A law firm investigating a class action over whether vulnerable passengers were taken advantage of in cruise ship casinos say they have been ‘inundated’ with stories from potential complainants. 

The investigation was launched by Carter Capner Law director Peter Carter, a 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 father-of-three Shane Dixon, 45, fell to his death after amassing a $9,000 casino debt onboard the Pacific Adventure while being offered gambling incentives such as free drinks and a free cruise voucher.

This publication subsequently spoke to several others who shared similar harrowing stories, including claims they were told self-exclusion was not an option or were interrogated and held onboard by staff after being unable to settle their bills. 

Mr Carter accused P&O of incentivising passengers to gamble by offering credit regardless of their bank balance and capacity to repay. 

He said practices have been modified as a result of the publicity surrounding Mr Dixon’s death and the law firm’s campaign, but more changes were needed.

‘Not only were these actions arguably 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 casino debt will be paid is against the law,’ he said.

Mr Carter has called on other affected passengers to join the claim, and revealed that since news of the investigation and possible class action, the firm had been contacted by dozens of people from across Australia and New Zealand.

Aussie father-of-three Shane Dixon, 45, (pictured) died after losing thousands of dollars in the casino onboard the P&O’s Pacific Adventure on May 6

Pictured is the Pacific Adventure returning to Sydney Harbour after it was delayed due to Mr Dixon going overboard

Mr Carter said one person who spoke to his law firm described a incident that occurred on a P&O cruise only days after the May 6 tragedy.

The passenger said he visited the casino and kept no tally 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 rack up a debt of almost $6,000 when he only had $2,000 in his bank account. 

On arrival back in Sydney, the passenger claimed he was held onboard 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 past cruises with the company.

He claimed he built a debt of $13,000 on that cruise which increased to $25,000 when previous debts were added.

Daily Mail Australia previously revealed Mr Dixon (pictured) fell to his death after amassing a $9,000 casino debt onboard the P&O’s Pacific Adventure cruise liner

Carter Capner Law director Peter Carter (pictured) announced his firm was about to launch a class action (pictured, Mr Dixon and his mother, who was also on the tragic cruise)

Staff told him he couldn’t leave the ship until the debt was paid and asked him to sign an acknowledgment of the debt before he was allowed to disembark. 

Mr Carter alleged the behaviour from P&O was ‘predatory’ and had targeted vulnerable people, including some with gambling addictions.

‘These practices blatantly prey on vulnerabilities and actively incentivise people to lose money,’ he said. 

He said Carter Capner Law was about to launch the class action for unlawful imprisonment and the recovery of financial losses incurred by some former passengers.

In March 2025, P&O Cruises Australia will fold into the Carnival Cruise Line as part of a re-brand under its owner Carnival Corporation.

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