A new ship with the Cunard Line, a British shipping and cruise line owned by the Carnival Corp., docked in Miami last week, here’s a look inside the new ship on a line who will soon call South Florida home.
Queen Anne, which docked in PortMiami on Jan. 21, is Cunard’s first new ship in over a decade and precedes the South Florida move of Queen Elizabeth, its sister ship. That move is set to take place later this year, according to local media. The ship was docked in South Florida to give travel agents, tourism leaders and media a tour of the massive, 3,000-guest ship.
The ship is currently on a world tour, which began on Jan. 7, according to reporting from The Miami Herald. Locations already checked off the ship’s list include Hamburg, Germany, Mexico and Costa Rica. On Feb. 4, the ship will stop in San Francisco before continuing on to Honolulu.
Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth will be docked in PortMiami starting in October 2025, a move that reporters with the Herald said will “bring in more money to South Florida’s tourism economy.”
Cruise ships accounted for $43 billion in annual revenue to South Florida’s economy, according to 2023 reports. Cruise lines were significantly impacted by the pandemic, which saw an industry-wide shut down to limit the spread of the virus, and is now recovering to pre-COVID-19 numbers. In 2023, the industry served 7.3 million passengers. In 2024, that number increased by nearly 6%, according to data from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
Click Here to See Inside the Ship.
Leesfield & Partners
With 48 years of experience litigating cruise ship injury cases in the same city with Florida’s largest cruising hub, Leesfield & Partners has seen time and time again how these corporations will attempt to shift the blame in order to escape liability. Whether it be in slip and fall cases, in shore excursion injury cases or medical malpractice cases, this firm has seen the devastating toll that a cruise ship’s negligence can have on clients. In decades of personal injury practice, Leesfield & Partners has secured over $37 million in settlements and verdicts achieved on behalf of injured clients and their grieving family members.
Cruise lines are required to ensure that all areas on the ship are free from hazards, such as slippery floors, inadequate railings, or other fall risks. In line with premises liability principles, similar to those expected of property owners on land, cruise ships must take reasonable steps to either eliminate or warn passengers about any hazards that exist and take the necessary steps to correct the issue.
Additionally, cruise lines must be equipped with medical staff to handle any medical emergencies that may arise during the journey. This includes providing medical care and potentially arranging for evacuation to hospitals on shore, if necessary. Likewise, cruise ships must have security personnel onboard to manage any conflicts or criminal incidents, ensuring the safety and well-being of passengers at all times. All of this refers to a cruise ship’s non-delegable duty to provide a safe environment for passengers as a common carrier. This means they must meet specific safety standards and cannot transfer responsibility for passenger safety to anyone else.
Previously, Leesfield & Partners handled a case in which a cruise line attempted to shift the blame from itself to a tour operator in a devastating case in which a mother and daughter purchased a parasailing excursion while on their cruise ship. What should have been a fun and exciting adventure shared by both mother and daughter quickly turned into a nightmare when high winds and poor maintenance resulted in a rope snapping, leaving the two to hurdle toward the water below.
The mother was killed in the incident and the daughter suffered a traumatic brain injury.
In the lawsuit, the cruise attorneys attempted to place the blame on the tour operator, claiming that they were independent contractors. However, the two purchased the excursion while aboard the ship.
Leesfield & Partners secured $7.25 million in combined settlements for the families.
The firm also handled the case of a special needs adult who was killed in a horrific bus crash on a shore excursion while he traveled on a cruise with his family. The reckless driver caused the bus to rollover while driving up a steep mountain. Our client’s son was ejected in the crash and was killed.
Leesfield & Partners secured over $2.9 million for the family.
In another rollover incident, this time involving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), that caused serious injuries to our client, the firm secured a $1.28 million settlement.
A 68-year-old who was on a banana boat water sport excursion was thrown off during the ride, resulting in severe injuries and a fractured femur. Leesfield & Partners settled the case for $600,000.
If you or a loved one was injured on a cruise ship, you may be eligible for compensation. Call a Leesfield & Partners attorney today at 800-836-6400 for a free consultation.