Boston Maritime Attorneys Discuss Danger of All-You-Can-Drink Packages on Cruise Lines

On November 15, 2012, ABC News reported that Norwegian Cruise Line will be testing an all-you-can-drink package on three of its ships. As ABC noted, this is “a trend among cruise lines that appears to be gaining momentum.” The story pointed out that cruise lines “stand to make big bucks” from these types of drink packages because many passengers drink more during the first few days than they do on subsequent days, although the packages have to be purchased for the entire voyage.

ABC noted that Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line are Norwegian’s closest competitors. This video is a story that the news program Inside Edition featured this past May showing intoxicated passengers onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise. The segment ends with footage of overserved Puerto Rican national 21-year-old Jose Miguel Pietri Tello climbing a railing before he went overboard and fell to his death in January 2011. “I am very disappointed at the sensationalistic portrait the story painted of the behavior of some of our guests,” Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Adam Goldstein wrote in a blog post the day after Inside Edition aired the report. “Unfortunately, when a person wants to over consume, they sometimes find ways to circumvent even our best efforts to stop them.”

This video is frightening footage of a brawl that erupted between passengers aboard the CARNIVAL DREAM cruise in August 2010. The individual who posted the video to YouTube wrote, “Carnival security staff are useless.”

These videos demonstrate just a few of the problems that arise from excess alcohol consumption on cruise lines. In addition to physical assaults and the accidents caused by cruise line negligence, many overserved passengers are also victims of sexual assault and rape.

Latti & Anderson LLP understands that many passengers on cruise lines were simply looking for a relaxing vacation. However, it is important to understand that if you or a loved one has been the victim of an injury on a cruise ship, your ticket dictates when and where you can file a claim, so you must act quickly. Our firm has secured several multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for clients with injury and wrongful death claims. If you are seeking legal representation for a claim against a cruise line, it is important to work with an experienced lawyer who is familiar with laws governing international waters. Contact our firm at (800) 392-6072 to set up an appointment or complete the form on this page to have our Boston maritime trial lawyers review your case.

Latti & Anderson LLP – Boston maritime attorneys