Imagine that you've just been through the worst cruise ship disaster in modern history. It has been a media firestorm, as the Costa Concordia is everywhere. Twelve bodies have been found and as many as 31 may have died. Then, the cruise line attempts to appease you with a 30% discount on future cruises.
This offer has many passengers very angry, as Costa Cruises begins to reach out to passengers who were on the ill fated ship, in what some say is a way to ward off future legal actions. Some are calling the offer "insulting".
Carnival Corporation has also been in touch with man of the passengers, inquiring whether they're having trouble coping, particularly with nightmares or sleepless nights. One psychologist said such questioning could actually cause them to suufer post traumatic stress.
Others have said that such an offer also convinces them that their only recourse is in the legal system.
A class action suit against Carnival Corporation is scheduled to be filed this week. As many as 100 passengers are said to already be on board. Demand is reported to be between £100,000 and £1 million in compensation each. Separate lawsuits are planned in Italy.
Lawyers are expected to argue that the ship regularly went off course, making the possibility of the tragedy more likely.
Costa has announced that they are doing everything possible to try and aid passengers, including full refund on the cruise, the telephone calls, future discount offers and they have sent passengers letters telling them how to retrieve valuables and items left onboard the ship.
Other items emerged from the ongoing investigation:
- The body of a 12th victim was discovered. The body was a female, and was found in a hallway on the submerged portion of the ship.
- Proof that the captain left the ship four hours before the last passenger. This coming from an emergency services log.
- An audio recording of the captain telling on shore authorities that he would be the last person to leave. (Some are suggesting erratic behavior on his part)
- Investigators also recoverer a safe from the captain's cabin. There is hope that there will be additional information in it that will help in the investigation.
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