Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is having a very good year, with new ships and record-breaking profits. Based in the Port of Miami, the company reported nearly $200 million in net income, up over 34% from just last year. With RCCL’s projected $8 billion in revenue for 2015, it is easy to understand why this cruise line is spending big money on promotions, new mega ships, and outrageous onboard activities like ice skating rinks, surfing, and skydiving simulators.
Perhaps RCCL’s profits reflect the enormous amount of marketing and advertising that RCCL undertakes to lure passengers aboard, not only in the United States but in China as well. In fact, RCCL’s Quantum of the Seas is now home ported in Shanghai. RCCL also owns a number of other cruise lines, such as Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises, and several niche European cruise lines, such as Spain’s Pullmantur and France’s CDF, or Croisieres de France.
Royal Caribbean Launches New High End Cruise Ships
One of the market segments that RCCL may be losing is high-income passengers who do not want the mega ship experience but prefer the more intimate and luxurious accommodations traditionally found on higher-end cruise ships like Regent’s Seven Seas. To cater to more upscale passengers, who demand more sumptuous and contemporary surroundings, RCCL recently announced plans to unveil its Royal Suite Class program next May on its four largest ships: Anthem of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas. This first-class service will also be available on RCCL’s soon-to-be-launched Harmony of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas.
Three New Service Levels: Butlers Included
According to RCCL, the Royal Suite Class comprises three service levels based on the category of the passenger’s cabin, which they are calling Star Class, Sky Class, and Sea Class. Star Class cabins will include luxury suites with two-deck-high lofts, 24-hour butler-style “Royal Genie” service, free internet, and specialty dining and food packages. These cabins will also include ultra-luxury amenities made by Hermes, Ferragamo, and Frette.
The Royal Genie service is particularly interesting as the crew members providing it will be specially certified by something called the British Butler Institute, to provide service 24 hours a day. These butlers will be there to make dinner reservations, book shore excursions, and shine shoes.
New Ships, Same Passenger Contract
Regardless of where RCCL takes its cruise line, the passenger contracts will most likely contain the same language, hidden deep in the legal mumbo jumbo that most people never read or understand until after they have been involved in some kind of accident, incident, or injury while on a Royal Caribbean Cruise ship. That language requires that any claim against RCCL be initiated in Federal Court in Miami, Florida, within one year of the date of the incident, regardless of where in the world the accident may have occurred or where the passenger is from.
Cruise Ship Attorneys Holding Cruise Lines Accountable
Our law firm investigates hundreds of cases every year against the major cruise lines, such as RCCL, on behalf of people who have slipped, tripped and fallen, or suffered other types of injuries while on a cruise. We have nearly 50 years of combined legal experience in holding cruise lines accountable for passenger claims for lost wages, medical expense, and pain and suffering. Cruise ship accident cases are unique and are subject to multiple differing Federal, State, and International laws. Understanding how the laws apply to a certain set of facts as well as whether or not there is even a viable claim is important and requires access to crucial evidence, such as CCTV footage, medical records and diagnostic studies, nautical data, and marine engineering standards.
Cruise lines like RCCL employ a team of skilled and experienced admiralty injury lawyers in their Port of Miami offices who know how to defend and minimize any potential personal injury claim. Injured passengers also need aggressive and skilled advocates to protect their legal rights.
Free Consultation For Any Injured Cruise Ship Passenger
If you have sustained an injury or experienced an incident aboard an RCCL cruise ship, we recommend that you contact our offices and speak to one of our attorneys today. We provide free initial legal consultations via FACETIME, SKYPE, or phone toll free, at 1-866-597-4529 or email us at: [email protected]. Involving our law firm as soon as possible will make a significant difference in whether or not potential clients can obtain the full value of their claims. We certainly recommend that you consult with our firm before speaking to a representative of RCCL, signing any documents, or even attempting to negotiate a claim.
