Cruise ship passengers visiting Belize with the Port of Belize City on their itineraries may be surprised to learn that to get from their ship to shore will require a ride in a small shuttle boat called a tender. Ships typically anchor about five miles from port, and passengers are ferried to and from their ships every 45 minutes or so during the day.
SE HABLA ESPAÑOL · No Recovery. No Fee.
*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Waiting for passengers on shore are the typical tourist shops, bars, and restaurants. One has to navigate through a maze of shops selling fake Louis Vuitton pocketbooks and hair-braiding vendors before officially exiting the port and entering Belize City. Another thing that makes Belize a unique cruise destination is that it is the only country in Central America that speaks primarily English. This tiny country, the second smallest in Central America, borders Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean. Belize itself is only 176 miles long by 88 miles at its widest point. Many cruise ships come to Belize after visiting Guatemala or Honduras on their way to Cozumel, Mexico.
Downtown Belize City offers some dilapidated colonial charm, but for the most part it is something that can and should be avoided by most tourists, who are encouraged rather to visit the Mayan ruins or the world-famous scuba diving reefs. If that is not of interest to you, you might want to consider just staying on the ship.
Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, Princess, MSC, Aida, and Regent Seven Seas frequently bring passengers to Belize City. Belize has added a second brand-new port known as Harvest Caye, which is owned and utilized exclusively by Norwegian Cruise Lines.
People who trip, slip, and fall or are otherwise seriously injured while aboard a cruise ship heading to or from Belize may have a legal claim for damages against the cruise line for negligence. In other words, there may be a valid claim if the injury was caused in part by the carelessness of the cruise line–for example, by failing to properly maintain its decks, stairs, elevators or other areas of the ship–which causes or contributes to a passenger’s injury. Typically, passengers injured on cruise ships because of the carelessness of the cruise line are entitled to receive money as compensation for their injuries, as well as reimbursement for medical expenses, transportation costs, loss of the enjoyment of the cruise, and for pain and suffering.
If you have had an accident while on a cruise, we recommend that you contact an experienced maritime personal injury law firm that knows how to properly investigate your claim as well as obtain a reasonable and efficient settlement. Our lawyers in Miami have over 50 years of combined legal experience in suing cruise lines like Carnival, RCCL, NCL, Celebrity, Cunard, MSC, Holland America, Disney Cruises, SilverSeas, Regent, Seabourn, and others when they put their profits ahead of safety.
We offer free initial consultations to anyone, anywhere in the world, who may have a potential claim by telephone toll-free at 1-866-597-4529, email, SKYPE or FACETIME. Cruise ship accidents have a very short statute of limitations, which means that injured people have a limited time after an incident to initiate a claim. Therefore, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible, even if you are still aboard the vessel. In addition, virtually every cruise line requires that claims be filed in a United States Federal Court, most frequently in Miami, Florida, within the prescribed time limit or all rights of the passenger to claims will be forever barred. The cruise industry has a very well-funded and talented group of lawyers defending it in cases like yours. You need an advocate on your side who is experienced and passionate about your case. Call our cruise accident law office today–we are ready to help.
Free, confidential consultation. Available 24/7 in English and Spanish.
Call 866-597-4529Send us a messageOften, yes. Depending on where it happened and who controlled the area, the cruise line, the port or terminal operator, or a shore excursion company may be responsible. Identifying the right parties early matters.
Usually, if you were a passenger on the cruise. Ticket contracts often require written notice within about six months, a lawsuit within one year, and filing in a specific court, often federal court in Miami.
If the cruise line sold or promoted the excursion, it may share responsibility with the local tour operator. Learn more about shore excursion injuries.
Get medical care, report the injury to the cruise line’s guest services and to the port or tour operator, photograph the location and your injuries, and keep names of witnesses, receipts and medical records.
Usually not. Most major cruise lines require passenger lawsuits to be filed in federal court in Miami, where Aronfeld Trial Lawyers is based, no matter where the injury happened.
Tell us what happened. The consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we recover for you — no attorney’s fees and no costs.
Sending this form doesn’t make you a client or create an attorney-client relationship. Please don’t include confidential details until we’ve spoken.
