Cruise lines face legal storm over coronavirus outbreaks

Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines, which together account for nearly 70 percent of the global cruise industry’s revenues, are facing an unprecedented legal storm after coronavirus outbreaks on board their ships left thousands ill and many people dead. ‘Full faith’ Susan Dorety, from the US state of Texas, is suing Carnival’s Princess Cruise Lines for gross negligence after her husband, Michael, died from the coronavirus in late March. Susan said the “first sign of trouble” came with the news that a previous passenger had died in hospital on March 4 – he was California’s first known death from the coronavirus. “This cruise line company put money ahead of its passengers’ wellbeing, and it cost Michael his life.” Since then, more than 100 others on the Grand Princess have tested positive for the virus, while the family of a second passenger who died from COVID-19 is also suing Princess Cruise Lines for negligence. Talking points to passengers included, “The only thing you need to worry about for your cruise is do you have enough sunscreen?” and “The coronavirus can only survive in cold temperatures, so the Caribbean is a fantastic choice for your next cruise.” One manager reportedly said in an email: “Fact: Coronavirus in humans is an overhyped pandemic scare.” The lawsuit said the company’s “wrongful acts and omissions, and the precipitous decline in the market value of the company’s securities” had caused investors to suffer “significant losses and damages”.