Actual Experience of a Cruise Ship Injury from the Author - 2013

By amazing coincidence I completed my supplement, including a new section about cruise ships (§131.22), just before I left for a one-week cruise (which I always take around the time of my birthday) in January 2013. I will not name the ship because I did not find the conduct of the personnel to be so reprehensible that the ship deserves negative publicity. I will, however, make substantial comments about the cruise excursion on which I injured myself.

The ship is one of the largest afloat and is so well run I consider it my favorite ship to travel on. The food is of the highest standards, the staff is friendly and courteous, and the ships amenities are incredible. In fact, when I first cruised on this ship two years ago I wrote a full-page article for my state newspaper recommending people cruise on this particular vessel. My wife and I decided to return in 2013, so we flew to Fort Lauderdale for a one-week cruise to Jamaica, Cozumel, and Haiti.

On the first day at sea things went so well that we were delighted to be back on this particular ship. On the second day we landed in Haiti, where the ship has its own private beach area, complete with a zip-line, snorkel facilities, jet-ski excursions, walking trails, bars, and food pavilions. It is like the so-called private islands of other cruise lines, and it is well run in every respect.

On the third day we landed in Jamaica, and we signed up for what is called the bobsled excursion, combined with the most populated excursion, Dunns River Falls in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The waterfalls at this location are beautiful, and you can actually walk from the beach at the bottom to the top of the falls, experiencing the thrill of rushing water all around you.

What we noticed at the port area were dozens upon dozens of small busses, taking people to their various shore excursions. Many of them were going to Dunns River Falls, and our bus would go there and then to the Jamaican Bobsled, where a bobsled-type car goes down rails that have been constructed in the rain forest, celebrating the famous Jamaican Olympic bobsled competitors who were the subject of the motion picture “Cool Runnings.”

Before we arrived at Dunns River Falls the tour guide on our bus had us sign release forms. She was not all that interested in determining whether in fact that the names on the forms actually matched the people signing them. I have always wondered what they would do if a person signed “John Doe” or “Mickey Mouse.” They have not seemed to check these forms whenever I have signed them on snorkel excursions or other outings such as zip-line adventures. Remember, the contract you are furnished with by the cruise line does contain language limiting liability for shore excursions, so I do not think the release form signed on these excursions is the ultimate document.

After arrival my wife and I noticed major differences in the place. There were dozens of stalls selling items such as souvenirs, food, snacks, beer, soda, and postcards. In addition, they were selling or renting water shoes, which people were required to wear to...