Personal Injury · Cruise Ship Injuries
Hurt on a Cruise Ship? Read Your Ticket Today
You may have a claim, but your cruise ticket can change the rules. It may set a short deadline, pick the court, and pick the law. Read it today. Then bring it to us, and we will read it with you.
You went on vacation and came home hurt. The ticket's clock may already be running.
Free consultation. Call (305) 209-0384. Answered 24/7. Se habla español.
Start with three things today:
- Find your ticket. Save it, along with your boarding pass.
- Keep your paperwork. Do not sign a release or waiver until you have asked a lawyer.
- Call us. Bring the ticket. We will go through it with you.
Where do people get hurt on cruise ships?
Slips and falls are one example. Think wet pool decks, the Lido deck, and buffet tile.
Others involve loose steps, bathroom thresholds, delayed medical care, excursions, and assaults.
Tender boats, rail falls, burns, and illness aboard start with the same question. Did the line use reasonable care?
Would a lawyer even look at this? Yes. Call and tell us what happened.
I fell. Is that enough?
No. A fall alone does not prove your case. Neither does a wet deck. The line owes reasonable care under the circumstances. It is not an insurer.
In most slip and falls, you show the line knew or should have known of the hazard. That can look like one of these:
- The hazard sat long enough to be fixed.
- Substantially similar incidents happened.
- A warning addressed that specific danger.
A busy stairway and nearby crew were not enough in one recent case.
If a crew member's carelessness hurt you, that notice proof is not required. But a crew claim means pointing to who did what. Courts look past labels.
An obvious danger can defeat a failure-to-warn claim, though possibly not a claim about a dangerous condition. Your own fault reduces what you recover. It does not bar the claim.
Courts expect specific facts early. Get names and details now.
Who answers for the ship's doctor?
It depends on the facts and on the court.
In federal court, a passenger may be able to hold the line responsible for the ship's medical staff, depending on the facts. Florida's Supreme Court went the other way in 2007 on one of those theories, and that decision stands. So the court you land in can matter.
I booked the excursion on the ship. Isn't the line responsible?
Not automatically. Booking through the ship does not settle it.
These cases turn on what the line knew, what it told you, and the disclaimers. They are harder than onboard cases. Bring us the booking, the ticket, and anything you were handed or shown.
Does it matter who attacked me?
Yes. The rules differ sharply.
If crew assaulted you during the cruise, the line can be strictly liable. One court applied that to an off-duty crew member, ashore at a scheduled port, on that case's facts.
If another passenger did it, you must prove negligence and notice. General crime statistics usually are not enough. Facts tied to your kind of harm count for more.
I never read the fine print. Does it bind me?
Often, yes. Courts enforce reasonably communicated terms, whether or not you read them.
The ticket can pick the court, including a foreign one. It may also pick the law. A foreign court or foreign law can shrink what you recover.
On cruises touching a U.S. port, federal law voids terms limiting negligence liability. It does not void a forum clause. A ticket may still limit some emotional distress claims.
A cruise touching no U.S. port does not get that protection.
How long do I have?
Your ticket sets the dates. Read it today.
On seagoing ships touching a U.S. port, a ticket's notice period cannot be under 6 months. Its suit period cannot be under 1 year. Those are floors, not promises. Your ticket may give you more time.
Late notice can sometimes be excused. Do not count on it.
Two more traps:
- If you sue on time, a new theory on different facts added after the year can still be barred.
- A case filed in the wrong court can die after time runs.
What can my family do after a death at sea?
Beyond three nautical miles, federal law generally limits a family to financial losses. Ticket deadlines can still apply.
If you lost someone on a cruise, call us. We will start with the ticket.
What do I do today?
- Get medical care. Your health comes first.
- Report it to the ship, and keep a copy of what you submit.
- Photograph the spot. Take pictures of the deck, the stairs, the sign, and your injury.
- Get names. Write down witness and crew names.
- Read before you sign. That includes releases, waivers, and compensation offers.
- Save the ticket. Keep your boarding pass and receipts too.
- Ask a lawyer about a preservation letter now. Footage may be kept as little as 20 days, and your right to footage is narrow.
What if my ticket says Italy?
Tell us. We start with your ticket and tell you straight where it sends you.
Some tickets send suits to federal court in Miami, where the firm's attorney is admitted. Some send you abroad, where we cannot appear. We cannot promise a jury or a Florida court.
Better to know now than after the deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue a cruise line if I slipped and fell?
You may have a claim. A fall alone does not prove it. In most slip and falls, you must show the line knew or should have known of the hazard. Call us and tell us what happened.
How long do I have to sue a cruise line?
Your ticket sets the dates, so read it today. On seagoing ships touching a U.S. port, a ticket's notice period cannot be under 6 months and its suit period cannot be under 1 year. Those are floors. Your ticket may allow more.
Does the fine print on my cruise ticket bind me?
Often, yes. Courts enforce reasonably communicated terms, whether or not you read them. A ticket can pick the court and may pick the law. Have it reviewed before you assume anything.
Can I sue in Florida?
Not always. The ticket may send your case to another court, including one abroad. Some send suits to federal court in Miami. We cannot promise a Florida court or a jury.
Is the cruise line responsible for the ship's doctor?
It depends. In federal court, a passenger may be able to hold the line responsible for the ship's medical staff, depending on the facts. Florida's Supreme Court went the other way in 2007 on one of those theories.
Is the cruise line responsible for an excursion I booked on the ship?
Not automatically. It turns on what the line knew, what it told you, and the ticket's disclaimers. These cases are harder than onboard cases.
What if another passenger or a crew member attacked me?
It matters who did it. If crew assaulted you during the cruise, the line can be strictly liable. If another passenger did it, you must prove negligence and notice.
What should I do right after I get hurt on a cruise?
Get care. Report it and keep a copy. Photograph the spot. Get witness and crew names. Save your ticket. Read before you sign anything. Call us about a preservation letter.
Does it cost anything to talk to a lawyer?
The consultation is free. Call (305) 209-0384. We answer 24/7, and we speak English and Spanish.
Talk to us
Free consultation. Call (305) 209-0384. Answered 24/7. Se habla español.
Bring your ticket. We will read it with you.
Related pages: Personal Injury, catastrophic injury, unsafe property, and serving the City of Miami. You can also contact us online.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different, and past outcomes do not guarantee a result. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Last updated: November 2026.