12 Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Passengers Were Killed While on Shore Excursion in Chile
Our hearts and prayers are with all families that have suffered because of this tragedy. Safety and security improvements are needed for cruise ship passengers while they are on shore excursions as well as when they are on the cruise ships. One of our local TV stations had their cruise changed about a year ago. One week before the cruise, the cruise line canceled their stop in Venezuela because a week before a couple had gone on a shore excursion and disappeared. The cruise lines have control over the shore excursion companies just like Wal-Mart has over their suppliers.
[According to the Center for Responsive Politics, from January 2004 to July 2005, the cruise industry spent $2.9 million on federal lobbying, nearly $1 million more than Wal-Mart did during the same period. That may be why, according to Congressman Shays, "there's never been any real oversight. Ever."]
"Crime Rocks The Boats", Time.com By JULIE RAWE
The cruise companies skim the profits and force the shore excursion companies to bid very low to get the cruise lines blessing. The small companies then have little money left for security, safety, and insurance. This seems to be an ongoing policy by the cruise lines to cover-up crimes and accidents involving their customers and avoid any responsibility. Below is the news story from MSN.com about the tragic death of cruise passengers while on a shore excursion. It is followed by the first press release by Royal Carribbean. They are quick to point out that they "were on an independent private tour, not affiliated with the cruise line." They are independent for liability issues only. The shore excursion companies could not stay in business without the blessing of the Royal Caribbean.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11964601/
Updated: 8:49 p.m. ET March 22, 2006
SANTIAGO, Chile - A bus carrying cruise ship tourists plunged 300 feet down a mountain ravine in northern Chile, killing 12 people, all U.S. citizens, officials said.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(ticker: RCL,News Release - 22-Mar-2006
Several Believed Killed or Injured in Bus Accident
MIAMI, March 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Several people are believed killed or injured in a bus accident in Arica, Chile. The guests were sailing aboard Celebrity Cruises' Millennium. They were on an independent private tour, not affiliated with the cruise line
Here is the link about the control Royal Caribbean has over shore excursion companies. When you get to the web page - do a find on the word: "Lipcon". He is the attorney that filed a law suit against them.
http://royalcaribbeanltd.blogspot.com/2005/10/empress-of-sea-cruise-of-91205.html
May 06, 2005by Gregg FieldsThe MIami Herald
The way cruise ships market and sell shore excursions is the subject of three lawsuits filed in federal court in Miami.Miami's leading cruise lines are ripping off their passengers by secretly pocketing some of the fees paid for shore excursions that were booked with purportedly independent operators, three related lawsuits allege.The cases, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Miami, name Carnival Corp., Royal Caribbean Cruises and its Celebrity Cruises unit, and Norwegian Cruise Lines as defendants. The attorney filing the lawsuit, Charles Lipcon, is seeking class-action status for each complaint.In an interview, Lipcon said the companies say the excursion operators are independent, and the ship is booking the activities as a convenience for its passengers."What they don't tell you is they're keeping up to half of the money," Lipcon said. "It's an undisclosed charge."A Kickback!!
http://www.lipcon.com/news_article42.shtml
http://www.miami.com
/mld/miamiherald/living/travel/
http://blog.lipcon.com/2003/12/shipowner_
Shipowner Liable For Injuries On Tender To Shore Excursion Even Though Tender Operated By Third Party. Trial Court Erred In Directly Verdict Even Where Condition Was Open And Obvious Since Shipowner Should Have Reasonably Anticipated The Condition
floridatoday.com
Cruise-industry leader Carnival Corp. responds to FLORIDA TODAY questionsFLORIDA TODAY STAFF
Miami-based Carnival Corp. has grown into the world's biggest cruise vacation company through savvy marketing, creampuff U.S. tax laws and inexpensive labor recruited from poor nations around the world.Carnival's crews work 10-16-hour days, seven days per week, many of them primarily for tips. It avoids U.S. corporate income tax and labor laws - and posted profits of $1.85 billion last year - because it is incorporated in Panama. And, while ferrying North American passengers to exotic port of calls, it strikes deals with vendors to keep a share of the money customers spend on shore.Carnival controls more than the world's cruise market, about twice its nearest competitor, Miami-based Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd
FLORIDA TODAY: The company's annual report to the S.E.C. mentions sales onboard and in ports, where Carnival receives a percentage of revenues collected by concessionaires. Can you give an example of how that latter part works? Carnival: Concessionaires are independent companies contracted with the cruise lines to provide goods and services for guests during their cruise. At Carnival, we use concessionaires for such areas as shipboard spas, gift shops, art auctions, our fleetwide golf program and shore excursions. Carnival signs agreements with concessionaires' on-board revenues and the company receives a percentage of these sales.
[According to the Center for Responsive Politics, from January 2004 to July 2005, the cruise industry spent $2.9 million on federal lobbying, nearly $1 million more than Wal-Mart did during the same period. That may be why, according to Congressman Shays, "there's never been any real oversight. Ever."]
"Crime Rocks The Boats", Time.com By JULIE RAWE
The cruise companies skim the profits and force the shore excursion companies to bid very low to get the cruise lines blessing. The small companies then have little money left for security, safety, and insurance. This seems to be an ongoing policy by the cruise lines to cover-up crimes and accidents involving their customers and avoid any responsibility. Below is the news story from MSN.com about the tragic death of cruise passengers while on a shore excursion. It is followed by the first press release by Royal Carribbean. They are quick to point out that they "were on an independent private tour, not affiliated with the cruise line." They are independent for liability issues only. The shore excursion companies could not stay in business without the blessing of the Royal Caribbean.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11964601/
Updated: 8:49 p.m. ET March 22, 2006
SANTIAGO, Chile - A bus carrying cruise ship tourists plunged 300 feet down a mountain ravine in northern Chile, killing 12 people, all U.S. citizens, officials said.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(ticker: RCL,News Release - 22-Mar-2006
Several Believed Killed or Injured in Bus Accident
MIAMI, March 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Several people are believed killed or injured in a bus accident in Arica, Chile. The guests were sailing aboard Celebrity Cruises' Millennium. They were on an independent private tour, not affiliated with the cruise line
Here is the link about the control Royal Caribbean has over shore excursion companies. When you get to the web page - do a find on the word: "Lipcon". He is the attorney that filed a law suit against them.
http://royalcaribbeanltd.blogspot.com/2005/10/empress-of-sea-cruise-of-91205.html
May 06, 2005by Gregg FieldsThe MIami Herald
The way cruise ships market and sell shore excursions is the subject of three lawsuits filed in federal court in Miami.Miami's leading cruise lines are ripping off their passengers by secretly pocketing some of the fees paid for shore excursions that were booked with purportedly independent operators, three related lawsuits allege.The cases, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Miami, name Carnival Corp., Royal Caribbean Cruises and its Celebrity Cruises unit, and Norwegian Cruise Lines as defendants. The attorney filing the lawsuit, Charles Lipcon, is seeking class-action status for each complaint.In an interview, Lipcon said the companies say the excursion operators are independent, and the ship is booking the activities as a convenience for its passengers."What they don't tell you is they're keeping up to half of the money," Lipcon said. "It's an undisclosed charge."A Kickback!!
http://www.lipcon.com/news_article42.shtml
http://www.miami.com
/mld/miamiherald/living/travel/
http://blog.lipcon.com/2003/12/shipowner_
Shipowner Liable For Injuries On Tender To Shore Excursion Even Though Tender Operated By Third Party. Trial Court Erred In Directly Verdict Even Where Condition Was Open And Obvious Since Shipowner Should Have Reasonably Anticipated The Condition
floridatoday.com
Cruise-industry leader Carnival Corp. responds to FLORIDA TODAY questionsFLORIDA TODAY STAFF
Miami-based Carnival Corp. has grown into the world's biggest cruise vacation company through savvy marketing, creampuff U.S. tax laws and inexpensive labor recruited from poor nations around the world.Carnival's crews work 10-16-hour days, seven days per week, many of them primarily for tips. It avoids U.S. corporate income tax and labor laws - and posted profits of $1.85 billion last year - because it is incorporated in Panama. And, while ferrying North American passengers to exotic port of calls, it strikes deals with vendors to keep a share of the money customers spend on shore.Carnival controls more than the world's cruise market, about twice its nearest competitor, Miami-based Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd
FLORIDA TODAY: The company's annual report to the S.E.C. mentions sales onboard and in ports, where Carnival receives a percentage of revenues collected by concessionaires. Can you give an example of how that latter part works? Carnival: Concessionaires are independent companies contracted with the cruise lines to provide goods and services for guests during their cruise. At Carnival, we use concessionaires for such areas as shipboard spas, gift shops, art auctions, our fleetwide golf program and shore excursions. Carnival signs agreements with concessionaires' on-board revenues and the company receives a percentage of these sales.
posted by Timalantoo | 3/22/2006 11:07:00 PM
2 Comments:
why don't you spend some time promoting how existing conditions can be improved rather than focusing all your attention on complaining about an industry that will exist far longer than you?
This type of accident occur once in many years, and in Chile there was 8.8 Magnitude earthquake and it is said to be a strongest earth quake in years.
royal caribbean cruises
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