Cruise Ship Lawyers Blog

Published on: May 22, 2026

Hantavirus MV Hondius Cruise Ship Updates. What to Know.

There are at least 10 probable and confirmed cases of hantavirus related to those who were aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship with at least two deaths, according to national media.

The incident, which has garnered global attention, began on May 2, when the World Health Organization was notified of severe respiratory illnesses among passengers and crew aboard the ship. Among the dead are an elderly couple from the Netherlands. As of Thursday, May 14, the status of at least one other person who was infected has yet to be confirmed.

This week, at least 16 American passengers who were aboard the ship were transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Approximately 15 of them are being monitored in a quarantine unit. One other had initially tested positive and was in a separate unit until that person tested negative. Once their test came back, they were medically cleared to go to the quarantine unit. Two other American passengers were taken to Atlanta for further assessment, according to ABC News.

Published on: May 22, 2026

Cruise Passenger Dies After Fall From Pier on Mobility Scooter. What Happened?

By Leesfield & Partners

An elderly woman has died after she allegedly lost control of a mobility scooter while on a cruise ship pier in the Bahamas and fell off the edge, according to national media.

The woman, 88, who has not yet been named by authorities fell into the water just before noon on Saturday, May 9, while the ship was docked. Crew members got her out of the water, according to a statement obtained by the New York Post, and attempted to resuscitate her. Tragically, she died.

The woman is believed to have hit her head on the hull of the ship as she fell into the water, reporters with The New York Post said.

Published on: May 11, 2026

Three Dead, Others Infected Following Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

A suspected outbreak of the rare hantavirus has resulted in the deaths of three people aboard a cruise ship, leaving at least two others seriously ill this week, according to national media.

Two of the three people who died as a result of the suspected outbreak have been identified as an elderly married couple from the Netherlands. The 70-year-old husband died on the ship and his body was removed in the British territory of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic, according to the Associated Press. His wife is said to have collapsed while at a South African airport with a planned flight to return home. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she died. The body of the third patient who died was still aboard the ship and no names of any of the three victims was reported as of Monday, April 4, according to media.

At least one of the three patients was in intensive care at a hospital in South Africa, World Health Organization officials told AP reporters. As of Monday, April 4, only one case has been confirmed. An investigation is ongoing.

Published on: April 24, 2026

Local Media Reports Decline in Key West Cruise Travel. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

While hotel and air travel numbers to Key West have remained strong thus far in 2026, cruise ship and ferry traffic have declined, according to the Key West Citizen.

The cruise passenger counts and ferry arrivals show declines compared to 2025, which saw 639,412 passenger arrivals — the most since 2019. These numbers come from data collected by the Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce. By January of 2026, there was a 15% decrease in passengers at 49,883. In January of 2025, the area recorded 58,993 passengers.

Despite cruise travel declines, hotel and air travel remains strong. Key West International Airport, which has recently upgraded certain areas, is seeing an increase that is expected to continue into 2026. Last year, the airport reported 734,150 arrivals. In 2024, the airport reported 718,597. In 2023, that figure was recorded at 652,473. In January alone, there were an estimated 74,707 arrivals — one of the highest January totals reported in the past decade.

Published on: April 21, 2026

Prosecutors: Teen Charged in Case of Murdered Stepsister Aboard Cruise Ship Will Be Tried as an Adult

By Leesfield & Partners

The stepbrother of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, a Florida teen found murdered on a cruise ship, has been indicted on criminal charges of murder and sexual abuse, according to national media.

The 16-year-old stepbrother, who has only been identified as T.H., will be tried as an adult for the November 2025 death of his stepsister. He has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse. If convicted, he could face up to life in prison.

The announcement came on April 10 after a federal grand jury returned an indictment based on evidence presented by prosecutors. As of Wednesday, April 15, T.H was not in custody and is staying with an uncle and accompanying his father to work, according to reporting from PEOPLE. Prosecutors are now allegedly asking the court to revoke his release and hold him in pretrial detention, the news outlet reported.

Published on: March 31, 2026

Passenger Faces Criminal Charges After Cruise Ship Sauna Incident.

By Leesfield & Partners

A Florida man faces criminal charges after police say he exposed and touched himself in a sauna occupied by two teens, according to NBC 6 South Florida.

The 39-year-old man of Lutz, Florida, was charged with two counts of indecent exposure related to the incident, which occurred on Saturday, March 21.

At least two teens, a 16 and 17-year-old, were in the sauna when they said the man exposed and began to touch himself while sitting on the top bench.

Published on: March 24, 2026

Nearly 200 People Affected in Norovirus Outbreak. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

About 141 guests and 52 members of the crew aboard a cruise ship reported being ill during a voyage earlier this month, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The outbreak was reported to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the agency announced. The symptoms that were reported predominantly included diarrhea and vomiting as the result of norovirus.

As a response to the outbreak, the cruise line said it was increasing disinfecting and cleaning efforts aboard the vessel. Those who reported feeling ill were quarantined to prevent any spread and specimens were collected. VSP officials conducted assessments and outbreak investigations to mitigate further spread.

Published on: March 13, 2026

Falls on Cruise Ships Can be Serious. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

One moment, a passenger is strolling along the lido deck with plans to take advantage of a soft-serve ice cream machine, and the next, they are writhing in pain after a fall that has ruined their whole vacation.

As many Leesfield & Partners’ cruise ship injury clients can attest, that scene is not altogether that uncommon. The firm has remained committed to holding cruise lines accountable for nearly five decades throughout South Florida. In that time, our skilled trial attorneys have seen just about every manner of injury that can occur to cruise ship passengers. From excursion accidents to medical malpractice incidents and slip and falls, our attorneys have worked diligently on every case to secure the best possible outcome for our clients.

The firm’s Founder and Managing Partner, Ira Leesfield, along with Trial Attorney Bernardo Pimentel II, is representing a woman who suffered a life-altering fall while traveling on a ship with her family. What was meant to be a milestone vacation, marking not only our client’s first time on a cruise but also her first time out of the country, was soured by her horrific injury and the ordeal she suffered afterwards.

Published on: March 4, 2026

A New Florida Cruise Port? Where? What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

Just south of Interstate 275 in a pocket of the Tampa Bay is an island that may be home to a new cruise port, but locals worry about the environmental impact of such a project, according to The Miami Herald.

The area is being eyed for a terminal by two companies — SSA Marine and Slip Knott LLC — for megaships that cannot pass under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The bridge maintains a clearance of about 193 feet for ships, despite being raised by about 50% to accommodate larger vessels in 1987, and still presents a limitation for megaships trying to pass through the area.

Currently, the island serves as a natural habitat for a multitude of native species and is known as “Paradise Island” to locals and nature enthusiasts, according to reporting from The Miami Herald. “As a conservation tradeoff” ahead of their plans to develop the Knott-Cowen Tract into a cruise port hub, the companies have proposed the preservation of Rattlesnake Key — a largely undeveloped 830-acre island that sold last year for $18 million. SSA Marine is the current owner of Rattlesnake Key.

Published on: February 26, 2026

Dream Vacation Becomes Nightmare: Leesfield & Partners Representing Mother of Four Following Cruise Ship Fall

By Leesfield & Partners

What was meant to be an unforgettable trip, marking her first time traveling out of the country, turned out a bit differently for a mother of four now represented by Leesfield & Partners.

“I was in shock,” this is what our 64-year-old client had to say regarding the immediate aftermath of a fall on a cruise ship deck that was slick with water.

The woman, a public school bus driver and school cafeteria worker, was on the ship with her daughter, grandchildren, her son-in-law, and his mother for a family vacation when she fell. Her daughter rushed to her side and described her mother’s leg as appearing “deformed” from her injury.