Miami Accident Lawyer Blog
A Princess Cruise Lines ship returned to a South Florida port with an alleged outbreak of norovirus for a second week in a row. This week, the Crown Princess returned to dock at Port Everglades two days early after approximately 250 people on the ship became ill with vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pains. Last weekend, the same ship was disinfected for several hours after returning to port with about 400 sick passengers and crew members. This week, the nation’s Centers for Disease Control will be on hand to sanitize the Crown Princess before its next scheduled departure on Saturday.
Last week, two other cruise ships also returned to port with a suspected norovirus outbreak. The Ruby Princess, a sister ship of the Crown Princess which also sails out of South Florida, and Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas, which sails out of New Orleans, were sanitized after returning to port with hundreds of sick passengers and crew.
The Crown Princess is capable of carrying more than 3,000 people and more than 1,000 additional crew members. Although the norovirus is quite common, the purported outbreak generates considerable worry because of how close quarters the cabins, common areas, and ventilation systems are on cruise ships. The virus is highly contagious and spreads easily from person to person through both surfaces and contaminated food. Industry experts warn that the virus is tough to eliminate once it starts to spread on board a ship.
According to Princess Cruise Lines, the company has additional cleaning crews on hand to assist with the disinfection of all of the ship’s public areas. All furnishings, carpets, and any surface a passenger is likely to touch will purportedly be sanitized. Additionally, each state room will be cleaned repeatedly prior to being prepared for the ships’ next departure. At this time, the cruise line expects the Crown Princess to depart as scheduled on February 11th.
An accidental personal injury may arise unexpectedly in any number of settings, including on a cruise vacation. If you were injured on a cruise ship as a passenger or crew member, it is important to seek assistance from a qualified personal injury attorney. A variety of state, federal, and international laws may apply to personal injury claims associated with cruise ships and other vessels at sea. The amount of time you have to file your claim may be limited and the claim process can be cumbersome. If you were injured on a cruise ship, an experienced personal injury attorney can help you assess your claim and negotiate a reasonable settlement.
If you were hurt or got sick while vacationing aboard or working on a cruise ship, it is very important to discuss your case with a knowledgeable attorney. At Gerson & Schwartz, P.A., our Miami cruise ship accident lawyers have experience helping clients achieve a positive result in claims against the major cruise ship carriers. To speak with a skilled personal injury and accident attorney about your case, call Gerson & Schwartz, P.A. at (305) 371-6000 or contact us through our website.
More Blog Posts:
Costa Concordia Accident is Inexcusable, Miami Injury Lawyer Blog, January 16, 2012
Mississippi “Serial Rapist” Gets 10 Years in Prison, Life on Probation in Carnival Cruise Ship Sexual Assault Case, Miami Injury Lawyer Blog, November 20, 2011
Additional Resources:
Passengers contract Norovirus on Princess ship for 2nd time, by Stefania Ferro, Miami Herald
Cruise ship hit with norovirus – again, by Dan Askin, Overhead Bin on msnbc.com
Cruise ship with Norovirus returns to port, wsvn.com