Florida Cruise Ship Coronavirus Attorneys

As COVID-19 continues to keep most of the world on lockdown with ‘Safer at Home’ orders extended, there are many people still stranded on cruise ships. It has been reported that some cruise lines are currently working with the CDC to resolve the current “No Sail Order” and problem releasing their crew members.

While there are literally thousands of crew members left stranded at sea with no known date of when they can set foot on land, the sad reality is that they can continue to contract the novel coronavirus while being trapped and quarantined aboard a cruise ship.

Perhaps the most troubling piece of information is that recent reports have indicated that the cruise line industry knew about the coronavirus problem on their ships, but continued to sail anyways. This neglect on their part very well could have helped fuel this crisis, causing countless individuals to become infected. With that said, if you contracted coronavirus or lost a loved one due to COVID-19 onboard a cruise ship, you may be able to join a class-action lawsuit with other crew and passengers infected with COVID-19.

Our Florida Cruise Ship Coronavirus Attorneys at Whittel & Melton are readily available during this pandemic to help you seek out your options for recovering a wide range of compensation for the losses you have suffered as a result of coronavirus. We are already researching ways to hold the cruise lines accountable for their reprehensible behavior in handling this situation.

Cruise Lines Mismanagement of COVID-19

Cruise ships are breeding grounds for infectious disease outbreaks because people spend time close together and with travelers from many countries. Disease can spread from ship to ship and people to people as crew members transfer to other ships and infected travelers visit various countries. That is why the COVID-19 outbreak on cruise ships poses such a high risk for rapid spread of the virus to communities across the globe.

What is the No Sail Order?

In response to the novel COVID-19 pandemic and the increased risk of spread of COVID-19 on cruise ships, CDC published the first industry-wide No Sail Order on March 14 to prevent new passengers from boarding cruise ships. CDC extended its No Sail Order, effective April 15, 2020, to continue to suspend all cruise ship operations in waters subject to US jurisdiction. Cruise lines are required to develop comprehensive plans to prevent, detect, respond to, and contain COVID-19 on their cruise ships to protect the health and safety of both passengers and crew.

While a no sail order by the CDC remains in effect for cruise ships, it is important to point out that there are documented instances of many cruise ships failing to contain the spread of coronavirus once they knew it was on board. For this reason alone, there are many cruise ship passengers and crew members that may be eligible to file class-action lawsuits for the cruise line’s negligence in failing to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Just like the American public has been instructed to stay home to slow the spread of the virus, cruise lines must also adhere to guidelines and properly care for their crew, including isolating them if they are sick and quarantining them if they have been exposed.

Cruise lines have been instructed to:

Shelter in place
Practice social distancing
Take other precautions to decrease their risk of getting or spreading COVID-19

CDC has provided clear guidance to cruise lines about how to keep their crew safe during the period of the No Sail Order, which includes wearing a face mask at all times and adhering to the proper social distance of six feet. All surfaces on the ship must be properly cleaned and disinfected. A failure to follow these guidelines will propel the spread of the virus causing illness and death.

If you were quarantined on a cruise ship where there were reported cases of coronavirus, you may have suffered various losses and traumas, such as:

Contracting the virus or fearing you would
Severe anxiety from being stuck on a cruise ship for an indefinite period of time
Lack of medical care due to a ship-wide outbreak
Unable to go back to work, resulting in a loss of income

If you or a loved ones contracted COVID-19 due to a negligent cruise line failing to take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, our Florida Cruise Ship Coronavirus Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you pursue legal action.

Who is At Risk for Contracting Coronavirus?

Anyone can catch coronavirus, but there are individuals that have been classified as higher risk for suffering from severe disease or death, which include older adults aged 65 and up and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes, and those that are technically obese and women that are pregnant.

While not all cases of coronavirus result in death, those that have contracted the virus could face ongoing physical challenges, including damage to the nervous system and organs. If you or someone you love contracted coronavirus while on a cruise ship, our Florida Cruise Ship Coronavirus Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you determine if you may be eligible to join a class-action lawsuit.

Taking Action for a Cruise Line’s Negligence in Handling COVID-19

The transmission of COVID-19 on cruise ships has been a huge problem during this pandemic. There are numerous reports of cruise ships being the source of outbreaks of coronavirus causing illness and death to many.

The failure of the cruise line industry to take reasonable precautions to protect their passengers and crew members is astounding. If you are in need of legal assistance or simply want more information about your legal rights in regards to coronavirus, we strongly urge you to contact us now for a free consultation.

Contact Our Florida Cruise Ship Coronavirus Attorneys For Help

We are offering free consultations to anyone who has been harmed, injured or infected while on board a cruise ship. If you or a loved one has contracted coronavirus while aboard a cruise ship, do not hesitate to call us today at 866-608-5529 for a free, no-obligation consultation.