Huge! It is a huge week for Royal Caribbean. The world’s second-largest cruise line is welcoming the largest cruise ship in the world, the Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas, to its new home at Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades. The official ship christening is set for November 10, 2016, and RCCL has promised quite a show for its passengers as the ship sets sail on its first of many exciting seven-night Caribbean cruises. This ship can hold nearly 9,000 people—more than the entire population of Palm Beach, Florida.
Built on the same platform as RCCL’s Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, the Harmony of the Seas weighs in at nearly 230,000 tons—1,700 tons heavier, wider, longer, and with a capacity of 100 more passengers than its sister ships. While the ship features numerous amazing state-of-the art improvements, its most impressive feature must be the Ultimate Abyss. It looks like the kind of terrifying, twisty-turny water slide one might typically find in a shore-side amusement park, but never before offered on a cruise ship. The slide actually comprises two slides designed to drop passengers nine decks, from the top of the ship almost to the lowest deck. RCCL has announced that it now intends to add new water slides to many of its other ships as well.
Sadly, mammoth ships are not immune to accidents, and in September, while the ship was docked in Marseilles, France, a crew member was killed and several others severely injured during a routine lifeboat drill aboard the Harmony of the Seas. It appears that bigger may not always be better when it comes to cruise ships.
We wish RCCL and its passengers a safe trip on the maiden voyage of the Harmony of Seas. However, for someone involved in an accident while on an RCCL cruise ship, it is important to understand that lawsuits against Royal Caribbean must be brought within one year of the date of the incident, in Miami’s Federal District Court, regardless of where the passenger lives and no matter where the ship is at the time of the incident.
Since 1991 our maritime accident and injury lawyers have been based in Miami, Florida, and we are experienced in successfully representing people who are hurt during their cruise—and in obtaining fair and reasonable monetary compensation for their medical expenses, time lost from work, and pain and suffering. Not all accidents that occur on a cruise ship are necessarily viable legal claims. Understanding the complex laws that apply to these cases involves an in-depth knowledge of the Federal Rules of Evidence and Civil Procedure.
Cruise lines like RCCL have unlimited resources and armies of lawyers, investigators, and experts at their disposal to defend and protect their profits from legitimate passenger claims. If you are injured on a cruise ship, you too need a team of lawyers who will fight hard on your behalf.
We offer a free initial consultation to anyone with a potential claim against RCCL, Carnival, Celebrity, Norwegian, Holland America, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania, MSC, and Disney Cruise Lines. Call our office today and speak to an attorney toll-free at 1-866-597-4529 or at 305-441-0440, or reach us by email at [email protected] or SKYPE. We are ready to help you.