Cruise Ship Lawyers Blog
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.
Hotels have also experienced a similar increase with the occupancy in January 2026 being a reported 85.7% and January of 2025 being 83.3%. Prices have likewise increased.
This trend and shift away from cruise ship passengers in the area is a part of a broader shift in how travelers are choosing to visit Key West, the newspaper reported. Officials have stated that this is because travelers are being more “intentional” with their planning. This trend means fewer daily crowds in the downtown area, which may impact local businesses such as shops and restaurants that rely on cruise ship foot traffic for revenue.
Leesfield & Partners
This decline in cruise passenger traffic in Key West stands in contrast to the broader industry, which has experienced a significant boom in the years following the pandemic. In Miami, where one of Leesfield & Partners’ offices is located, PortMiami continues to prove itself as the “cruising capital of the world.” The area has consistently broken passenger records and is expected to see more than 21 million Americans in 2026. Although cruise ship travel trends continue to rise outside Monroe County—where Leesfield & Partners has maintained an office since at least the 1980s—this increase does not eliminate the risk of injury cases that personal injury firms like ours continue to see.
In a rapidly expanding industry, cruise lines are expected to compete with one another. From thrill seeking amenities on board to adrenaline-pumping excursions being offered, these companies must fight for the attentions of passengers. As cruise lines continue to expand their fleets, including larger ships to accommodate more people, there is the risk of injury.
In five decades, Leesfield & Partners has represented injured clients and grieving families throughout every manner of injury that can occur aboard these ships. From harrowing medical malpractice incidents to painful slip and falls and crimes, our skilled trial attorneys are dedicated to securing the best possible outcome for every client.
In an ongoing case, Trial Attorney Bernardo Pimentel II is representing a woman who suffers from severe PTSD and emotional turmoil after it was revealed that a crew member aboard a ship had planted hidden cameras in her cabin and the cabins of other passengers. She was being filmed without her knowledge or consent. Many of the others who were being filmed included children. That passenger was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for producing child sex abuse material.
Our client, who was traveling with family at the time of the incident, told reporters the ordeal has left her with a “crushing, devastating, terrifying feeling.” The crew member in this case used his employee key card to gain access to the private rooms.
“Terminating the employee is not enough,” Mr. Pimentel said. “That does not stop this from occurring in the future.”
Previous Cases
As common carriers, cruise lines have a non-delegable duty to ensure the safety of their passengers. This means they are held to a higher standard of care and are responsible for ensuring that the ship is in a safe condition. Additionally, they must implement security measures to prevent criminal acts and other dangers that could harm passengers. This duty cannot be transferred or delegated to other parties, meaning the cruise line itself remains liable for the safety of passengers and crew onboard.
A 9-year-old boy was playing basketball on a cruise ship when he dove for an out-of-bounds ball. He hit a steel, unpadded grommet in the process and suffered traumatic brain injuries. The firm secured a $2.5 million recovery for the boy and his family.
A Canadian woman traveling on a cruise ship was brutally raped by a crew member who had access to her cabin. The firm obtained a multi-million-dollar recovery for the woman in that case.
An 8-year-old girl tragically died when she was separated from her family aboard a cruise ship. When the child leaned over a faulty interior railing on the ship, she fell several stories to her death.
A confidential settlement was secured by the firm in that case.
A Leesfield & Partners client was playing pickleball aboard a ship when he suffered a head injury. The firm secured a $500,000 settlement for the 62-year-old client.
What to Do
- Do not move from the area where the incident took place as long as you are not in immediate danger.
- Immediately report the incident to crew.
- Document all injuries and submit written requests to view and preserve the cruise line’s surveillance footage from the area where the incident took place.
- Photograph everything from the area where the incident took place to the injuries you suffered and clothing you were wearing. Either you should photograph these areas yourself or have a traveling companion photograph them for you. Additionally, you should request that a member of the crew take photos of the area before they begin cleaning it.
- Request all documentation from any doctors who examined you following the incident. These documents may be used as evidence in trial and can include anything from X-Rays to doctor’s notes.
- Submit written requests for incident reports conducted by any crew members or cruise officials investigating the incident.
- Follow up with your doctor immediately upon returning home.
- Begin contacting a cruise line injury attorney like Leesfield & Partners as soon as possible. It is important to note that there is a short statute of limitations for cruise line cases. In Florida, the statute of limitations for personal injury is two years. Most cruise lines require a notice of claim within six months of the incident with a lawsuit filed no later than one year afterwards.
