Miami, FL Admiralty Law And Personal Injury Attorney Robert Gross

As Hurricane Sandy news stories continue to develop from the devastation in the northeast, the plight of the Disney cruise ship Fantasy will most likely slip from the headlines. Passengers and crewmembers, however, will not forget the torrential rain and rough sees that they experienced starting off the coast of Miami, FL on October 26. As an admiralty lawyer representing the victims of cruise ship negligence and those who are injured aboard luxury liners, the initial reports from passenger and crewmembers indicate that the potential for personal injury was substantial and that this cruise had the possibility of being a catastrophic incident.

"The final night of our seven-day cruise aboard the new Disney Fantasy was certainly not magical. Many crewmembers, some with over ten years of experience on various ships, told us it was the worst night they have ever seen." – Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship Hammered by Hurricane Sandy – CNN iReports – October 28, 2012

The same passenger spoke of the "violent tossing of the ship" resulting in glassware shattering on the ground, doors opening and shutting, furniture sliding across the deck, water rising in waves from the swimming pools, and passengers falling out of their beds. As a Miami-based personal injury and admiralty law litigation attorney, I have represented clients who have been injured as a result of similar conditions resulting from sudden navigational changes, accelerations, and decelerations.

When a tropical storm, hurricane, or typhoon threatens the safety of passengers and crewmembers, the cruise line has the responsibility to reroute the ship around the storm. In this case, passengers are reporting that the captain advised via intercom that the waters were rougher than was originally anticipated, indicating a possible miscalculation on the part of the ship's crew.

Disney Cruise Line had another ship that was affected by Hurricane Sandy. Passengers of the cruise ship Dream also experienced heavy weather as a result of the storm. Disney Cruise Line is claiming that there were no injuries and has offered all of the passengers on the Fantasy and the Dream a 25% discount on their next Disney cruise or stay at a Disney resort. It is unlikely, however, that we will know of any storm-related injuries for another few weeks.

If you have been injured while on a cruise, contact Miami maritime and admiralty law attorney Robert Gross at 305-793-5526.