Citation

Vullmahn E. Transp. Law J. 2010; 37(3): 219-249.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, University of Denver College of Law)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This Article examines Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd, 's, the owner of the Royal Caribbean International brand, and Royal Caribbean International's potential liability to passengers who are injured or die during a pirate attack upon the Brilliance of the Seas while on a 14-night Middle East cruise. The Article is primarily concerned with the risks of the Royal Caribbean cruise that is currently scheduled to depart from Barcelona, Spain on January 10, 2011, and terminate at Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on January 24, 2011. The itinerary for this particular cruise indicates that there will be four ports of call offered along the voyage. These ports of call include: Alexandria, Egypt; Suez Canal, Egypt; AI' Aqabah, Jordan; and Safaga, Egypt. This cruise is attractive because of the exotic ports of call and because there will be a total of nine days of at sea travel.

The Article provides a framework and analysis for understanding the risks that the Brilliance of the Seas, its crew, and passengers will likely face along their voyage. The Article also discusses the legal challenges Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. and Royal Caribbean International could face if a cause of action is brought against them. The Background section surveys piracy in the Middle East waterways and its effect on the transportation industry and on tourism. This section also explains how the Brilliance of the Seas) Cruise/CruiseTour Ticket Contract (the Passenger Ticket) outlines the relationship among Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd., its Royal Caribbean International brand, and passengers of the Brilliance of the Seas. The Analysis section examines reasons why Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. and Royal Caribbean International could be held liable for passenger injuries or death. This section also suggests ways in which Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. and Royal Caribbean International could protect passengers on the Brilliance of the Seas from potential serious injury or death due to a pirate attack while preserving the quality of their product and name.

Language: en