MIAMI — A U.S.-based maritime attorney is calling on lawmakers in the U.S. and the Bahamas to consider stricter oversight of cruise lines’ private island resorts.

The call comes in the wake of the drownings of two Carnival passengers, both from the U.S., on Aug. 15 at the cruise line’s private island Celebration Key in the Bahamas.

A 79-year old man was found unresponsive on the beach while snorkelling, while a 74-year old woman was found unresponsive in the pool. Celebration Key opened in July.

“Two drownings in a single day at the same facility is not a fluke. It points to deeper issues in oversight and preparedness,” said attorney Peter Walsh. “When a cruise line builds and operates its own resort, it assumes complete responsibility for passenger safety. You cannot create a controlled paradise without also creating controlled accountability.”

Walsh noted that juries in U.S. courts will expect cruise lines to meet the highest safety standards when they exercise full control of the environment. The legal, financial, and moral stakes for Carnival – and the industry as a whole – are “substantial,” he said.