Admiralty Lawyer

Things Every Cruise Ship Passenger Should Know

The excitement of going on a cruise often overshadows thoughts that anything could go wrong while you're enjoying your trip. Unfortunately, not every passenger is guaranteed a problem free cruise. Although many cruise ships take extreme precautions to keep passengers safe, if something should go wrong you should be informed of your legal options. Admiralty and Maritime Law cover any claims that occur while on commercial vessels and mariners. Here are several topics of interest:

Crimes

Crime is not bound by land. Crimes occur at sea just as they would on land. It's very important to always lock your cabin door and supervise your children at all times on the cruise. Sexual assaults and theft can happen just as easily on the ship as they could on land. Don't assume that the staff of the cruise ship will watch your children and ensure their safety. You can never take your safety for granted - on land or at sea and remember that Admiralty law protects passengers from illegal activities on ships.

Medical Needs

The ship's doctor is not always a general practitioner, some ships employ different types of doctors to be responsible for all of the passengers' health needs. If you know you have a pre-existing medical condition, take the time to research the specific cruise line that you will be traveling on. You can contact them before you depart to make sure your health needs will be taken care of properly while on board.

Know what kind of ship you are on

Not all ships are under the law of the United States. If the flag of the ship is another country's flag, you are considered "in" that specific country. Be aware of the origin of your cruise ship.

Read your ticket

It's very important that you read your ticket completely. Few people take the time to read the small print included on your ticket, but it usually contains information regarding time lines to take legal action against the cruise line after a certain amount of time. Your ticket should also tell you if there is a specific location where a suit has to be filed. Reading, understanding, and following all restrictions and instructions on your ticket is vital to protecting your rights.

With all of these things in mind, knowing your rights is in your best interest to protect you from the topics discussed. Contact an admiralty lawyer at Williams Kherkher for more information or to schedule a free consultation. Call 800-220-9341 today.