Cruise Ship Passengers Win COVID Outbreak Lawsuit Over Negligence of Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line was reportedly deemed “negligent” regarding a 2020 COVID-19 outbreak on the Ruby Princess that eventually resulted in the loss of 28 lives, the Australian Federal Court ruled on Wednesday in a class action lawsuit.

Justice Angus Stewart mentioned in a summary that the cruise major was aware or ought to have known about the heightened risks of the deadly coronavirus infection on the ship and its lethal consequences before it departed for Sydney to sail to New Zealand in 2020 (March). Still, they proceeded regardless.

Stewart mentioned that he had concluded that the cruise cancellation wouldn’t have been so burdensome that a reasonable individual in the respondents’ position wouldn’t have cancelled it.

He added that he found that the respondents, by their conduct, made some misleading representations that it was reasonably safe for guests to embark on a cruise.

The big picture: Nearly 700 individuals contracted COVID-19 on Ruby Princess, which the Carnival-owned Princess Cruises operates.

The class action lawsuit also accused Princess Cruises and Carnival of breaching Australia’s consumer law and duties of care to guests.

Carnival mentioned in a statement to the media that it had taken note of the judgment and considered it in detail. The COVID-19 pandemic was an extremely difficult time in Australia’s history, and they understand how heartbreaking it must have been for those who were affected, it stated.

Cruise vessels were an epicentre for COVID-19 outbreaks at the start of the pandemic, resulting in the U.S. and other governments issuing no-sail orders before the maritime industry staged its comeback following the rollout of vaccines, and it is now in high demand.

References: News Channel 8, Smithsonian, Axios

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