Royal Caribbean has decided it will no longer sell shore excursions to any active volcanoes following the volcanic eruption on White Island in New Zealand last week that saw 18 lives lost.
There were 47 people touring the island at the time of the eruption. Many of those on the day trip were passengers travelling onboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas on shore excursions promoted by the cruise line.
“After the tragic incident in New Zealand, we are suspending tours of active volcanoes” Royal Caribbean spokesperson Melissa Charbonneau said.
“Our main focus now is on helping our guests impacted.”
The suspension of tour sales to active volcanoes will take effect immediately with existing bookings cancelled and credit to be issued to customers.
There are dozens of active volcanoes across the world from Indonesia to the entire west coast of the Americas, including Hawaii and Alaska.
According to news reports out this week, one Miami-based law firm is considering suing Royal Caribbean.
Jim Walker from Walker and O’Neill Maritime Lawyers in Miami has spoken to several news outlets including New Zealand based Stuff website to say cruise ship passengers affected by the eruption were, under US maritime law, entitled to a full range of damages.
Image: Getty
“Sending families without a warning into the crater with virtually no way to flee when it was more likely than normal for the volcano to erupt is exceedingly reckless,” he said.
In New Zealand Police will be investigating the deaths at White Island on behalf of the coroner.
The Ovation of the Seas returned to Sydney on Monday.