I am a lawyer who for more than 20 years has been helping passengers hurt on cruise ships around the world. Every week, I receive calls and emails from people around the world who have slipped, tripped, and fallen while walking on wet decks or slimy staircases. However, the most common complaint comes from passengers who get sick on board from the Norovirus.
WHAT IS THE NOROVIRUS?
Norovirus is a diarrheal illness that causes projectile vomiting, muscle aches, headaches, and fever. It affects an average of 14 cruise ships a year, a situation which has garnered a lot of media attention. But it is not just a cruise ship passenger illness–according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Norovirus affects 20 million Americans a year, most of whom are not on cruises.
HOW DO I AVOID THE NOROVIRUS ON MY NEXT CRUISE?
Preventing the Norovirus should be relatively easy, but it has proved to be surprisingly difficult for cruise lines like Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) and their passenger to contain. The best way is for passengers to wash their hands frequently before eating, after using the toilet, and changing diapers; at the same time, the cruise lines should continually disinfect and clean common surfaces like toilet handles, banisters, elevator buttons, and slot machine pull handles as well as maintaining adequate levels of chlorine in pools and hot tubs.
RCCL’s Explorer of the Seas returned to the port of Bayonne, New Jersey, last month with over 600 sick passengers and crew. The same ship suffered a previous outbreak within the last five years. Royal Caribbean has reported five outbreaks in the past five years on other cruise ships. The very same day, the Caribbean Princess, owned and operated by Princess Cruises, arrived in Houston with 192 people sick passengers onboard.
CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER INJURY CLAIMS
Our cruise accident lawyers are experienced in helping people hurt while on a cruise. If you have been injured while cruising, your lawsuit will have to be filed within one year of the event and most likely in Miami, even if you or your ship never has been to Florida. We offer a free initial legal consultation to anyone who has been hurt while on board a Carnival, Disney, Royal Caribbean, MSC, or Celebrity cruise ship. We proudly provide free initial no-fee/no-cost consultations via SKYPE, email, or Toll-Free at 1-866-597-4529. Call us today.
