While planning your cruise, you do what you can to educate yourself about the risks. You think about people who get injured after drinking too much, going on excursions or using the recreational devices on the ship. Even a simple slip and fall accident on a pool deck could lead to serious injuries. You top it off by considering people who have fallen overboard and determining what you can do to prevent such a tragic accident.
All of those are good things to consider, but they leave out one key element: Other passengers. When you have hundreds of people crammed into a small space, what are the odds that tempers will flare? If a fight breaks out, could you get injured?
It does happen. In late July of 2019, there were shocking reports of a fight on a cruise ship after passengers went to what was supposed to be a black-tie dinner. One of the people on the ship decided to dress up in a clown costume instead of formal wear. A worker reported that people had been drinking and they were angry about the other passenger’s attire. They then started a fight that injured numerous other passengers and staff members. There were reports of people running and hiding, chairs being thrown, and much more.
Is that type of confrontation common? Certainly not, but it does show the risks you face around alcohol and people you don’t know. Simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time could lead to injuries.
If you do get hurt on a cruise ship, no matter how it happens, make sure you know if you have a right to financial compensation.