A volcanic eruption Monday on White Island in New Zealand eliminated a minimum of 6 individuals, left 8 others presumed dead and hurt many more, leaving authorities questioning why 47 people– consisting of Royal Caribbean cruise travelers– were on the island that had seen a boost in seismic activity in current weeks.

” We are ravaged by today’s events and our hearts go out to all those affected by this catastrophe,” Royal Caribbean said in a Monday declaration. A number of travelers from the Ovation of the Seas ship, which was at the neighboring Tauranga port, were exploring the island at the time of the 2 p.m. eruption.

The event raises the question of whether the cruise company is liable for injuries to travelers who were on White Island at the time. No existing coast expeditions to the island are listed on Royal Caribbean’s website, though there are excursions noted in the Tauranga area. A representative for Royal Caribbean informed U.S.A. TODAY the line might not offer info on excursions to White Island.

Why were tourists on the island?

That’s the question cops will be examining after increases in seismic activity had actually been tape-recorded on White Island for weeks.

” These questions must be asked and they should be answered,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in Parliament.

GeoNet, which tracks New Zealand’s seismic and volcanic activity, raised its alert level on the island in November after increasing sulfur dioxide gas. Volcanic trembling likewise increased, and the firm wrote at the time that the island “might be getting in a period where eruptive activity is more likely than normal.”

So who is accountable for cruisers?

Are cruise lines accountable for injuries to passengers? The brief answer is: Probably not, however that includes caveats.

Jeff Ment, a travel market attorney at Ment Law Group, told USA TODAY that a cruise line’s obligation is normally subject to the collaborations they take part in.

” Cruise lines have to partner with affordable suppliers since they do not have any particular knowledge about volcano eruption or volcanic conditions of New Zealand,” Ment said. “They remain in business of running a cruise line.”

This can end up being bothersome if a line does not partner with a responsible or reliable professional vendor in the regional environment.

At this time, it is unclear whether Royal Caribbean had actually partnered with a regional company, whether passengers took independent adventures or whether a main cruise-sponsored journey took place.

” The law in this location recommends that the supplier choice is what produces the prospective liability for a company like Royal Caribbean,” Ment said. “If they employed the best supplier there is, which vendor made a bad decision, that’s most likely not Royal Caribbean’s obligation but the vendor’s duty for reviewing when the conditions didn’t warrant that.”

It’s the vendor’s responsibility to make a last call on whether an adventure is safe or not.

However, if a cruise line doesn’t observe the guidance of a supplier then the obligation falls with the line, Ment discussed.

Other cruise lines could be impacted

While Royal Caribbean remained in the area when the volcano appeared, other significant cruise lines make stops at Port of Tauranga which has to do with 55 miles away from White Island. Now, lines are responding to the news of the eruption.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Gem was set up, according to CruiseMapper, to come into port at Tauranga at 9 a.m. local time Tuesday before leaving at 6 p.m. U.S.A. TODAY has actually reached out to Norwegian to inquire about whether that schedule had actually been modified.

Norwegian Gem is likewise set up for a Tauranga stop Thursday on a different cruising.

Viking and Celeb Cruises, which both list Tauranga as a port they check out on their sites, with cruisings arranged to get here there in January and February, respectively, did not return U.S.A. TODAY’s inquiries regarding whether they will be adjusting cruising schedules following Monday’s volcanic eruption.

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Princess Cruises stated it will not alter its upcoming travel plans to the nearby port, however the cruise line is suspending a flight adventure that features views of White Island.

” We send our deepest acknowledgements to those affected by the volcano eruption on White Island,” the line said in a declaration offered to USA TODAY by Princess public relations expert Alivia Owyoung Ender. ” Three Princess Cruises ships, Ruby Princess, Golden Princess and Majestic Princess have calls in the location at the port of Tauranga in mid-/ late-December.”

According to CruiseMapper, Golden Princess is arranged to reach port in Tauranga on Dec. 15.

The business noted: “Princess Cruises does not use any additional trips including the (White Island).”

Holland America Line mentioned the cruise business “has no ships in New Zealand at this time. The Noordam next check outs Tauranga on December 20.”

Contributing: Ryan W. Miller, Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

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