Carnival’s Ticket Terms Stymie ‘Poop Cruise’ Appeal

Passengers stranded aboard a disabled cruise ship without functioning toilets have no cause of action against a contractor for Carnival Corp., a federal appeals court ruled.

The Aug. 30 unpublished ruling reflects the limits of passenger litigation against cruise lines, which are entirely contained, and constrained, by contracts printed on tickets.

The appeal by more than 100 passengers of Carnival’s Triumph stalled because they failed to file a notice of claim against Valsamis Inc., a Houston-based contractor that maintained the ship’s engines.

Carnival’s tickets required notice of any personal injury claims, a mandate that included notice to the cruise line’s ...