She Went Down a Waterslide on a Carnival Cruise Ship. She Collided With the Wall. The Injuries Were Permanent.
Personal Injury
A 2025 lawsuit filed in Miami federal court alleges Carnival failed to properly maintain one of its most marketed onboard attractions — and a passenger paid the price with permanent injuries. Here's what cruise ship injury victims in Florida need to know.
Waterslides and water parks are among the most heavily marketed amenities on modern cruise ships. Carnival promotes them prominently — they're a reason families book. Savannah Ward booked a Carnival cruise and did what Carnival invited her to do: she rode one of the ship's waterslides.
According to a lawsuit filed February 19, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Ward's experience on the slide was not what the brochure advertised. The complaint alleges that improper water levels in the slide — the result of Carnival's failure to inspect and maintain the attraction — caused Ward to collide with the wall. The impact left her with fractures in her right foot, left ankle sprains, and permanent loss of mobility.
Her attorney stated publicly: "Carnival violated its own safety standards and the industry's standards; consequently, this young lady has suffered a life-changing injury."
What the Lawsuit Alleges
The Ward complaint alleges multiple counts of negligence against Carnival Corporation, including negligent failure to warn of dangerous conditions, negligent design and installation of the waterslide, and negligent failure to train employees responsible for inspecting and operating the attraction.
Central to the case is the allegation that the slide's water level was insufficient — a condition that routine inspection should have identified before any passenger boarded. Insufficient water removes the cushioning effect that protects riders from impact injuries.
Cruise Ship Attractions: A Less-Regulated Environment
Unlike land-based Florida amusement parks regulated by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants, cruise ship attractions on international waters operate under the flag state's jurisdiction with significantly less external regulatory oversight. Carnival sets and enforces its own standards. When it fails to do so, federal courts in Miami are where injured passengers seek accountability.
Why Your Carnival Claim Must Be Filed in Florida — And Why the Deadline Is Shorter Than You Think
Carnival's passenger ticket contract requires injury lawsuits to be filed in the Southern District of Florida — Miami's federal court — regardless of where you live. The applicable law is federal maritime law, not Florida state tort law.
Critically, the ticket also shortens your deadline. Carnival typically requires lawsuits to be filed within one year of the incident — not Florida's standard two-year period. Written notice of a claim may be required within six months. These deadlines are enforced by federal courts and have resulted in the dismissal of valid claims from genuinely injured passengers who simply didn't know.
What to Do After a Cruise Ship Injury
1. Report the injury to ship's guest services and medical staff immediately. Request written documentation and copies of all medical records before disembarking.
2. Photograph the attraction, your injuries, and the surrounding area.
3. Get witness names from other passengers who observed the incident.
4. Do not sign any release or accept payment from Carnival before consulting an attorney.
5. Contact a Florida maritime personal injury attorney promptly. The one-year ticket deadline begins on the date of injury.
Think You May Have a Case? Here's What to Do.
If you or someone you love was injured in Florida — at a retail store, theme park, cruise ship, restaurant, or anywhere else — you may have a legal claim. Florida law is complex, and the facts of your situation matter enormously. The best first step is a free conversation with a Florida personal injury attorney.
If you think you may have a case, Consumer Rights Law, PLLC offers free consultations and works on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win. Call (786) 360-7697 or visit consumerrights.law.
Consumer Rights Law, PLLC — Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship.
