Passengers killed on Cruise Excursion; claim may be subject to Admiralty Jurisdiction

At least 12 people were killed and 18 others injured when a cruise excursion bus lost control and veered off a highway in Mexico. The passengers were from two Miami-based Royal Caribbean cruise ships, the Celebrity Equinox and Serenade of the Seas, A statement issued by Royal Caribbean said that 27 passengers from both cruise ships were on the bus during the crash. The passengers were traveling to the Mayan ruins at Chacchoben, on a shore excursion. Depending upon the particular facts of this case, the accident, although it occurred entirely on land, may be subject to admiralty jurisdiction if it can be demonstrated that some aspect of vessel negligence contributed to the accident. Aspects of the accident that will need to be investigated include whether the cruise line acted reasonably in choosing the tour bus operator, and the route, among other potential acts of negligence.