How to File a Maintenance & Cure Claim for a Cruise Ship Work Injury

To file a maintenance and cure claim for a cruise ship work injury, you must notify your employer of the injury, request benefits, and provide medical documentation that shows the injury occurred while performing your job. These claims fall under general maritime law and are available to qualified seamen, including many cruise ship employees.

Maintenance and cure is a powerful legal right. It ensures that injured maritime workers receive essential support—daily living expenses and medical care—without having to prove fault. But while the law requires employers to pay these benefits, cruise lines don’t always make the process easy.

An experienced cruise ship injury lawyer can provide guidance. 

What Is Maintenance and Cure?

Under maritime law, “maintenance” refers to the daily cost of living—such as food and housing—that an injured seaman loses when they can no longer work aboard the ship. “Cure” covers reasonable and necessary medical expenses related to the injury.

Maintenance and cure benefits are owed regardless of who caused the injury. You don’t have to prove negligence, and your employer can’t legally withhold payments just because they disagree with how the accident happened.

Typical benefits may include:

• Rent or housing support
  
• Grocery or meal allowances
  
• Doctor visits and hospital bills
  
• Surgeries, prescriptions, and rehab
  
• Medical equipment and transportation
  
• Continued care until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI)

At John Foy & Associates, we’ve worked with many injured cruise ship employees who faced delays, underpayments, or outright denials from their employers. We help ensure those benefits are paid in full and on time.

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Step 1: Report the Injury Immediately

The first step in filing a claim is to report your injury as soon as it happens—ideally before disembarking or ending your shift. Cruise lines typically require prompt reporting, and delays may give them grounds to challenge your eligibility.

When reporting the injury:

• Notify your supervisor or onboard medical staff
• Request an official injury or incident report
  
• Get a copy of the report for your records
  
• Ask for medical attention onboard if needed

Even if the injury seems minor at first, document it. Many injuries—especially back, joint, or repetitive stress injuries—get worse over time.

Step 2: Seek Medical Attention and Document Your Care

Once you’re off duty or off the ship, seek medical attention through a provider of your choice. Your employer must pay for all reasonable treatment, but they may try to steer you toward company-approved doctors.

Keep records of:

• All doctor visits
  
• Diagnoses and treatment plans
  
• Prescriptions and receipts
  
• Insurance claims and billing statements
  
• Out-of-pocket costs

We recommend starting a medical file and saving every document related to your care. If your employer delays or disputes payments, this paperwork will be crucial to proving your right to full cure benefits.

Step 3: Request Maintenance Payments

To begin receiving maintenance payments, you’ll need to make a formal request through your employer’s human resources or injury claims department. Be prepared to provide:

• Proof of your injury and job status
  
• Medical documentation confirming you’re unable to work
  
• Evidence of your housing and living expenses

There is no fixed national rate for maintenance payments. Some cruise lines offer a flat daily rate (e.g., $20–$40), while others reimburse based on actual expenses. If the amount is unreasonably low or inconsistent, we step in to negotiate fair compensation based on your actual cost of living.

Step 4: Monitor the Timeline and Payments

Maintenance and cure should continue until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI)—the point where your condition is stable, even if you’re not fully recovered. Stopping payments before MMI is considered a violation of maritime law.

If your employer tries to cut off benefits early or denies part of your treatment, that may give rise to a separate legal claim for punitive damages. As a cruise ship injury lawyer, we’ve held cruise lines accountable for wrongfully withholding benefits and forcing injured workers into financial distress.

Common Employer Tactics (and How We Respond)

Unfortunately, some cruise lines push back on maintenance and cure claims to reduce their costs. Common tactics include:

• Disputing whether the injury happened at work
  
• Claiming your expenses are “unreasonable”
  
• Delaying approval for surgeries or specialists
  
• Offering a low settlement to close your case early
  
• Arguing you’ve reached MMI prematurely
  

We don’t let that stand. At John Foy & Associates, we gather the documentation, medical opinions, and legal support needed to hold employers accountable. If your benefits are delayed or denied, we can take immediate steps to protect your rights.

When to Contact a Lawyer

While you don’t need an attorney to file a maintenance and cure claim, many injured workers find the process confusing and overwhelming—especially when they’re recovering and facing pressure from the cruise line’s insurer.

You should contact us if:

• Your employer has delayed or denied your benefits
  
• Your maintenance payments are too low to cover basic expenses
  
• You’re being pressured to use a company doctor or sign legal forms
  
• You’re unsure whether you’ve reached maximum medical improvement
  
• You suspect your rights under the Jones Act or general maritime law have been violated

We evaluate your eligibility, manage communications with your employer, and push for the full amount you’re entitled to receive.

Let Us Help You Get the Benefits You Deserve

Maintenance and cure is your legal right as a maritime worker—but cruise lines don’t always explain that clearly or honor it fully. If you’ve been injured on the job and aren’t getting the support you need, we’re here to help.

At John Foy & Associates, we’ve recovered over $1 billion for injured workers and bring 350+ years of combined experience to every case. We fight hard for crew members who’ve been ignored, underpaid, or mistreated by large cruise companies—and we don’t stop until we get results.

Let us take care of your claim while you focus on healing. Your consultation is free, and you won’t pay us unless we win for you.