Police in Aruba are investigating the death of a woman who was reportedly choked and thrown off the top deck of Royal Princess Caribbean cruise ship. The 52-year-old succumbed to the fall, crashing onto a life boat below.
The man accompanying her on the cruise was escorted from the ship by police. He was reportedly seen choking the victim before she was thrown from the 16th deck of the ship. Horrified passengers described the scene as “gruesome” with “glass everywhere” when the woman hit the lifeboat below.
The couple were onboard the Royal Princess Caribbean cruise ship , which had left from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on November 9, headed for Aruba. It remains unclear whether the woman died from injuries sustained in the fall or from being choked. The name of the victim and the man taken off the boat have not been released. No arrests have been made yet.
Cruise liners have been independently reporting crime statistics for any serious crimes that have occurred on their ships previously. However, in 2014, an amendment was made to the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act that made it mandatory that certain crimes be reported to the FBI. These involve a series of eight serious crimes that all passenger vessels must report if these vessels are either embarking from or disembarking in a U.S. port. The most serious crimes include missing passengers, homicides and other suspicious deaths. With respect to crimes involving theft, the FBI only reports incidents where more than $10,000 was stolen. Cruise companies, following the 2014 amendment, have made efforts to be more transparent when a crime occurs on the ship and many have made efforts to keep passengers more informed and to encourage them to make reports when a crime is suspected.
Out of crimes committed in 2017 and the first quarter of 2018, of the 13 million passengers who were on board the ships departing U.S. ports, only 100 serious crimes were reported to the FBI. There were 11 incidents of homicides, suspicious deaths or missing passengers. Of the categories of crimes reported, sexual assault and/or assault were the most commonly-reported crime onboard. Fourteen incidents were reported involving physical assaults, and 72 reports of sexual assaults were made in a 15-month period.
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, on a wet and slippery deck, down a poorly lit staircase or steep gangway, in port on an excursion, or on a tender boat- 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.
