Storm Battered Passenger Cruise Ship Faces First Lawsuit

A passenger from a cruise ship that was battered by a major storm in the Atlantic Ocean filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Royal Caribbean in Miami federal court, his lawyer said Thursday.

The lawsuit filed by attorney Michael Winkleman says Royal Caribbean “knew or should have known” of warnings for hurricane-force winds in the Atlantic before Anthem of the Seas set sail Feb. 6 from Bayonne, New Jersey.

The 4,500 passengers hunkered down as the ship encountered 30-foot waves off North Carolina the next day. A portion of the propulsion system was damaged, and the Miami-based cruise line canceled the seven-day cruise, returning to New Jersey. Passengers received a refund and certificate for half off a future cruise.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Frank DeLuca of Cinnaminson, New Jersey, includes forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Ocean Prediction Center, which noted the possibility of storm-force winds along the coast near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, on Feb. 7. The agency on Feb. 5 issued a storm warning for the area.

According to the lawsuit, passengers had to hold onto their beds or anything else “to keep from falling due to the severe crashing of waves and listing of the vessel” for about 12 hours. Furniture was overturned, broken glass littered the ship, elevators were inoperable and water rushed through numerous areas of the ship.

Any passenger who was on the ship can be represented by the lawsuit, which alleges gross negligence on the part of Royal Caribbean. The lawsuit seeks punitive damages for severe emotional, psychological and emotional stress endured by passengers.

At least one other lawsuit was filed over the incident – on Feb. 18 by Bruce Simpson of Delaware, who was also onboard Anthem of the Seas.

Under terms of passenger tickets, most lawsuits against cruise lines are filed in South Florida federal court.

Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez said via email that the company doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

(Associated Press Legal Affairs Writer Curt Anderson in Miami contributed to this report.)