Twelve Year-old Girl Raped Onboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship

By Hickey Law Firm | October 14, 2009

Jane Doe V. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

The following is a description of a personal injury case we have filed. This is a case involving a personal injury aboard the Mariner of the Seas, a cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in its literature and advertisements represents directly or indirectly that it provides a safe, secure and fun experience, and through its senior representative, have represented to the press in public, and to the United States Congress that cruising is a safe and secure experience or that cruising is at least as safe and secure as being on land. Further, in an effort to save its public image and profits rather than the safety and security of its passengers, the cruise line under-reports incidents to U.S. authorities, the press, and the public. These representations are false. They cause the American public – including our client – to choose this cruise line and when onboard to let down their guard as to the dangerous tendencies of other passengers, and to rely on the security personnel on the ship. Royal Caribbean invites 2000 to 3000 passengers and over 1000 crew on to an enclosed living and partying situation. This cruise line encourages drinking to excess on its ships. This cruise line knows that there is a high rate of crime on its ships and that there is drunkenness and fighting on its ships. Yet, the cruise line fails to provide for the safety and security of its passengers during its cruises. This failure of safety and security results in fights and personal injuries to its passengers. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line advertises and markets that it has programs and caters to pre-teens and teens. In fact, the cruise line advertises on its website that it provides as “adventure ocean youth facilities including teen only areas” and advertises and represents that “our 12-14 and 15-17” teen groups give them the freedom to come and go as they please for sports, themed parties, movie nights, and more. Teens can also meet up and chill-out in the laid back Living Room lounge, or cut loose at Fuel, the teen only night club. Royal Caribbean also markets, advertises and represents that and “parents don’t have to worry about you hanging out there, because every member of our team staff holds a college degree and education, recreation or a related field and has experience working with youth ages 3-17.” Their advertisement also states that this program is “available on all ships.” However, on this particular cruise, despite its representations, Royal Caribbean allowed an adult man to attend a teen-only event. In turn, the adult man then seduced our client, a minor child, 12 years-of-age at the time of this incident, drugged her, and raped her. The 12 year-old child had a serious psychological and psychiatric condition which has been aggravated by this incident.

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Posted in Cruise Ship, Maritime, Personal Injury, Sexual Assault