Cruise lines continue to rule out lifeguards on ships
Leading cruise lines continue to rule out introducing lifeguards to swimming pool areas on their ships, despite a number of accidents in recent times.
The latest tragedy occurred earlier this month when a 10-year-old girl on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Gem drowned in the ship’s pool as it was sailing from New York to Florida.
According to Florida-based maritime lawyer Jim Walker, there have been seven fatal or near fatal swimming pool accidents in the last two years.
Disney Cruise Line is the only one of the main lines to employ lifeguards – introduced after an incident on one of its ships – but other companies are reluctant to follow suit.
Many are following the line taken by trade body Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) which states that member lines ‘continue to assess the need for further action beyond current practices, including evaluating the level of supervision of pools onboard’.
MSC Cruises UK and Ireland director Giles Hawke said the line had not found it necessary to employ lifeguards and customers had not asked about them, but if this situation changed the line would look at it.
"Our view is that people are on holiday with their children and they have a responsibility for them," he said.
"In a public swimming pool, you expect there to be lifeguards, but not in a resort swimming pool."
Carnival UK chief commercial officer Gerard Tempest backed this viewpoint, adding: "As with the majority of land-based hotels and resorts, we provide clear and conspicuous signs that a lifeguard is not present.
"While we do have pool supervisors, parents or guardians need to be vigilant and responsible for children and this is again emphasised in the children’s clubs."
He added that the company, which owns lines including P&O Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, was continually monitoring the situation.
Diane
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