When Accessibility Fails at Sea

Holiday Lawyers • March 24, 2026

Cruise holidays are marketed as safe, inclusive, and accessible — particularly for passengers who rely on wheelchairs. But when basic safety standards are not met, the consequences can be severe.


We are currently acting in a case involving a full-time wheelchair user who suffered a serious injury on a cruise ship, after being thrown from their chair due to a dangerously designed ramp.


What happened?


Our client describes a shocking incident:

“I was thrown from my wheelchair as I went through a door from the promenade. The ramp on the inside was so steep it was more like a step. No signage, no warnings, nothing.”

The key issues are clear:


  • A steep internal ramp, effectively functioning as a step
  • No warning signage
  • No hazard markings or staff assistance
  • A location where wheelchair users would reasonably expect safe passage


This is not a minor defect. It is a foreseeable and preventable hazard — particularly in an environment designed to accommodate disabled passengers.


Why cruise operators must get accessibility right


Cruise lines owe a high duty of care to passengers, especially where:


  • Accessibility features are relied upon
  • Passengers are known to have mobility needs
  • Movement between decks and public areas is frequent

In cases like this, liability may arise from:

  • Unsafe design (e.g. excessive ramp gradient)
  • Failure to warn of a hazard
  • Failure to carry out proper risk assessments
  • Failure to comply with accessibility standards


A ramp that behaves like a step — without warning — is a textbook example of a dangerous condition.


The additional failure: ignoring the complaint


Our client did exactly what they should:


  • Reported the incident immediately on return
  • Raised a formal complaint with the cruise line


The response?

Nothing. No communication at all.

This is something we see regularly. Cruise operators often:


  • Delay responses
  • Downplay incidents
  • Hope passengers simply walk away


That is precisely why early legal intervention matters.


Can you claim for a cruise ship injury?


If you have been injured on a cruise, particularly as a wheelchair user or passenger with reduced mobility, you may be entitled to compensation where:


  • The environment was unsafe
  • Proper accessibility measures were not in place
  • You were not warned of a hazard
  • The cruise line failed to respond appropriately


Claims can include:


  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of your holiday
  • Medical expenses
  • Ongoing care or rehabilitation


Why these cases are different


Cruise injury claims are not straightforward.


They often involve:


  • International conventions (such as the Athens Convention)
  • Complex jurisdiction issues
  • Evidence tied to ship design and onboard procedures


That is why it is critical to instruct solicitors who understand:


  • Cruise-specific liability frameworks
  • Accessibility standards at sea
  • How to secure evidence early


Our approach at Holiday Lawyers


We take a direct and proactive approach:


  • Early investigation of the design and layout of the hazard
  • Securing photographic and witness evidence
  • Instructing appropriate engineering and accessibility experts
  • Applying pressure where cruise lines fail to engage


We are not interested in excuses or delays — only outcomes.


If this has happened to you


If you or a family member has suffered an injury on a cruise, particularly involving:


  • Wheelchair access
  • Unsafe ramps or steps
  • Lack of warnings
  • Poor response from the operator


We can help.



Speak to us today


At Holiday Lawyers, we specialise in holding tour operators and cruise companies to account.

If your holiday has been ruined by an avoidable injury, we will pursue the claim properly — and maximise your recovery.

By Holiday Lawyers • September 30, 2026
HolidayLawyers has been instructed by a family who say they were forced to flee for their lives after a wildfire reached their resort on the Croatian island of Brač. The family were staying at the Gava Waterman Milna Resort as part of a Jet2Holidays package between 8 and 15 September 2026. They say wildfires had been visible in the area for several days but guests were repeatedly reassured there was no cause for concern. On the evening of 12 September, however, the situation deteriorated dramatically. The family say power to the hotel was lost shortly after 9.30pm, ash began falling around the resort and large flames became clearly visible nearby. They allege there was no fire alarm, evacuation announcement or organised emergency procedure and that guests were left trying to work out how to escape as staff themselves began leaving the resort. Three members of the family eventually reached a wooden jetty where they say they remained for around an hour before being evacuated by boat. One member of the family says he suffered significant smoke inhalation while helping elderly holidaymakers onto rescue vessels and remained unwell for several days afterwards. The family has now instructed HolidayLawyers to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the warnings and information provided to guests, the evacuation arrangements and the assistance provided by the tour operator and hotel. Growing concerns over wildfire affected holidays HolidayLawyers has been contacted by a number of holidaymakers whose trips have been seriously disrupted by wildfires affecting resorts overseas. With extreme heat and wildfires increasingly affecting popular holiday destinations, the consequences for tourists can be severe. Where holidaymakers find themselves surrounded by smoke, flames or falling debris, or are forced to evacuate without knowing whether they and their families will escape safely, the psychological consequences can also be significant. HolidayLawyers founder and Solicitor Advocate Aman Dhillon said: “Having previously represented passengers and crew following the Costa Concordia disaster, I have seen how the psychological effects of a close escape from a major incident can continue long after the immediate danger has passed. “Wildfires will not necessarily be the fault of a tour operator. The important questions are often what was known, what guests were told, whether appropriate emergency procedures were followed and whether proper assistance was provided when people were placed in danger.” Was your holiday affected by a wildfire? If you were caught in a wildfire, evacuated from your hotel or resort, suffered injury or smoke inhalation, or believe your holiday company failed to provide appropriate assistance during an emergency, HolidayLawyers can advise you on whether you may have a claim . We have decades of experience handling serious international travel claims and have recovered millions of pounds in compensation for thousands of holidaymakers. If your holiday was ruined by a wildfire, contact HolidayLawyers to discuss what happened.
By Holiday Lawyers • September 29, 2026
HolidayLawyers has been contacted by holidaymakers following a guest falling ill during a stay at the Nour Palace Resort & Thalasso in Mahdia, Tunisia and subsequently being medically diagnosed with salmonella . The guest stayed at the resort from 29 August to 8 September 2026 on an all inclusive package holiday booked through Sunshine.co.uk. Symptoms of gastrointestinal illness began while the guest was still staying at the hotel and continued after their return to the UK on 8 September. Following medical testing, salmonella was confirmed on 16 September 2026 . The illness has also resulted in the guest being unable to return to work, with a consequent loss of earnings. Previous reports of illness at the Nour Palace HolidayLawyers is investigating the circumstances surrounding the illness and has identified previous public reports from guests referring to gastrointestinal symptoms and concerns about food hygiene at the Nour Palace. Some reviews published during 2026 refer to guests suffering vomiting and diarrhoea and raise concerns about food preparation and temperature. Such reports do not establish the cause of an individual guest's illness. They can, however, be relevant when considered alongside medical evidence, the timing of symptoms and any evidence of similar illness affecting other guests. Confirmed salmonella diagnosis A laboratory confirmed diagnosis of salmonella is an important piece of evidence in a holiday illness claim. Our investigation will consider when symptoms began, the incubation period, food and drink consumed during the holiday, whether the guest ate predominantly within the hotel and whether other guests experienced similar symptoms. Where appropriate, evidence can also be sought concerning reported illness at the resort, food hygiene procedures, inspections and relevant health and safety records. Can a package holiday illness claim be made? Where a holiday was sold as a qualifying package, the package organiser may be legally responsible for the proper performance of the holiday services provided. The precise position depends upon the booking arrangements and documentation, which is why we examine documents including the booking confirmation and ATOL certificate at the outset. Where illness has caused additional financial loss, a claim can potentially include losses such as lost earnings , provided they can be supported by appropriate evidence. HolidayLawyers founder Aman Dhillon comments HolidayLawyers founder and Solicitor Advocate Aman Dhillon said: “A confirmed salmonella diagnosis following illness which began during a holiday deserves proper investigation. “We look at the medical evidence, the timing of the illness, what the client ate and drank, whether other guests were affected and the evidence surrounding conditions at the hotel during the relevant period. “The fact that somebody became ill abroad does not by itself establish liability, but where there is a confirmed bacterial infection and symptoms began during the holiday, there can be strong grounds for further investigation.” Salmonella or food poisoning after a holiday in Tunisia? HolidayLawyers specialises in serious holiday illness and accident claims. Our lawyers have decades of experience dealing with international travel litigation and gastrointestinal illness claims involving hotels and resorts overseas. If you stayed at the Nour Palace Resort & Thalasso in Mahdia , or another hotel in Tunisia, and developed salmonella, gastroenteritis or another significant gastric illness, we can assess the circumstances of your case. We act in appropriate cases under a No Win No Fee agreement , with any potential deductions explained clearly before you decide whether to proceed.  Contact HolidayLawyers for a confidential assessment of your holiday illness claim.