The spouse of a man who went overboard and is now presumed dead a Royal Caribbean cruise ship is fighting with the company about the circumstances of his death.

Bernardo Elbaz’s fall was captured in a chilling video, after he had apparently fallen from the seventh deck of the ship onto a lifeboat one deck below. The video shows him clinging to a metal support beam as other passengers watched and screamed until he eventually lost his grip and falls overboard.

Elbaz’s husband, Erik Elbaz, insists that Bernardo had jumped to his death because of how devastated and upset he was for repeatedly being told anti-gay slurs by crew members. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office has ruled the death a suicide, citing a reported domestic disturbance on board.

Erik Elbaz’s lawyer, Michael Winkleman, asserts that the man didn’t jump when he went overboard, and that the video proves that both of Bernardo Elbaz’s falls were results of failures by Royal Caribbean staff.

Royal Caribbean disputed this assertion in a statement that said, “The attorney’s disproven claims that our security staff had any culpability in this tragedy are shameful and offensive.”

Royal Caribbean is setting a new bar for cruise lines as they make aggressive moves to raise their international brand. They’ve developed a high-tech class of ships filled with technological innovations that set them apart from their competitors. As part of their global expansion plan, this Quantum ship will start a new line in China with home port in Shanghai, a development that has been made possible by Royal Caribbean’s joint venture with a Chinese travel company, Ctrip. This major international push, alongside a 42-ship global expansion, will ideally create a national cruise line for China and is set to double Royal Caribbean’s earnings by 2017. Royal Caribbean already has competition in China, but none are offering brand new ships like those Royal Caribbean has due to release.

Royal Caribbean recognized the pressure the tourism business has experienced the past few years and saw an opportunity to actually increase their ship volume and itinerary lists. They announced their “double-double” program in July, and since that announcement with initiatives to increase the company’s return on invested capital, Royal Caribbean’s stock price has increased by 40 percent.

Royal Caribbean aims to add more luxury elements to their new cruise ships, due to release by 2018 and 2020. Making their image more upscale with the Quantum ship-line will ideally attract more passengers and bring in more money, offering more high-tech features and accommodations that justify higher fares. They are pioneering elements aboard the Quantum such as sky-diving simulators, bumper cars, roller skating, and an enclosed SeaPlex activity area. By putting forth the best technology in the market right now, Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in Chief of CruiseCritic.com, believes Royal Caribbean is really committing to a market that is “ultimately going to revolutionize the industry.”

Such massive expansion opens the cruise industry up to more passengers, more itineraries, and more destinations. However, with such technological advancements aboard new ships, there is the inevitable risk that passengers will be susceptible to new injuries. The cruise ship lawyers at Louis A. Vucci P.A. are prepared to help those who have been injured or who have fallen ill due to wrong-doing or negligence aboard a cruise ship. Contact us at (786) 375-0344 for more information.

Miami cruise liner Royal Caribbean International has ensured its market base in Asia by setting up office in Hong Kong, the Royal Caribbean Blog stated.

Next summer, the company’s cruise ship Voyager of the Seas will be at port in Hong Kong for 22 cruises. Voyager of the Seas will sail out of Beijing on June 26, 2015 for a six-night cruise to her new home port in Hong Kong, where she will remain until October 2015. Three- to ten-night cruises will be offered to destinations such as Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, as well as other areas in China.

Cruises are one of the most universally enjoyed American vacations. However, there is always a danger that a passenger will suffer an injury on a cruise ship, and the cruise ship company may be held liable. If you have experienced this, contact the cruise ship injury attorneys at Louis A. Vucci P.A., by dialing (786) 375-0344 to learn about your legal options.

Miami-based Royal Caribbean International announced it will conclude its cruise ship service next year from the Port of New Orleans, The Times-Picayune reported on June 10.

Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Janet Diaz said there are no New Orleans ships planned for the winter of 2015-2016. The 2,360-passenger Serenade of the Seas ship replaced the larger Navigator of the Seas at the port in December 2013. Serenade underwent a major $29 million renovation. Three restaurants and an outdoor café were added, plus a wireless internet connection was installed throughout.

Port of New Orleans president and CEO Gary LaGrange said that upon conferring with Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein, he gathered that there is a possibility that Hong Kong will replace New Orleans as a port destination due to an increasing demand for cruise ships in Asia. The cruise line has not yet said whether it will return to port at New Orleans in 2016.

Cruises are a beloved vacation for many American families. However, dangers are still prevalent on cruise ships. If you have been injured aboard a cruise ship, contact a member of our legal team at the Louis A. Vucci P.A. today by dialing (786) 375-0344 to discuss your situation.

Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship, Quantum of the Seas, a 4,180 passenger ship will debut in November. It will be based out of China instead of Europe or the Caribbean. This move marks Asia’s growing significance in the cruise ship industry.

Royal Caribbean Cruises president, Adam Goldstein said that the company has great confidence in developing and touching base with China. Goldstein hopes that Royal Caribbean’s partnership in China will give the company a competitive advantage over other shipping lines.

While cruise trips can provide people with an enjoyable experience, many people can sustain injuries and become ill during the course of the trip. If you have been injured or contracted an illness while on a cruise ship, the attorneys of the Louis A. Vucci P.A., could help you file a claim. Call our offices today at (786) 375-0344 to discuss your case with a member of our legal team.

According to Miami, Florida-based Royal International Caribbean officials, guests and crew members on the Majesty of the Seas ship have suffered from gastrointestinal illnesses that doctors presume are caused by the norovirus. 68 people total, or around 2.5% of the 2,581 passengers and crew, were affected.

Cruise officials tried to take precautions to ensure that illnesses would not spread throughout the trip, including asking passengers when they boarded the cruise ship on Friday, January 17 if they had developed any gastrointestinal problems within the last three days.

Last year, the Vessel Sanitation Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed nine incidences of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships. This happens when 3% or more members of the passengers or crew suddenly show symptoms of the illness while the ship is at sail.

When on a cruise ship, you should be able to expect clean and sanitary conditions that do not allow for illness outbreaks such as this. Thus, if you have been affected by an undue illness on a cruise ship, call (786) 375-0344. Our attorneys at the Louis A. Vucci P.A., can help you explore your legal options for filing a passenger claim and possibly begin taking legal action.

Miami-based cruise line, Royal Caribbean International, recently announced that its cruise ship, Anthem of the Seas, will sail from Southampton in the United Kingdom for its 2015 spring launch.

The Anthem of the Seas boasts some unconventional attractions for cruise ship passengers. The ship’s feature attraction, the North Star, is a mounted glass capsule designed to rise 300 feet above sea level, giving guests a comprehensive view of their surroundings.

In addition to the North Star viewing feature, the Anthem of the Seas will offer simulated skydiving, circus school, studio staterooms, and virtual balconies.

The popularity of cruise vacations has increased exponentially within the past 15 years. However enjoyable and economical cruises can be, they can also present dangerous situations. If you have sustained injuries while on a cruise, contact the Louis A. Vucci P.A.. By calling (786) 375-0344 our lawyers can help determine if you are eligible for compensation.

Miami-based cruise liner Royal Caribbean International has announced that because of mechanical issues affecting its ship Allure of the Seas, the liner will be forced to cancel the ship’s upcoming February trips in order to complete the repairs.

According to Royal Caribbean International president and chief executive officer Adam Goldstein, the ship will be docked at the Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, Bahamas starting on February 24 to do the repairs on the affected propulsion motors. Goldstein promised a speedy repair of Allure of the Seas “so that she could continue to deliver the amazing cruise vacations our guests expect.”

William D. Baumgartner, senior vice president of Marine Operations, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. said “there was no satisfactory solution” to the problem of premature bearing wear in one of the ship’s three propulsion motors “that did not involve taking the ship temporarily out of service.”

When cruise ships are not properly maintained and repaired, unsuspecting passengers may be the ones to pay the price. If you or a loved one was harmed due to a mechanical defect on a cruise ship, talk with an attorney from the Louis A. Vucci P.A., about filing a legal claim. You can discuss your situation by calling (786) 375-0344 today.