P&O Cruises Australia is possibly facing a class action lawsuit for predatory behavior by encouraging guests to gamble regardless of knowing their financial ability to repay possible debts.
The claim was sparked by the death of a man who jumped (or fell) off P&O’s Pacific Adventure cruise ship in May of this year on the vessel’s approach to Sydney.
According to the law firm investigating the possible lawsuit, the passenger reportedly lost thousands of dollars over two evenings at the ship’s casino.
The law firm in question, Carter Capner Law, has accused the cruise ship operator of incentivizing guests to gamble by offering credit and plying them with free alcohol and other incentives such as free cruises.
The law firm’s director Peter Carter has reportedly been ‘inundated’ with complaints from other former cruise passengers, including claims that self-exclusion was not optional and that passengers were questioned and held onboard by staff when unable to settle their gambling debts.
In statements to ABC Radio Sydney, Carter noted that “The cruise lines think that once they’re in international waters everything goes”.
“The main protagonist, according to the numbers who’ve already expressed their interest to us, is Carnival and their brands P&O and other Carnival cruises. Royal Caribbean featured to some extent — they’re the only two that are featuring at the moment and they’re the ones that [have] operated out of Australia over the last six years,” Carter told the broadcaster.
A P&O Cruises Australia spokesperson indicated that the company had “Responsible Conduct of Gaming Policies in place on all P&O ships and take those policies seriously”.
P&O Cruises Australia is set to re-brand into its parent company Carnival Corporation under the Carnival Cruise Line in March of next year.