Ruby Princess fiasco: dozens of South Australian passengers infected with coronavirus join worldwide class action
Dozens of SA passengers ravaged by coronavirus from the ill-fated Ruby Princess cruise ship have joined a worldwide legal action against the company as more traumatic details emerge.
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For Leon Sharp and Ursula Steinberner, their holiday on the Ruby Princess cruise ship was a trip of a lifetime and a great introduction to cruising.
“We had a ball,” said Mrs Steinberner, 65, of Port Augusta.
“It was our first cruise. I had wanted to go for years and finally convinced Leon to go. It was just beautiful.”
But their joyful trip, from March 8 to 19, turned sour after both were ravaged by coronavirus contracted on the ill-fated ship.
The retired pair, who have five children and 11 grandchildren, are suing the cruise operators. After having fought for their health, they want to hold the cruise company executives accountable.
Mrs Steinberner, a double kidney transplant recipient, fought for life over 10 days in the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s intensive care unit after being flown to Adelaide in a storm.
They are among 63 South Australian passengers who have joined a worldwide class action alleging the ship’s owner failed to prevent COVID-19 spreading.
More than 800 people from across Australia, Britain and America are suing in the Federal Court for undisclosed damages.
But Mr Sharp, 70, a retired power station worker – who wants to take another cruise when the world reopens – said: “It is not about the money, we want people to be held to account.”
The pair fell ill after flying back to Adelaide but say that when they left the ship, officials said they should only isolate at home.
Mrs Steinberner, a former gaming manager, said: “I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, I really wouldn’t. It was awful.”
Another passenger taking part in the action is Paul Faraguna, 68, of Rosslyn Park, who was the state’s first – and last – ICU patient.
He also said he was not in it for the money.
“If Princess Cruises did know about the dangers of COVID-19 on the actual cruise that we went on then I would like them to be held responsible,” he said.
“It would set an example for other businesses of their duty of care.”
Shine Lawyers class-actions practice leader Vicky Antzoulatos said the firm continued to hear “distressing stories from South Australians who were infected with coronavirus on the ship”.
“While many passengers will fully recover from COVID-19 in a physical sense, others like Ursula are still battling with related health issues,” she said.
A Princess Cruises spokesman said: “We have the utmost respect for our guests and understand the worldwide impact of COVID-19, including on some of our guests, crew members and their families.”
He said a NSW Special Commission of Inquiry, which the company was participating in, was “establishing the facts”.
