ICV Condemns Unlimited Drinking Policy of Cruise Lines

SAMMAMISH, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The International Cruise Victims Association, Inc. (ICV) is a not-for-profit corporation formed by victims and families of victims of cruise ship crime.

“Carnival Puts 15-drink Daily Cap on Alcohol Package”

The issue of trying to get the cruise lines to improve safety seems to be an ongoing one. On January 17, 2013, Travel Weekly put out an article concerning Carnival Cruise Lines offering unlimited alcoholic drink packages to their passengers.

This article, entitled “Carnival Puts 15-drink Daily Cap on Alcohol Package,” indicates the following, “The package, which is now being offered on 13 Carnival ships, lets passengers pay for all beverages on a cruise in a single payment. A Carnival spokesman said the cruise line recently 'formalized' the limit on how many alcoholic drinks guests will be served within a 24-hour period running from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. the following day.”

ICV strongly condemns this action. Kendall Carver, Chairman of ICV, indicates that "when cruise lines not only offer but actively promote unlimited drinks for one price, the issue of many inebriated people in a confined space adds exponentially to the likelihood of a crime occurring. Limiting passengers to 15 drinks a day is a joke." Also, he feels that "anyone having consumed that much alcohol would be so incapacitated that they would not know where to go in an emergency or how to man a life boat or which language to communicate in.

"Adding to this is an issue ICV has long sought to correct: the absence of a thoroughly trained, independent law enforcement presence. This means there are no police to protect the passengers other than those employed by the cruise line itself on the high seas. Unfortunately, most passengers are unaware that often their only protection comes from the laws of the country where the ship is flagged.

"In addition, the cruise lines take the legal position that it is not their legal duty to investigate and determine whether or not a crime has been committed. In other words, they are promoting excessive drinking with no independent police and no legal duty to investigate crimes. Clearly, this means any unsuspecting and unaware passenger is at risk while on what should be a fun vacation."

ICV believes it is time for this industry to take action to improve safety by eliminating such alcohol packages.