A vacation on an MSC Cruise ship should feel like a floating resort. When you get hurt on an MSC cruise, that trip can suddenly turn into months of pain, medical bills, and confusing paperwork from a huge international company that seems focused on protecting itself instead of helping you.
We help passengers and crew who suffer serious injuries or illness on MSC ships and MSC-sponsored excursions. Our goal is simple: protect your rights, hold MSC accountable, and pursue the full compensation the law allows.
In this guide, we’ll explain:
- Common types of MSC cruise ship accidents
- Who can be held responsible
- Short deadlines hidden in MSC’s ticket contract
- How Texas law and maritime law affect your case
- What compensation you can seek
- How Joe I. Zaid & Associates can help you from Houston and Pasadena, Texas
How MSC Cruise Ship Accidents Happen
Cruise ships are like small cities at sea. With thousands of people on board, things can go wrong quickly if the cruise line cuts corners on safety.
According to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, more than 20 million passengers depart from North American ports each year, and public health issues on cruise ships include contaminated food and water, poor sanitation, and illness outbreaks. The U.S. Coast Guard has also reported that passenger vessels experience a significant share of marine casualties, with nearly half tied to material failures and many involving collisions and personnel injuries.
On MSC ships, we commonly see:
Slip and Fall and Trip Hazards
You may get hurt because of:
- Wet or greasy decks and pool areas
- Uneven flooring or worn anti‑skid strips on stairs
- Poor lighting in hallways or lounges
- Spills that the crew ignores
These are classic premises liability situations. MSC has a duty of care to keep walkways reasonably safe and to correct or warn about hazards. When they ignore that duty and you fall, they can be held liable.
Illness Outbreaks and Food‑Related Injuries
Cruise ships face ongoing risk of norovirus and other gastrointestinal illnesses. Johns Hopkins Medicine explains that the CDC inspects cruise ships and monitors outbreaks because shared spaces, buffets, and common bathrooms increase the risk of GI illness.
You may have a claim if you suffered:
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea from contaminated food or water
- Illness tied to poor sanitation or faulty water systems
- A serious outbreak that MSC failed to control or report properly
Excursion and Tender‑Boat Accidents
Many MSC cruises include excursions and tender-boat rides to and from shore. Even when a third‑party company runs the tour, MSC can share responsibility if:
- They choose unsafe excursion vendors
- They fail to warn about known dangers
- Crew rush boarding or ignore rough sea conditions
If you were hurt during a ship-sponsored tour, our cruise ship excursion accident lawyers and tender boat accident team can help you sort out who is legally responsible.
Assaults, Inadequate Security, and Medical Negligence
Serious incidents also include:
- Physical or sexual assaults by crew or other passengers
- Lack of security, broken door locks, or poorly lit areas
- Onboard medical negligence – misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, or refusal to provide proper care
Texas law gives survivors of certain sexual assaults far more time to sue—up to 30 years in some cases under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.0045, depending on the nature of the offense.
Who Is Liable After an MSC Cruise Injury?
Every MSC injury case starts with duty, breach, and damages:
- Duty of care
- MSC must use reasonable care under the circumstances to keep passengers safe on board.
- They must properly train crew, maintain equipment, and follow health and safety rules.
- For excursions they promote, they must vet operators and warn about unusual dangers.
- Breach of duty MSC may breach that duty by:
- Ignoring wet or slippery decks
- Allowing broken handrails or poor lighting
- Serving unsafe food or failing sanitation inspections
- Hiring unqualified medical staff
- Failing to provide adequate security
- Causation and damages We must show that MSC’s failures directly led to your injury and losses, such as medical bills or lost income.
How Texas Comparative Negligence Can Affect You
If part of your claim involves conduct or damages in Texas – for example, boarding at a Texas port or follow‑up treatment here – Texas proportionate responsibility rules can matter.
Under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 33.001, you cannot recover damages if you are more than 50% at fault for your own injury. If you are 50% or less at fault, your compensation gets reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
MSC will often argue that:
- You “weren’t watching where you were going”
- You ignored warning signs
- You were intoxicated
Our job is to push back with evidence—photos, video, witness statements, medical records—so fault is assigned fairly and your recovery stays as high as possible.
Short Deadlines: MSC Contract Limits vs. Texas Law
One of the most dangerous traps in cruise ship claims is time.
MSC’s One‑Year Contract Deadline
Like many major cruise lines, MSC’s passenger ticket contract usually:
- Requires written notice of your claim within about 180–185 days of the incident
- Limits the time to file a lawsuit to just one year
- Forces most lawsuits into the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida (Miami)
If you wait too long, a court can dismiss your case even though Texas’s general personal injury deadline is two years.
Texas Statute of Limitations
Under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003, most personal injury and wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of injury (or date of death).(texas.public.law) This can still matter if:
- Part of your claim arises from negligence in Texas (for example, shore‑side MSC operations or connecting travel)
- You have related claims against Texas‑based defendants (like a local medical provider or excursion company)
Because maritime law + Texas law + contract terms can overlap, you should talk to a lawyer as soon as possible to protect every possible claim and deadline.
What Compensation Can You Recover After an MSC Cruise Injury?
Depending on your case, you may pursue:
- Medical expenses
- Emergency treatment on board and in port
- Hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy
- Future care and medications
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Time you miss from work now
- Long‑term impact if you cannot return to your old job
- Property damage
- Lost luggage, damaged personal items, medical equipment
- Non‑economic damages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish, anxiety, PTSD
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In wrongful death cases, families can seek damages for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.
What to Do Right After an MSC Cruise Ship Accident
Your actions in the hours and days after an MSC incident can change the outcome of your claim.
Do:
- Get medical care immediately – Onboard and again from an independent doctor ashore.
- Report the incident in writing to MSC – Ask for a copy of the incident report.
- Take photos and video – Of the hazard, your injuries, and surrounding area.
- Collect witness information – Names, cabin numbers, phone numbers, emails.
- Save all records – Ticket, boarding passes, receipts, excursion brochures, medical bills.
Do NOT:
- Sign broad “release” forms without legal advice.
- Give a recorded statement to MSC’s risk management or insurers.
- Post detailed accounts or photos on social media.
- Wait until you get home and “see how you feel” before speaking to a lawyer.
Why Work With Joe I. Zaid & Associates on an MSC Cruise Claim?
You deserve a team that understands both maritime law and serious injury litigation.
Joe I. Zaid & Associates represents injured people across Texas and nationwide in complex personal injury and wrongful death cases, including cruise ship, excursion, and port accidents. You can reach us at:
Joe I. Zaid & Associates Office: (346) 756-9243 4710 Vista Rd. Suite E, Pasadena, TX 77505 https://joezaid.com
Experienced Houston Cruise Ship and Personal Injury Representation
Joe Zaid, founder of the firm, is a seasoned personal injury attorney whose client‑centered approach delivers results. Since 2013, Joe has represented thousands of clients and recovered millions of dollars in settlements, including numerous seven‑figure results in serious injury cases. He focuses on personal injury matters ranging from “minor” collisions to life‑altering trauma and understands how to build strong cases against large corporations and insurers.
Joe has been nominated by H‑Texas Magazine as one of Houston’s Top Lawyers and as a Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyer. He is an active member of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.
How We Help With MSC Cruise Cases
When we take your case, we:
- Review your MSC ticket contract and identify all deadlines and venue requirements
- Investigate the incident, gather evidence, and work with experts when needed
- Analyze liability, including MSC, excursion operators, medical staff, and security providers
- Handle all communications with MSC and insurance companies
- Pursue full compensation through settlement negotiations or litigation
You pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover money for you. We also help you understand related claims, such as general cruise ship accident claims, and, if appropriate, connect your situation to issues like medical negligence, excursion accidents, or sexual assault.
Real‑World Example: Courts Do Hold MSC Accountable
Courts across the world have held MSC liable when its ships cause harm. After the 2019 MSC Opera collision in Venice, a U.K. Admiralty Court found MSC liable for millions of dollars in damages and lost revenues after the ship struck a smaller river cruise vessel while maneuvering, causing injuries and significant damage.
Your case is unique, but this shows that MSC can be held responsible when evidence proves negligence.
Ready to Talk About Your MSC Cruise Injury?
If you or a loved one were hurt on an MSC Cruises ship or during an MSC‑sponsored excursion, you are likely worried about:
- Mounting medical bills
- Lost income from missed work
- Pain that is not going away
- Confusing paperwork and short deadlines in the cruise contract
You do not have to handle this alone.
Contact Joe I. Zaid & Associates for a free, no‑obligation consultation. We will review your MSC cruise claim, explain your options, and outline a clear plan to move forward.
Joe I. Zaid & Associates
Office: (346) 756-9243
4701 Preston Ave, Pasadena, TX 77505
https://joezaid.com
