Cruise ship casino class action close as Aussies speak out

Cruise line giant P&O has been accused of encouraging vulnerable passengers to gamble and rack up huge debts.

Cruise ships that exploit vulnerable passengers by encouraging them to gamble on-board, racking up huge debts, are being targeted in a potential new class action.

Peter Carter, a tourism and travel compensation lawyer,  has launched an investigation into what he describes as “unethical practices” that take advantage of passengers with gambling addictions in ships’ casinos.

It comes after the tragic death on May 6 of a man who jumped overboard from P&O’s Pacific Adventure on May 6 after allegedly losing thousands of dollars over two nights in the ship’s casino.

The cruise industry is under scrutiny. Picture: Getty Images

At the time, Mr Carter, director of Carter Capner Law, accused P&O of offering gambling passengers credit regardless of their bank balance and capacity to repay.

Vulnerable passengers were also plied with free alcohol and offered free cruises, none of which are generally allowed in Australian casinos, Mr Carter alleged.

He said the practices have been modified since the passenger’s   death and the law firm’s campaign, but more change was needed.

“Not only were these actions arguably unconscionable, but the practice of preventing passengers and their families from leaving the ship and interrogating them at the Australian port of disembarkation – even for short periods - about how and when the casino debt will be paid, is against the law,” he said.

Lawyer Peter Carter. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Carter has called on other affected passengers to join the potential class action, which is for the recovery of financial losses incurred by former passengers and damages for unlawful imprisonment.

He said the firm had already been inundated with stories from traumatised people across Australia and New Zealand.

In one case, a man who sailed with P&O only days after the May 6 death, claimed he had less than $2000 in his bank account when he was gambling on-board. However, the cruise line allowed him to build a debt of almost $6000.

 He said he thought his bank account was being debited and he did not keep a record of his losses.

Passengers are being urged to come forward. Picture: iStock

On arrival back in Sydney, he alleged he was held on board for three hours over his debt before he threatened to jump overboard and swim to shore, while his partner and three young children had to wait in the outside heat.

In another case, a man was  allegedly  offered a free cruise with unlimited alcohol, complimentary dinners, and a credit limit of $5000 per day.

This was  despite Carnival Cruises being aware of his previous problems with debt and gambling, and having unpaid debts from past cruises with the company.

The man wracked up a debt of $13,000 which increased to $25,000 when previous debts were added.

After he was told by staff that he couldn’t leave the ship until the debt was paid, he was made to sign an acknowledgment of the debt before finally being allowed to disembark the ship. 

“These practices blatantly prey on vulnerabilities and actively incentivise people to lose money,” Mr Carter said.

In a statement, a P&O Cruises Australia spokesperson said: “We have Responsible Conduct of Gaming Policies in place on all P&O ships and take those policies seriously.”