The headline is certainly dramatic:
Carnival Cruises Reports 2 People Missing Overboard in Australia
“The couple — a 30-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman — was reported missing this morning after the ship docked at Sydney’s Circular Quay at the end of a 10-day journey, New South Wales state Police Superintendent Mark Hutchings said, according to The Associated Press.
Hutchings said surveillance video from Wednesday night shows the couple from New South Wales falling from the ship’s mid-deck about 65 miles off the coast of Forester, a city 185 miles from Sydney.
Police are investigating whether the couple jumped from the ship or fell by accident.”
What does it mean for you?
The reality is that, while passengers going overboard or going missing from cruises is dramatic and interesting to read about – and certainly upsetting for anyone involved with those passengers, incidents like this happen with very little frequency. They are uncommon.
What does it mean for you on your next cruise vacation? Nothing really. If you act safely, be conscious of your own personal safety, follow safety procedures and don’t climb over barriers or handrails – you won’t go overboard.
Could a handrail be negligently unfixed? Perhaps. Could another passenger or crew member act with malicious intent and push you over into the sea. Possibly.
But you’re more likely to get struck by lightening while winning the lottery – going overboard is just not something to worry about.
What you might worry about while enjoying your cruise are the more common incidents that result in personal injury.
- broken bones from slippery decks
- debilitating stomach viruses
- medical malpractice by the staff
- slip and fall accidents
- sexual harassment, assault and rape
These are far more likely to occur – so much so that attorneys like us field questions about potential claims constantly and manage actual cases and lawsuits against the cruise lines all day long, every day.
If you have questions about cruise vacation injuries or illnesses, please call us. The consultation is FREE:
Toll Free: 800-905-2891
Miami: 305-271-8282