One of the more enjoyable spots on any cruise ship is the swimming pool or these days pools. They are now pretty exotic with water tunnel slides from several decks up. Missing in many cases seem to be the children's parents supervising the fun. Why? Oh! right there is a Bar just handy and that's where one can often find those parents instead of keeping an eye on the safety of their kids. Sadly this has resulted in numerous deaths and brain injuries to those same kids and on occasions adults.
As a result of legal actions after the event cruise lines are finally posting "lifeguards" at the pool area. Also they are going to have safety videos and swimming vests available to their guests - see NAUTICAL LOG remembered to use the current term for passengers in this Post. Since the top and senior management of cruise lines these days have the background of the hotel and entertainment industries one might wonder why this was not all in place decades ago saving numerous children's and indeed on occasions adults lives.
Well it was not required therefore why use commonsense and do it if one does not have to after all the parents sitting at the Bar are supposed to take care of their kids safety. True but unwise. Large settlements due to legal action by maritime lawyers have now changed the executives minds.
Cruise Lines are protected by a 1920 Law known as "Death on the High Seas Act" that exempts them from nearly all financial responsibility in the death of a non-wage earner such as a child or retiree. The only costs which Cruise Lines can be held liable for are funeral expenses for the victim or victims. Remember in the United States of America there is no separate Admiralty Court as in many other countries here it is dealt with under U.S. Federal Law and Courts however the cruise ships are registered outside of the United States. In most cases one is under the legal jurisdiction of the country of registry while on board the ship not the U.S. even if one is a U.S. Citizen or Legal Resident.
Should readers wish to read more about this or maybe have some doubts about this Post the following list of ships have had legally recorded incidents:
MS Norwegian Escape
MS Norwegian Getaway
MS Norwegian Epic
MS Norwegian Gem
MS Norwegian Breakaway
MS Disney Fantasy
MS Anthem of the Seas
MS Oasis of the Seas
MS Independence of the Seas
MS Carnival Victory
MS Carnival Dream
Well now enjoy your cruise but remember to be careful and keep an eye on the kids in spite of having "lifeguards" on pool duty - we hope.
Good Watch.
As a result of legal actions after the event cruise lines are finally posting "lifeguards" at the pool area. Also they are going to have safety videos and swimming vests available to their guests - see NAUTICAL LOG remembered to use the current term for passengers in this Post. Since the top and senior management of cruise lines these days have the background of the hotel and entertainment industries one might wonder why this was not all in place decades ago saving numerous children's and indeed on occasions adults lives.
Well it was not required therefore why use commonsense and do it if one does not have to after all the parents sitting at the Bar are supposed to take care of their kids safety. True but unwise. Large settlements due to legal action by maritime lawyers have now changed the executives minds.
Cruise Lines are protected by a 1920 Law known as "Death on the High Seas Act" that exempts them from nearly all financial responsibility in the death of a non-wage earner such as a child or retiree. The only costs which Cruise Lines can be held liable for are funeral expenses for the victim or victims. Remember in the United States of America there is no separate Admiralty Court as in many other countries here it is dealt with under U.S. Federal Law and Courts however the cruise ships are registered outside of the United States. In most cases one is under the legal jurisdiction of the country of registry while on board the ship not the U.S. even if one is a U.S. Citizen or Legal Resident.
Should readers wish to read more about this or maybe have some doubts about this Post the following list of ships have had legally recorded incidents:
MS Norwegian Escape
MS Norwegian Getaway
MS Norwegian Epic
MS Norwegian Gem
MS Norwegian Breakaway
MS Disney Fantasy
MS Anthem of the Seas
MS Oasis of the Seas
MS Independence of the Seas
MS Carnival Victory
MS Carnival Dream
Well now enjoy your cruise but remember to be careful and keep an eye on the kids in spite of having "lifeguards" on pool duty - we hope.
Good Watch.
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