December 2011

Johnson v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., 2011 WL 6354064 (11th Cir. 2011).

You have no doubt seen the cruise line commercials which depict happy passengers engaging in physical activities normally found ashore – rock climbing walls; zip-lines; and FlowRider simulated surfing attractions. These commercials, utilized to entice passengers and their families to choose cruising as their vacation destination do not mention the release of liability form which passengers are quickly shown in a 3 inch x 5 inch electronic keypad, such as one signs at the grocery store checkout counter when paying by credit card, with fine print that purports to release the cruise line from even its own negligence.Continue Reading The Eleventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Rules that Cruise Lines Cannot Limit Their Liability for Increasingly Dangerous Onboard Activities Such as Rock Climbing Walls, Zip-lining, and Simulated Surfing