Cruise Injury Blog

A great cruise wouldn’t be complete without a memorable shore excursion. However, sometimes those shore excursions can be memorable for all the wrong reasons – like getting injured.

Choosing the right shore excursion can be a tricky business. You have to know what to look for to ensure that it’s safe and to understand what you should do if something goes wrong. Here are a few tips to help you find the best shore excursions for your next cruise, plus what you can do if something on your excursion doesn’t quite go to plan.

Planning Safely

If you want to choose a shore excursion that is right for you, then the best place to start is with safety. To ensure

One of the most exciting things about cruising is exploring ports all over the world. Cruise lines promote shore excursions for guests to go on at all ports of call, allowing for a little adventure. It’s not uncommon to see shore excursions such as horseback riding, parasailing, walking tours, zip-lining, snorkeling, or hiking offered.

However, it’s important to understand that these excursions have their risks. Accidents and injuries can and do happen on shore excursions, and there are several factors that contribute to them. It could simply be an accident, or it could be negligence on behalf of the shore excursion company, cruise line – or both.

What are the most common causes of shore excursion accidents and what should

Shore excursions are often the highlight of a cruise, and ports of call offer a chance to disembark, sightsee, and take in the local culture. Shore excursions can also be dangerous and unpredictable, so tragedies can (and do) happen.

Take three North Texans, for instance, who were recently killed in two separate traffic crashes while on shore excursions on the same cruise. Multiple family members were involved in both crashes, and surviving family members sustained critical injuries.

Unfortunately, shore excursion accidents are actually relatively common during cruises. If you’ll be embarking on a holiday cruise this season, it’s important to know what to do in the event of a shore excursion accident.

First, the most common shore excursion accidents…

Common

Swimming with dolphins. Paragliding. Snorkeling. Ziplining.

When you see these types of offerings associated with your cruise, they probably seem exciting and fun. Which they can be.

If you’re taking a cruise soon that features shore excursions, though – and most of them do – you need to understand the possible dangers that come with these types of activities as well so that you can balance that excitement with safety.

In this post, we’re going to tell you what kind of accidents tend to occur on shore excursions and what you can do to fight back if you are injured due to another’s negligence.

Recent Shore Excursion Accidents

When an Israeli couple embarked on a Royal Caribbean International cruise to

When you imagine a cruise, what comes to mind?

The open sea, obviously. Relaxing on a white sand beach somewhere? Tanning on the deck of the ship while you sip a martini? Mountains and mountains of food? A giant floating shopping mall where people enjoy duty-free purchases?

If these thoughts make you cringe rather than salivate, you might not think cruising is for you. Sadly, cruise lines probably aren’t exactly endearing themselves to you, either when you read stories like this, which recently appeared in the LA Times:

The Carnival Horizon, which just took its first voyage earlier in 2018, has a two-story shopping mall on board. It features brands like Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Victoria’s Secret, Le Vian

Hopping on a cruise is a fun way to buy a package deal that covers travel, accommodations, and activities in different countries around the world. One of the most fun parts of any cruise experience is the excursions that are offers.

Onshore excursions (zip lining, tubing, guided tours) are often exciting and unique, but if you are injured while out on one, it can lead to lots of complicated questions about compensation and who can be held liable. In some cases, it may be the cruise line. In others, not so much. So what do you do?

Read the Fine Print

Before you go on a cruise that offers offshore excursions, read the fine print and ask questions about the

Cruise ships have plenty of onboard activities to keep passengers entertained, but they also frequently offer shore excursions when they make port. Shore excursions give you the opportunity to explore a new culture, soak up local history, or even take part in a once-in-a-lifetime activity like dogsledding. Going on one might just be the highlight of your cruise, especially if your ship is making port at a locale you’ve never visited before.

 

However, choosing to go on a shore excursion isn’t a decision to make lightly. Read on to learn more about why you should (or shouldn’t) go on a shore excursion, how to choose the right activities for you, and how to make sure that you stay safe