A law firm investigating a class action over whether vulnerable passengers have been taken advantage of in cruise ship casinos says they have been ‘inundated’ with stories from potential complainants.
The investigation was launched by Carter Capner Law director Peter Carter, a former national president of the Australian Lawyers Alliance, following the death of a passenger who fell overboard from a P&O vessel on May 6.
Daily Mail Australia previously revealed that father-of-three Shane Dixon, 45, died after racking up a $9,000 casino debt on board the Pacific Adventure while being offered gambling incentives such as free drinks and a free cruise voucher.
This publication then spoke to several others who shared similarly harrowing stories, including claims they were told self-exclusion was not an option, or were interrogated and detained on board by staff after being unable to pay their bills.
Mr Carter accused P&O of encouraging passengers to gamble by offering credit regardless of their bank balance and ability to repay.
He said practices have changed as a result of the publicity surrounding Dixon’s death and the law firm’s campaign, but more changes were needed.
‘Not only were these actions demonstrably 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 inconsistent with the law,” he said.
Mr Carter has called on other affected passengers to join the claim, revealing that since news of the investigation and possible class action, the company has been contacted by dozens of people from across Australia and New Zealand.
Australian father-of-three Shane Dixon, 45, (pictured) died after losing thousands of dollars in the casino aboard P&O’s Pacific Adventure on May 6
The photo shows the Pacific Adventure returning to Sydney Harbor after it was postponed due to Mr Dixon going overboard
Mr Carter said at a pA person who spoke to his law firm described an incident that occurred just days after the May 6 tragedy during a P&O cruise.
The passenger said he visited the casino and did not keep track of his losses because he believed the cruise line was only taking money that was in his bank account and that there was no loan involved.
He said P&O allowed him to rack up nearly $6,000 in debt he only had $2,000 in his bank account.
Upon returning to Sydney, the passenger claimed he was held on board for three hours while his partner and three young children were made to wait outside in the heat.
He was allowed to leave after threatening to jump overboard and swim to shore.
In another similar story, a passenger said he was offered a free cruise with unlimited alcohol, free dinners and a $5,000 credit limit per day.
This was despite the fact that the cruise line was aware of his previous problems with debt and gambling and that he had unpaid debts from previous cruises with the company.
He claimed he accumulated $13,000 in debt on that cruise, which increased to $25,000 when previous debts were added.
Daily Mail Australia previously revealed Mr Dixon (pictured) died after racking up a $9,000 casino debt on board P&O’s Pacific Adventure cruise ship.
Peter Carter, director of Carter Capner Law (pictured) announced that his firm was about to launch a class action (pictured, Mr Dixon and his mother, who was also on the tragic cruise)
The staff told him he could not leave the ship until the debt was paid and asked him to sign an IOU before being allowed to disembark.
Mr Carter claimed P&O’s behavior was ‘predatory’ and targeted vulnerable people, including some with gambling addictions.
“These practices blatantly exploit vulnerabilities and actively encourage people to lose money,” he said.
He said Carter Capner Law was about to launch a class action for unlawful detention and recovering financial losses incurred by some former passengers.
In March 2025, P&O Cruises Australia will merge into the Carnival Cruise Line as part of a rebrand under owner Carnival Corporation.
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