Cruise lines have shifted the cruising experience from an off-board adventure, where passengers can immerse themselves in the unique cultures at port destinations, to an on-board experience, where vessels are engineered to provide guests with thrill-seeking activities. Significant investment into the modern ship has drastically changed a passenger’s experience.

As an example of a modern ship, Royal Caribbean recently launched its record-breaking ship, the Icon of the Seas. At 365 meters (about 1,198 feet) long and with a maximum passenger capacity of 7,800 people, it’s the largest ship ever built. On-board is the largest waterpark at sea, with six record-breaking waterslides and other aquatic adventures. With eight separate and distinct neighborhoods, including “Thrill Island,” “Chill Island” and “Central Park,” the ship resembles, as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has phrased it, a floating city. The largest ship in the world, equipped with record-breaking thrills, is being booked at record-breaking numbers. However, the floating cities have become and continue to have hidden perils and life-threatening environments.

The Modern Approach by The Eleventh Circuit: Liability for Medical Malpractice