Jacksonville-based Carnival Cruise Ship Fails Health Inspection
Trouble-plagued Carnival Cruise Lines have one more problem to add to its seemingly growing laundry list of woes: this time it’s a failed health inspection on a Jacksonville-based ship.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does twice-a-year health inspections of cruise ships and the recent inspection of Carnival’s Fascination revealed a score of 84 out of 100 — which might be a decent score on a math test, but is a failing health inspection score for a cruise ship. A passing grade is 86 or above.
The CDC found 44 different violations on Fascination, which included salad bar items not protected by a sneeze shield, not enough chlorination in the ship’s water park and inadequate lighting for cleaning up in food areas. Inspectors also discovered flies and at least one roach nymph present in food areas, corroded equipment and soiled surfaces in the kitchen and food service areas.
Perhaps more disturbingly, CDC inspectors learned that a crew member had not followed protocol by isolating himself or receiving an on board doctor’s permission to return to work during a bout of gastroenteritis on a February cruise; thereby exposing crew members and guests to an ailment that can spread quickly in the close-confines of a cruise ship.
A Carnival spokesman told USA Today, that this is the first health inspection a Carnival ship has failed in five years and that “corrective action was taken immediately.” The spokesman said that the cruise line is seeking re-inspection of the ship as soon as possible.
It is a cruise line’s duty to keep its passengers safe — whether that means getting guests to a port safely or guaranteeing a healthy environment on a cruise ship. If you find you have been injured or suffered an illness on a cruise due to the negligence of a cruise ship company, you may have legal recourse to seek compensation for your injuries. Contact the Jacksonville maritime and admiralty attorneys at Farah & Farah if you want to discuss your legal options. We can be reached at (800) 533-3555 or online. Your case review is free.
