A Tennessee woman who lost both of her legs following a devastating shore excursion accident in the Bahamas is pursuing legal action against Carnival Corporation and the operators of the tour she booked through the cruise line.
Hannah Smith, who was celebrating her recent college graduation aboard Carnival Celebration, suffered life-threatening injuries on 12th May 2025 during an excursion to Pearl Island’s Sun Cay Beach Club near Nassau. According to court filings, the accident occurred at the conclusion of the excursion when Smith entered the water near a ferry and was pulled into its propellers.
After undergoing 25 surgeries and ultimately losing both legs, Smith has filed a lawsuit against Sun Cay, Pearl Investment Management Group and Carnival Corporation. The case was initially filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida on 17th December 2025 before being amended on 11th March 2026.
Her friend and travelling companion, Brooklyn Pitre, has also launched a separate but related lawsuit against Carnival, filing her complaint on 11th May 2026.
“Our thoughts are with Ms. Smith, and we wish her strength and healing. At Carnival Cruise Line, we continuously strive to keep our guest and crew safe as a priority. Out of respect for ongoing legal proceedings, we are unable to comment further. We remain committed to supporting safety and wellbeing in all we do.“
Carnival statement
Lawsuit Alleges Dangerous Alcohol Service
Central to both lawsuits are allegations that excursion staff encouraged excessive alcohol consumption and exposed guests to unsafe conditions.
According to the court filings, Smith and her companions were allegedly invited into a private cabana and provided with large quantities of complimentary high-proof alcohol and marijuana. The complaints further allege that bartenders carried out so-called “liter pours”, where alcohol was poured directly into guests’ mouths.
The lawsuit claims Smith’s blood alcohol concentration reached 0.447, far above Florida’s legal driving limit of 0.08%.
Court documents also allege that when Smith needed to use a restroom, excursion staff told her that “the ocean is your toilet” and encouraged her to enter the water despite her intoxicated condition.
The filings state that Smith subsequently entered the water during the ferry disembarkation process after guests had returned to Nassau and was struck by the vessel’s propellers.
The allegations represent a significant shift from the uncertainty surrounding the incident in the days immediately following the accident. At the time, authorities in the Bahamas were investigating how Smith entered the water, while family members publicly disputed suggestions that alcohol or an intentional jump had played any role in what happened.
At the time, Hannah’s mother was quoted as saying “Hannah was not intoxicated. She fell from the boat. It’s hurtful to say she jumped because she did not… Were they drunk? No. Did she jump? No. Are we completely aware of what happened? No.”
Following the accident, Smith was initially treated in Nassau before being airlifted back to the United States, where she underwent extensive medical treatment.
Carnival Challenges Responsibility
Smith’s legal team argues that Carnival should share responsibility because the cruise line marketed and sold the excursion to passengers as a safe, vetted experience.
The lawsuit alleges Carnival either knew, or should have known, about safety concerns linked to the excursion. Attorneys point to online reviews dating back to 2023 that allegedly referenced poor ferry conditions, as well as social media posts stretching back to 2018 that purportedly raised concerns about excessive alcohol service.
Carnival, however, has long maintained that shore excursions are operated independently.
On its website, the cruise line states that shore excursions and related transportation services are run by local operators who are solely responsible for those experiences.
The company further states that it is not responsible for injuries, losses, damages or deaths connected to activities undertaken by guests while ashore, including shore excursions.
According to reports, Carnival asked US District Judge William Dimitrouleas to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the excursion was operated by independent Bahamian companies rather than the cruise line itself. That request was denied.
Pearl Investment Management Group also sought dismissal, contending that a Florida court lacked jurisdiction over a Bahamas-based company. That effort was likewise unsuccessful.
Despite the legal battle, the “Sun Cay Beach Club with Lunch” excursion remains available for booking through Carnival’s website. At the time of writing, the excursion carries a guest rating of 2.8 out of 5 stars.
Another Legal Setback For Carnival
The case arrives shortly after another lawsuit involving Carnival Corporation resulted in a significant judgment against the company.
On 15th April 2026, reports emerged that a former guest had been awarded $300,000 in a lawsuit connected to allegations of dangerous alcohol service.
While the circumstances differ from Smith’s case, the latest lawsuit is likely to attract additional scrutiny over alcohol policies and oversight of excursions sold through major cruise lines.
For Smith, however, the focus remains on accountability following an accident that permanently changed her life after what was supposed to be a celebratory graduation cruise.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
See the latest Carnival cruise offers…
Related Posts
If you found this interesting, please share!
A major search operation remains underway in St. Kitts and Nevis after a cruise passenger disappeared while hiking on Mount Liamuiga during a port visit from a Royal Caribbean cruise…
Celebrity Cruises is significantly expanding its Captain’s Club loyalty programme, introducing two new membership levels above Zenith and adding a series of milestone rewards designed to recognise its most frequent…
Disney Cruise Line has quietly introduced two significant policy changes that are already sparking strong reactions among loyal guests ahead of the new rules taking effect on 3rd June. The…
Passengers sailing aboard Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas were met with an unusual sight this week after one of the glass panels inside the ship’s AquaDome suddenly shattered during…
Source link
