According to sources, a 16-year-old boy died after falling from the balcony to the deck of Royal Caribbean’s Florida cruise ship ‘Allure of the Seas’ as the vessel departed Port Canaveral, Florida, early Saturday, November 25, 2023, en route to Nassau, Bahamas. Whether the fall was accidental is unknown.

According to reports, efforts were made to save his life, and at the medical tent, there was a sign asking people to donate blood. However, the boy later died at a hospital.

While very little is known about this particular event and it’s not certain whether Royal Caribbean or any cruise line could have prevented this child from falling from a balcony, this situation underscores the general safety obligations of cruise lines. Cruise ship companies are required by Florida and admiralty law to use reasonable care on the high seas to protect passengers from hazards commonly encountered on land.

Third-Party Involvement for Accidents on Cruises

A Florida cruise ship must ensure that its ship’s safety equipment, such as railings, are solidly installed and meet reasonable specifications for height, location, and the like. A Florida cruise ship’s liability becomes complicated when there may be involvement from outside sources, such as third-party violence or horseplay. With young passengers or even adult passengers where a large amount of alcohol is served, these dangers should be considered. While it is unknown if security could change the course of specific instances, the standard of care and the state of the art of these security systems may require cruise lines to have robust security protocols to mitigate potential threats.

Security and Surveillance Roles Onboard Florida Cruise Ships

Where passengers may attempt to harm themselves due to mental conditions, teenage angst, or indiscretion, contemporary cruise ship security and surveillance systems may be essential for both averting and handling such situations. Using and monitoring surveillance systems on modern cruise ships may provide a security team enough time to stop a tragedy. Thus, if the cruise line fails to do so, such failure may raise questions of liability.

If you’ve been injured on a cruise ship that sailed out of Florida and have questions, it is crucial to speak with a Florida cruise ship accident attorney immediately, as cruise ship passenger contracts often significantly shorten the time you must bring a claim.

Call the accident attorneys at Kaiser Romanello Accident and Injury Attorneys at 877-877-8679 for a free consultation.