Illness Strikes During Carnival Cruise From Mobile
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The Mobile Press Register reported on Tuesday, January 29, 2008, that 121 passengers and 22 crew members aboard the Carnival cruise ship Holiday contracted a stomach virus while on a trip to Mexico from Mobile.
Carnival Cruise Lines believes that the norovirus is to blame. The norovirus is a common and highly contagious sickness that causes vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.
Vance Gulliksen, the Carnival spokesman, said the cruise line typically does not offer refunds in cases like this " . . . because the virus was likely brought aboard the ship by a passenger."
This callous and cavalier attitude on behalf of Carnival is typical of the cruise lines where passengers are sickened on a cruise. No industry receives more protection from liability than the cruise industry.
In the event that the passengers should seek to be compensated for their illness, they would find that the passenger ticket contains a forum selection clause which requires that any suit against Carnival Cruise Lines be brought in the Federal District Court in Miami, Dade County, Florida.
The Holiday departed Monday afternoon, January 28, 2008, for another 5-day cruise to Mexico.