An arbitrator in California recently awarded substantial compensation on behalf of a seriously injured Carnival crewmember.
California attorney Stephen Estey issued a press release which stated that he obtained an arbitration award for a crewmember working aboard the Carnival cruise ship Imagination in the amount of $800,000 for injuries sustained in June 2008. The press release states that Polish citizen Marcin Sokolowski was employed by Carnival as
In the last few years, the major cruise lines have been trying to enforce arbitration provisions which they inserted into the crew member’s employment agreements.
Many of our crew clients around the world ask us "what is arbitration?" and was is the difference between an "arbitration" and a "trial."
Arbitration is a process where disputes between parties are decided
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The press in Mexico is raising questions about the criminal charges leveled against Nelson Pérez Torres, who is jailed and awaiting trial for the murder of Royal Caribbean crewmember, Monika Markiewicz.
Ms. Markiewizc was an accomplished musician employed as a violinist aboard Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas. In February, she disembarked in Cozumel from
Today we began advertising in Jamaica, as I mentioned in an earlier blog. The ad below will begin appearing in some of the newspapers in Jamaica, and a variation will appear on some of the billboards in Jamaica.
I have been a lawyer for 28 years. I have never advertised on television, radio, newspapers or billboards. We have relied on our reputation
An Arbitration panel in Miami, Florida has ordered Royal Caribbean Cruises to pay $1,250,000.00 to a crewmember following an injury aboard the Jewel of the Seas cruise ship.
The crewmember, who is from Serbia, sustained a serious back injury in June 2008 when a crew member violently slammed a door into her back while she
Every so often, I will read an article which reminds me why I practice maritime law and represent crew members from around the world. Here is an article from Miami’s New Times about several of our clients. Although it was published several years ago, it reveals how cruise lines today mistreat crew members to try
Cruise Law News has been contacted by two passengers this weekend, inquiring about a serious accident which occurred on the Oasis of the Seas. The passengers are describing the incident as occurring during a crew fire drill while the cruise ship was at the port in Cozumel last Thursday, January 27th. A crew member was badly injured and
A 29 year old crew member died during a botched life boat training exercise in New Zealand today.
According to newspapers in New Zealand, the accident occurred when crew members from Holland America Line’s Volendam cruise ship were practicing life boats drills. One of the wires attaching the lifeboat to the cruise ship snapped, throwing the two HAL crew members into the
Today we received emails commenting on the bad medical treatment provided on board Royal Caribbean cruise ships and the recent $2,900,000 verdict against the cruise line for its negligent medical treatment rendered to an injured crew member from Nicaragua. Here are the emails:
On the $2,900,000 verdict we reported on last week: “Having worked for
Today a jury in Miami, Florida returned a verdict in the amount of $2,900,000 in favor of a disabled Royal Caribbean crew member who received terrible medical treatment after the cruise line sent her back to Honduras.
The case brings attention to the problem many Royal Caribbean crew members experience when they are injured while working for
In 2008, a scandal broke out in the Miami legal community. Royal Caribbean Cruises discovered that one of its employees in its risk management department had been bribed by a local law firm – the Wingate Law Firm – to divulge the settlement authority authorized by the cruise line’ s underwriters to settle crew member cases.
The bribery allegations involved a
BBC News is reporting that a cruise line waiter hanged himself after being accused of stealing money from the tip box on the cruise ship.
The article indicates that an Indian waiter, Sumith Gawas, from Goa, allegedly killed himself in his cabin on the P&O Cruise ship Arcadia while it was docked in Southampton earlier this summer. Fellow crew
Working on cruise ships can be tough. Long hours, no days off, cramped crew cabins, and demanding guests. This much stress can place a frown on anyone’s face. But remember, it’s part of your job to always "Deliver the Wow!" So when you feel blue and are afraid that your supervisor may fire you for not acting happy, there is now a solution –
A number of articles published this weekend reveal the plight of young women sexually assaulted on foreign flagged cruise ships and cargo vessels.
Yesterday, in Cruise Rape – Is Royal Caribbean Up To Its Old Tricks?, we reported that a South African crew member claims that another crew member raped her on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. The Captain of
A jury reached a verdict yesterday in the amount of $1,700,000 against cruise giant, Royal Caribbean Cruises, here in Miami. The crew member is a musician who slipped on stage and suffered an injured shoulder which required surgery and ended his music career.
The Miami Herald reports on the case this morning, explaing that the defense lawyers for
Cruise Critic ran an article a couple of weeks ago about the Top 10 Reasons To Cruise. I responded with my article "Top Ten Reasons Not To Cruise." I previously addressed the first six reasons not to cruise, which are at the bottom of this article.*
The purpose of this series is not to convince you not to cruise, but to educate consumers
Most crewmembers like their jobs. They work hard but take time to enjoy the camaraderie that exists between the crew. But when they bcome injured, and particularly if they are sent back home, they find it difficult to obtain medical treatment for their ship related injuries.
Many crewmembers employed by Princess Cruises have contacted us to inquire about their
Multiple news sources are reporting that six crewmembers on Celebrity’s Mercury cruise ship at the Port of Baltimore are being treated for exposure to carbon monoxide.
Fire rescue officials took the the six crew members to local hospitals.
According to WBAL TV in Baltimore, the Baltimore fire department spokesman Chief Kevin Cartwright said crews responded to the scene at
