Personal Injury
Cruise Ship Accident Lawyers

Our cruise ship injury lawyers have extensive experience bringing claims for Australians injured on cruise ships in various circumstances, including:

•   Slip and fall accidents on food and drink spillages
•   Slip, trip and fall accidents on wet decks and communal areas
•   Accidents during shore excursions
•   Accidents when boarding or disembarking the cruise ship
•   Injuries caused by fixtures and fittings in the vessel
•   Accidents falling down stairs
•   Burn injuries from hot surfaces or scalding water
•   Swimming pool accidents including slippery surfaces around pools or collisions with other swimmers
•   Injuries from falling unsecured objects
•   Food poisoning or illness from improperly stored or cooked food
•   Injuries from physical activities such as rock climbing walls, waterslides or zip lines
•   Cabin injuries from unsecured furniture or building defects
•   Medical negligence by the cruise ship’s medical team
•   Accidents on tender boats getting on or off during shore excursions

Cruise ship injuries can be very serious, and cruise ship accident claims can be complex due to the application of maritime law and international conventions. If you have been injured on a cruise ship or during a shore excursion, contact Stacks Goudkamp to assess your potential claim.

Unlike most accident locations, cruise ships are constantly moving from port to port which can make site inspections and evidence gathering difficult. It is crucial to gather as much evidence as possible before disembarking at the end of your holiday.

We recommend taking the following steps:

•   Seek medical attention immediately to ensure your well-being and create medical documentation
•   Report the accident to ship’s personnel and insist that an official incident report is completed
•   Request and obtain a copy of the accident report for your records
•   Take photographs of the accident location while still onboard, including the specific hazard that caused your injury
•   Photograph your injuries as soon as possible
•   Gather contact information from witnesses including other passengers and cruise ship employees
•   Keep all medical records, receipts, and documentation related to your injury
•   Preserve evidence such as damaged clothing or footwear
•   Do not sign any documents or accept compensation offers from the cruise line without legal advice
•   Contact Stacks Goudkamp as soon as possible – we can provide assistance whilst you are at sea by telephone or email

If you are unsure about what to do after suffering an injury on a cruise ship, we can advise you by telephone or email on what you should do to preserve your rights before you return home.

Cruise ship injury claims are significantly more complex than standard personal injury claims due to several unique factors:

•   Maritime law applies, which is different from the laws governing land-based accidents in Australia
•   International maritime conventions may apply depending on the port where the cruise ship is registered and the cruise operator
•   The terms and conditions of your cruise booking contract may affect your rights and remedies
•   Jurisdictional issues arise as cruise ships travel through international waters and multiple countries
•   Different laws may apply depending on where the accident occurred (at sea, in port, during shore excursions)
•   Cruise lines often include choice of law and forum selection clauses in their contracts
•   Evidence gathering is complicated by the ship’s constant movement and the temporary nature of the cruise
•   Time limits for bringing claims may be shorter than standard personal injury claims
•   Injured passengers may have claims both under contract law and in negligence

 These claims are not straightforward, as the laws of different countries will often apply. When you have been injured on a cruise ship, you need an experienced cruise personal injury lawyer who can advise you on the issues in this complex area. Our team of specialist travel lawyers have many years of experience dealing with cruise ship injuries occurring at sea all over the world as well as on river cruises.

The laws applicable to cruise ship injury claims are complex and depend on multiple factors:

•   The flag state (country of registration) of the cruise ship
•   The location where the accident occurred (international waters, territorial waters, in port, or during shore excursions)
•   The terms and conditions of your cruise booking contract, which often specify which country’s laws apply
•   International maritime conventions that Australia has ratified
•   Australian consumer law may apply in some circumstances for cruises departing from Australia
•   The jurisdiction specified in the cruise line’s passenger ticket contract
•   Whether the cruise was booked in Australia or overseas

The laws that apply to cruise ships both in port and on the high seas are different to the laws that apply if you were making an injury claim in Australia. To complicate matters further, international maritime conventions may apply depending on the specific circumstances of your cruise.

At Stacks Goudkamp, our experienced cruise ship accident lawyers can analyse your cruise documentation, determine which laws apply to your specific situation, and advise you on your legal rights and options for pursuing compensation.

Yes, you may be able to claim compensation for injuries sustained during shore excursions, but liability can be complex and depends on several factors:

•   Whether the shore excursion was organised and operated directly by the cruise line
•   Whether the cruise line contracted with a third-party tour operator to provide the excursion
•   The terms and conditions of your shore excursion booking
•   Whether the cruise line adequately vetted and selected the tour operator
•   The specific circumstances and cause of your accident
•   Whether you booked the excursion independently or through the cruise line

Common shore excursion accidents include:

•   Vehicle accidents during tours
•   Accidents on tender boats getting on or off
•   Injuries during adventure sports activities
•   Slip and fall accidents at excursion locations
•   Interactions with wildlife
•   Accidents at restaurants or tourist attractions

Even if the shore excursion was operated by a third party, the cruise line may still bear some responsibility if they failed to adequately vet the tour operator or misrepresented the safety of the excursion. Our experienced lawyers can investigate the circumstances of your shore excursion accident and identify all potentially liable parties.

Time limits for cruise ship injury claims are often significantly shorter than standard personal injury claims, making it crucial to seek legal advice immediately after your accident.

Important time considerations include:

•   Many cruise lines specify very short notification periods in their passenger ticket contracts, sometimes as little as 6 months to provide written notice of your claim
•   Some cruise lines require formal legal proceedings to be commenced within 1 year of the incident
•   These contractual time limits are often shorter than standard limitation periods under Australian law
•   Different time limits may apply depending on the cruise line, the ship’s flag state, and applicable maritime law
•   Missing these deadlines can result in losing your right to claim compensation entirely
•   Time limits may differ for injuries occurring during shore excursions versus onboard the ship 

The specific time limits applicable to your cruise ship injury claim must be determined by reviewing your cruise booking contract and passenger ticket conditions. These time limits are not straightforward and must be confirmed by an expert to avoid losing your right to claim compensation.

Contact Stacks Goudkamp immediately after your cruise ship injury to ensure we can take all necessary steps within the required timeframes to protect your legal rights.

Compensation for cruise ship injuries may include various types of damages, depending on the applicable law and the circumstances of your accident:

•   Medical expenses including onboard medical treatment, hospital care in foreign countries, and ongoing medical treatment after returning home
•   Repatriation costs if you needed to be flown home for medical treatment
•   Lost income from time off work due to your injuries
•   Pain and suffering compensation for physical pain and emotional distress
•   Loss of enjoyment of your cruise holiday
•   Costs of the ruined portion of your cruise from the day of the accident onwards
•   Future loss of earning capacity if injuries result in permanent disability
•   Care and assistance costs during recovery
•   Additional travel expenses incurred due to your injury
•   In some cases, compensation for distress, disappointment and loss of amenity

In some travel accident claims, injured people can not only claim compensation for their diagnosed injuries but can also claim for their distress, disappointment and loss of enjoyment of their holiday. Additionally, there are situations where injured people can claim the cost of the portion of their cruise that was affected by the accident and their injuries.

At Stacks Goudkamp, we work with medical experts and financial advisors to ensure all aspects of your injuries and losses are properly quantified and included in your claim.

Identifying the responsible parties in cruise ship injury claims can be complex and depends on the specific circumstances of your accident:

•   The cruise line operating the vessel is typically the primary defendant for injuries occurring onboard
•   Shore excursion operators may be liable for accidents occurring during organised tours and activities
•   The cruise line may bear vicarious liability for the negligence of its employees and crew members
•   In some cases, the cruise line may be liable for failing to adequately vet or select safe shore excursion providers
•   Equipment manufacturers may be liable if defective equipment caused your injury
•   Port authorities may be responsible for accidents occurring in port facilities
•   Medical negligence claims may be brought against the ship’s medical staff or medical services provider

 The cruise line’s passenger ticket contract will typically specify the entity you must bring your claim against and the jurisdiction where legal proceedings must be commenced. Our experienced lawyers will analyse your cruise documentation to identify all potentially responsible parties and determine the best strategy for pursuing your compensation claim.

At Stacks Goudkamp, we handle cruise ship injury claims on a No Win, No Fee basis, meaning you pay no legal fees unless your claim is successful.

Our fee structure includes:

•   No upfront legal fees – you don’t pay anything to start your claim
•   We advance all necessary expenses including expert reports, maritime law specialists, medical assessments, and investigation costs
•   You only pay legal fees if we successfully recover compensation for you
•   Our fees are recovered from the compensation we secure on your behalf
•   Free initial consultation to assess your cruise ship injury claim
•   Transparent fee agreements explained clearly before you proceed

 This arrangement removes financial barriers and allows you to access experienced legal representation with expertise in complex maritime law, regardless of your financial circumstances. Given the complexity of cruise ship injury claims and the shorter time limits that apply, professional legal representation is essential.

During your free initial consultation, we will explain our fee structure in detail and answer any questions you have about pursuing your cruise ship injury compensation claim.

You should contact an experienced Australian cruise ship injury lawyer who specialises in maritime law and international travel accidents, such as the team at Stacks Goudkamp.

Reasons to engage an Australian lawyer include:

•   You can pursue your claim from Australia without needing to travel overseas for legal proceedings in many cases
•   Australian lawyers understand your rights as an Australian consumer and can advise on applicable Australian consumer laws
•   We have established relationships with maritime law experts and lawyers around the world who can assist when needed
•   We can communicate with you in English and understand the Australian legal system and your expectations
•   Our No Win, No Fee arrangements are designed for Australian clients and protect your interests
•   We can coordinate with overseas lawyers if proceedings need to be brought in a foreign jurisdiction while managing your case from Australia
•   Our team includes lawyers who speak multiple foreign languages to assist with international aspects of your claim

At Stacks Goudkamp, our team of specialist travel lawyers have many years of experience dealing with cases involving cruise ship injuries occurring at sea all over the world as well as on river cruises. We have a reliable pool of overseas experts with whom we work closely. If your case requires engaging an overseas lawyer, we will coordinate this on your behalf and work in conjunction with them to get you the best outcome from your compensation claim.

We offer an obligation-free initial appointment to assess your potential claim. If you do have a claim, we will guide you through the legal process and help you get the compensation you deserve.