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Cruise line facing possible class action over ‘unethical’ casino operations
P&O Cruises Australia could be hit with a class action lawsuit over ‘unethical’ practices in shipboard casinos.
The action was sparked after Sydney man Shane Dixon is thought to have jumped overboard after racking up thousands in gambling debts over two nights in the casino.
An Aussie law firm has met with several guests who have spoken out at cruise lines’ ‘predatory’ behaviour.
Carter Capner Law director Peter Carter said he has been ‘inundated with stories’ of guests building up big gambling debts without being informed at the time.
In one case a passenger was detained onboard after the cruise due to his casino debt.
Carter accused P&O Cruises of offering credit, free alcohol and free cruise incentives to keep gambling, which are tactics generally banned in Australian land-based casinos.
Another guest had a history of past debts with the cruise line and was still given thousands in credit.
“The cruise lines think that once they’re in international waters anything goes. We have a different opinion and we think there are still regulations that need to be followed,” Carter told ABC Radio Sydney.
“It’s all very poor conduct, it wouldn’t be tolerated in Australia and our objective is to get compensation for those passengers who’ve been financially harmed.”
The possible class action is targeting P&O Cruises Australia and potentially Royal Caribbean.
Just weeks after the man overboard incident with Shane Dixon, Carnival Corp announced the P&O Cruises Australia brand would be shut down and absorbed into main brand Carnival Cruise Line.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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