Getting sick while on a cruise is every passenger’s worst nightmare but imagine getting sick along with hundreds of other passengers and not being allowed to leave the ship. This situation describes the nightmare that passengers aboard the Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas are now facing following an outbreak of the norovirus on the ship.
The ship departed Port Canaveral last Sunday and was set to sail for a seven-night cruise through the Caribbean. However, shortly after the ship left port, passengers began to experience symptoms associated with the norovirus. Now it is estimated that a total of 277 guests and crewmembers have been affected with some type of gastrointestinal illness.
Two other norovirus outbreaks occurred on Royal Caribbean Cruise ships back in December 2018. The outbreaks raised concern over the cruise line’s sanitation practices and the cruise industry in general.
Those who have been affected by the illness are being treated by the ship’s medical team with over-the-counter medication. The ship’s crew is also engaging in intensive sanitary procedures to reduce the risk that the illness will spread any further. Confirmation as to whether the passengers who are sick have been quarantined has not been obtained.
Illnesses like that can be the result of a cruise ship’s own negligence. Norovirus and food poisoning are some of the more common types of illnesses that result from the cruise staff’s negligence. Recently, a 17-year-old passenger died from food poisoning while on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Cruise ship safety tips can help passengers protect themselves from these risks, but sometimes, the illness can be unavoidable. It is unclear at this point what exactly caused this current bout of illnesses.
Because of the outbreak on the ship, passengers have reported that they are not allowed to disembark from the ship during ports of call due to the risk that they would bring to others on land. In fact, Royal Caribbean was given strict orders from Jamaica that passengers, including those who were not exhibiting symptoms, were to not disembark from the ship due to the outbreak.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has already posted a report about the cruise on its website. It says 266 of 6,285 passengers onboard and 11 of the crew members were sickened, with the predominant symptoms being vomiting. CDC officials will board the ship when it gets back to Port Canaveral on Saturday to help investigate the outbreak and what caused it.
INJURED ON A CRUISE SHIP OR CRUISE SHIP EXCURSION? SPEAK TO A CRUISE SHIP ACCIDENT LAWYER TODAY: 1-866-597-4529.
If you or a loved one has been injured on a cruise, due to a cruise ship tilt while at sea, 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.
