"Leesfield & Partners"

Published on: March 24, 2026

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

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

How This Vessel Fared Following Latest Winter Storms. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

The waterslides and pool deck of this cruise ship — originally meant to be enjoyed with the backdrop of sparkling, tropical waters — looked a little different covered in New Jersey snow.

Stuck in port overnight in the Garden State due to Winter Storm Hernando, the vessel was blanketed in snow. While the ship was meant to be carrying its thousands of passengers to the crystal-clear waters of the Bahamas, guests instead peered out their windows to find pool decks and lounge chairs coated in snow and framed by an unexpected, icy landscape. Photos of the peculiar sight can be seen posted on the cruise line’s blog page.

The weather delay has also set back arrivals in Port Canaveral, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, as well as later arrivals at Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, the blog reported. If the weather does not improve, then further changes to scheduled voyages may be possible.

Published on: February 23, 2026

One Dead, Four Others Injured in Cruise Ship Fire. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

Officials are investigating what caused a fire to break out aboard a cruise ship in Singapore following the death of at least one person and the injury to four others.

The fire broke out on Friday, Feb. 20 in a lounge area on one of the ship’s decks, according to reporting from PEOPLE. The name and age of the person who died, a member of the crew from Indonesia, was not immediately available Friday afternoon. The four who were injured are recovering in the hospital, the media outlet reported.

The fire aboard the ship, which was carrying 271 passengers and about 338 crew members at the time, was reported to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) at around 4 a.m. local time. Passengers were evacuated while members of the crew handled the flames. Singapore Civil Defence Force’s (SCDF) marine firefighters extinguished the blaze.

Published on: February 11, 2026

GI Outbreak on Luxury Cruise Ship Leaves More than 25 Sick. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

Over 25 people reported feeling sick following an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness aboard a luxury cruise ship.

At least 21 passengers and at least six crew members on a ship headed from Miami to Honolulu reported symptoms of norovirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The cause in this case us unknown.

Published on: December 15, 2025

Crewmember Attacked by Passenger in Viral Clip. What Happened?

By Leesfield & Partners

A crewmember was attacked aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas in a recent incident that has gone viral online.

The incident, which occurred on Saturday, Dec. 6, shows the crewmember, a lifeguard, allegedly trying to direct passengers away from an outdoor deck area.

The passengers — many of whom were in swim attire — can be seen angrily attempting to get in the crewmember’s face as he backs away from the heated argument. A scuffle breaks out and the lifeguard appears to be hit and knocked to the ground.

Published on: November 24, 2025

This Cruise Line Has Closed Waterslides on Multiple Ships. Here’s Why.

By Leesfield & Partners

Royal Caribbean has shut down slides on multiple ships in its fleet in a bid to improve safety months after a passenger was injured in an incident that caught national attention.

The incident happened in August when a slide’s acrylic panel shattered, injuring a passenger. The slide was closed and then repaired. Videos showing the aftermath went viral and caught nationwide attention.

Since then, company’s safety initiative has closed slides on at least three ships, according to reporting from The Miami Herald. No official word has been released on whether more slides will face closure or the duration of the alleged shutdown.

Published on: November 24, 2025

Excursion Boat Sinks, Man Falls Between Cruise Ship and Pier: What to Know About These Recent Cruise Ship Accidents.

By Leesfield & Partners

At least 51 cruise ship passengers were in need of rescue off the coast of the Dominican Republic after the tour boat they were on sunk on Sunday, Nov. 9, according to media.

The incident involved a catamaran with a shore excursion from a two-week cruise ship and allegedly resulted from an “internal failure,” according to Cruise News Today.

The stop in Samana Bay had been added following re-routing due to inclement weather conditions related to Hurricane Melissa. No “major” injuries were reported.

Published on: November 18, 2025

FBI Investigates Death of Teen on Cruise Ship. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

The FBI is investigating the death of an 18-year-old passenger last week aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship, according to national media.

Anna Kepner, of Titusville, Florida, died while traveling from Miami to the Caribbean. The ship she was on, the Carnival Horizon, returned to Port Miami on Nov. 8. It is unclear who she was traveling with or if she was traveling alone at the time of her death.

No cause of death has been released as of Wednesday, Nov. 12. Officials have not publicly commented on the case, citing the ongoing investigation. It is “standard practice” for the FBI to investigate deaths on cruise ships, according to reporting from USA Today, and the presence of these agents “does not automatically imply suspicious circumstances.”