, and virtually every other company also require that lawsuits be filed within one year of the date of the incident. Some lines also stipulate complex pre-suit notification procedures that must be complied with to protect an injured passenger’s legal rights.
The most common cases we investigate at our Miami cruise passenger accident law firm involve passengers who have tripped and fallen or slipped and fallen because of a dangerous condition on a cruise ship, such as an improperly marked raised threshold or door sill, a wet and slippery deck, or a steep staircase. Those falls often result in serious personal injuries, such as broken arms, legs, ankles, backs, and necks. In addition to the typical slip and fall case, our law firm has successfully sued the cruise lines for negligent security when a passenger is assaulted or battered by another passenger or crew member.
If you or a member of your family has been hurt on a cruise ship, we recommend that you contact an experienced cruise ship accident attorney immediately. Successfully representing an injured passenger requires that the lawyer know personal injury law, maritime law, and international law, and be licensed to practice in the United States Federal Courts.
We offer anyone who may have been injured while on a cruise an initial legal consultation free of charge by SKYPE, email at [email protected], or telephone, toll-free at 1-866-597-4529. Our lawyers have a combined legal experience of nearly 50 years, holding cruise lines accountable for putting their profits ahead of your safety. Let our lawyers help you obtain the compensation you may be entitled to for lost wages, medical expenses, travel reimbursement, loss of the enjoyment of the cruise, and pain and suffering. Call us today. We are ready to help.