Man with MS Kicked Off Nudist Cruise

April 16, 2011 - According to reports a man with multiple sclerosis was kicked off of a cruise setup for nudists. The man Jim Keskeny has multiple sclerosis and is wheelchair bound, paid $4,000 for a ten day nudist cruise aboard a Celebrity Cruise vessel going to the Caribbean.

Keskeny fell and had an accident in the bathroom, and was later ordered off of the ship after only four days. The man was ordered off of the ship after Celebrity Cruise determined he needed 24 hour care and would need to leave the ship.

He was escorted off of the boat in Guadalupe, Mexico. Keskeny then had to spend the added expense of an air flight back to Detroit, which is the closest airport to his home. Keskeny age 66 stated he is a nudist at heart and did not even get to go nude on the cruise that had 1,800 people onboard. The cruise was chartered by the Bare Necessities Tour and Travel Company.

Keskeny said that the toilet was too low and is what caused him to fall, which is why the cruise line said he had to leave the ship, but he believes it was an excuse to get rid of him. He has not filed a lawsuit to recover the costs of the trip, for both the cruise line ticket and the $1500 that it cost for his airfare.

Keskeny is being represented by attorney Richard Bernstein, Bernstein stated a letter from Celebrity Cruise lines sent a letter that was insulting and was threatening. Attorney Bernstein said this lawsuit is about the fact that the cruise ship was not up to the standards of Americans with Disabilities Act. He said that they had been compliant with the ADA there would have been no issue that arose.

Mr. Keskeny was a U.S. representative for the International Persons with Disabilities Committee for 8 years and has traveled extensively and has been on a cruise before. Celebrity Cruises spokesperson Cynthia Martinez stated that Mr. Keskeny needed special assistance above what is provided for passengers with disabilities. He was in a suite that was a disabilities accessible room and required nursing care, involving feeding and personal hygiene. This is out of the area of services provided by the butler service.

Martinez stated that Mr. Keskeny booked the cruise with the charter company and Celebrity Cruises was not aware he had additional needs. He was not able to care for himself and declined hiring a private duty nurse as an option, therefore for his safety and others he was disembarked. There are many situations such as this that can occur on a cruise flying a foreign flag, and not subject to U.S. laws. To learn more about your legal rights, a car accident attorney is not the answer, you need to look for a maritime law attorney, such as a cruise ship injury lawyer at Ehline Law Firm PC at 201 Wilshire Blvd., Second Floor, Santa Monica, CA 90401. (310) 376-8488.