A law firm investigating a class-action lawsuit over whether vulnerable passengers were taken advantage of at cruise ship casinos says it has been “inundated” with stories from potential whistleblowers.
The investigation was launched by Carter Capner Law director Peter Carter, former national president of the Australian Lawyers Alliance, following the death of a passenger who fell overboard from a P&O ship on May 6.
Daily Mail Australia previously revealed that father-of-three Shane Dixon, 45, died after racking up a $9,000 casino debt aboard the Pacific Adventure while being offered gambling incentives such as free drinks and a free cruise voucher .
This publication subsequently spoke to several other people who shared similar heartbreaking stories, including claims that they were told self-exclusion was not an option or that they were interrogated and held on board by staff after failing to pay their bills.
Carter accused P&O of encouraging passengers to gamble by offering them credit regardless of their bank balance and ability to pay.
He said practices have changed as a result of the publicity surrounding Dixon’s death and the law firm’s campaign, but that more changes were needed.
“Not only can these actions be said to have been 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 ship’s debt will be paid casino is against the law,’ he said.
Carter has called on other affected passengers to join the claim and revealed that since news of the investigation and potential class-action lawsuit broke, dozens of people from across Australia and New Zealand had contacted the company.
Australian father-of-three Shane Dixon, 45 (pictured), died after losing thousands of dollars at the casino aboard P&O’s Pacific Adventure on May 6.
Pictured, the Pacific Adventure returns to Sydney Harbor after it was delayed due to Dixon falling overboard.
Mr. Carter said a pA person who spoke to his law firm described an incident that occurred on a P&O cruise ship just days after the May 6 tragedy.
The passenger said he visited the casino and did not keep track of his losses because he believed the cruise line was only debiting money that was in his bank account and no loan was discussed.
He said P&O allowed him to accumulate almost $6,000 in debt when He only had $2,000 in his bank account.
Upon returning to Sydney, the passenger claimed he was kept on board for three hours while his partner and three young children had 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, complimentary dinners and a credit limit of $5,000 per day.
This was despite the cruise line being aware of his previous problems with debt and gambling and that he had unpaid debts from previous cruises owed to the company.
He claimed he racked up $13,000 in debt on that cruise that increased to $25,000 when previous debts were added.
Daily Mail Australia previously revealed Dixon (pictured) died after racking up a $9,000 casino debt aboard P&O’s Pacific Adventure cruise ship.
Carter Capner Law Director Peter Carter (pictured) announced that his firm was about to file a class action lawsuit (pictured Mr Dixon and his mother, who was also on the tragic cruise).
The staff told him that he could not leave the ship until the debt was paid and asked him to sign an acknowledgment of the debt before he was allowed to disembark.
Carter alleged that P&O’s behavior was “predatory” and had targeted vulnerable people, including some with gambling addictions.
“These practices blatantly exploit vulnerabilities and actively incentivize people to lose money,” he said.
He said Carter Capner Law was about to file the class action lawsuit for false imprisonment and recovery of financial losses suffered by some former passengers.
In March 2025, P&O Cruises Australia will join Carnival Cruise Line as part of a rebrand under its owner Carnival Corporation.
For 24/7 confidential support, contact Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636.