If you go to work on a cruise ships, then you do have rights. A lot of people that go to work on cruise ships think that they don’t have rights because they are at sea.

It is not weird to think this because if you think about it, who is in charge of the sea? If you can’t answer that question then you will be forgiven for thinking that you don’t have any rights because you won’t know whose laws you have to follow.

United States Federal Law

In actual fact, cruise ships are to uphold United States Federal Law. Therefore, if you work on a cruise ship, you are protected under these laws and you do have rights.

Under US law, you are entitled to claim for:

• Compensation for an injury if it is not your fault.
• Loss of wages
• Any pain or suffering due to an injury
• Wages to the end of your contract even if your injury prevents you from working.
• Any costs for retraining if you are off work for a very long time.

Crime

You are also protected against crime. A cruise ship operator needs to make sure that their ships are safe from crime. Therefore, there should be some sort of security measures on board to make sure that you are safe.

If you are the victim of a violent crime, such as rape or assault, it should be reported immediately and the security on board the ship should contact the necessary authorities.

If you are docked when the crime occurs, then security should inform the authorities of the country that you are docked in. If you are at sea, the crime has to be reported to US authorities.

If you are attacked when you are on board the ship, doing your job, then you are entitled to compensation from the cruise ship company because they have failed to keep you safe.

Therefore, if this happens to you, you should contact good marine law specialists and see if they can help you to make a case. They will ask you to provide any copies of medical, police, or health and safety reports that have been completed prior to the attack.

In terms of sexual crime, you will be entitled to claim from compensation if you are the victim of:

• Rape
• Sexual harassment
• Unwanted sexual advances and/or comments
• Sexual assault

You can claim for compensation from the cruise ship owner if you are victim of any of the above, whether the defendant is a ship employee or a passenger. You don’t have to suffer in silence if you are the victim of any crime really. US law will protect you.

Medical Help

Contrary to popular belief, if you hurt yourself at work, or have an accident whilst on board the ship, then you are entitled to medical help. You should be sent to see the ship doctor immediately. You should not be asked to wait until any forms have been filled in before you see the doctor.

If your injury is beyond the capability of the on ship doctor, then you should either be sent to see a doctor on land, as soon as the ship as docked. If the injury is serious, then you should be sent to a hospital from the ship.

This is done by calling for a helicopter transportation service to take you towards land. The cost of this is usually covered by your insurance, but if the accident is not your fault, then you will be able to claim the cost of this back during your claim for compensation.