Passengers and crew onboard the Norwegian Breakaway in January 2017 sailed directly into a nightmare situation as the ship stuck to its itinerary, despite countless warnings about a severe storm developing along the East coast and navigated right into the middle of a bomb cyclone. One year later, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is facing quite the legal battle following the incident.
A complaint has recently been filed in federal court in the Southern District of Florida by nearly 200 passengers who are suing NCL, accusing the cruise line of being negligent in making the decision to stick to the ship’s itinerary and knowingly sail into a massive storm.
Many of the passengers who are a part of this lawsuit stated that they have suffered severe distress and that, while on the ship during this storm, they had a reasonable fear of death and that the ship would sink due to the storm conditions.
In fact, several passengers stated that the storm and situation on the ship reminded them strongly of scenes from the Titanic, as they were tossed on board, watching as water poured into staterooms and other areas of the ship.
Passengers on the ship at the time of the storm said that the company and its crew knew the store was developing and worsening by the day, but the chose to sail directly into the bomb cyclone despite multiple credible warnings. A bomb cyclone is another term for a winter hurricane and can be a deadly for a ship entering its path.
This specific incident is not the only one that has fallen to a similar situation. In February 2016, Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas faced a similar situation after it sailed into hurricane-strength winds and waves while on a trip from New Jersey to Florida.
It was estimated that the storm lasted 48 hours, although it seemed like a lifetime to the passengers on board who questioned whether they would make it out alive. At one point, the cruise ship was tilting so far to the side that passengers feared they would fall over board or that the ship would completely capsize.
It is apparent that the cruise company chose to put profits and convenience ahead of the safety of its passengers. Arguably, if the ship had docked and not stayed on its itinerary, the company would have lost money. Even after the ship finally docked safely, NCL did not offer passengers a refund for their horrifying experience, which leads one to conclude that revenue was a major contributing factor to the decision made to stay on course.
INJURED ON A CRUISE SHIP OR CRUISE SHIP EXCURSION? SPEAK TO A CRUISE SHIP ACCIDENT LAWYER TODAY: 1-866-597-4529.
If you have been injured on your cruise, on a wet and slippery deck, down a poorly lit staircase or steep gangway, in port on an excursion, or on a tender boat- it is important that you speak as soon as possible with a lawyer who specializes in personal injury claims against cruise lines. Most cruise lines, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, MSC, Disney, Holland America, Princess, Costa, Regents Seven Seas and Oceania require that claims against them be pursued in a very specific place under very strict deadlines. Failure to comply with each individual cruise lines deadlines can result in a complete loss of any and all legal rights.
Aronfeld Trial Lawyers is a personal injury firm located in Miami, Florida since 1991. We have fought hard to hold cruise lines accountable when they put their profits ahead of passenger safety. We are available 24/7 and encourage you to contact us even if you are still on your cruise. The sooner we can begin our investigation and preservation of key evidence, such as the CCTV footage of your trip and fall, slip and fall, assault or other type of injury the more likely we will be able to understand and prove how the incident occurred. Remember, the cruise lines have the most aggressive and well funded defense lawyers in the world- protecting their profits. You need an experienced legal advocate in your corner who will fight to obtain the compensation you deserve for lost wages, medical expenses, transportation reimbursement and pain and suffering. Call us today and speak with a cruise ship claims lawyer about your potential claim- toll free 1-866-597-4529, 305-441-0440, or by email. We are ready to help.
