Carnival Sued Over Bahamas Excursion That Led to Double Leg Amputation

Bernadette Giacomazzo

Sat, May 30, 2026 at 2:44 PM UTC

3 min read

Carnival Cruise Line Faces New Lawsuit After College Grad Loses Both Legs in Boating Accident — Image Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line. Used with Permission.

A 22-year-old college graduate lost both legs during a catastrophic boating accident tied to a Carnival cruise excursion in the Bahamas.
The young woman was on a catamaran trip to Pearl Island Beach when she was allegedly encouraged to drink heavily and use marijuana before entering the water, resulting in her legs being sucked under the vessel's propeller.
The lawsuit filed by the victim names tour operator Sun Cay, Pearl Investment Management Group, and Carnival Cruise Line, alleging that the cruise company marketed the excursion as safe and should bear responsibility for the incident.

Carnival Cruise Line is now tied to another major lawsuit after a 22-year-old college graduate alleged she lost both legs during a catastrophic boating accident tied to a cruise excursion in the Bahamas.

Hannah Smith, who had recently graduated from Alabama's Miles College, filed suit after an excursion connected to her Carnival cruise allegedly spiraled into a life-altering disaster. According to the complaint, which was obtained by The New York Post , Smith was on a catamaran trip to Pearl Island Beach in May 2025 when excursion staff allegedly encouraged heavy drinking and marijuana use before she entered the water near the back of the boat to urinate.

COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.

The lawsuit claims Smith believed the vessel's engines had been turned off when she climbed into the water, holding onto a railing. Roughly 20 seconds later, according to the filing, "she suddenly felt her lower extremities being sucked under the vessel."

The complaint alleges the captain restarted or engaged an engine while Smith was still in the water, causing the propeller to reverse into her legs.

The injuries were devastating. Court filings state Smith's left leg was nearly severed below the knee when she was pulled from the water and that she lost more than 60% of her blood.

She was rushed to a hospital in Nassau before later being transferred to Miami, where doctors ultimately amputated both legs despite multiple surgeries and blood transfusions.

Smith's lawsuit names tour operator Sun Cay, Pearl Investment Management Group, and Carnival Cruise Line. The filing argues Carnival marketed the excursion as a safe, vetted experience for passengers and should bear responsibility for what allegedly happened during the outing.

The suit also claims staff members supplied Smith with large quantities of alcohol throughout the day, including allegedly pouring drinks directly into her mouth and encouraging marijuana use during the trip.

Carnival Cruise Line issued a brief statement expressing sympathy for Smith but did not publicly address the lawsuit's allegations in detail.

The case is the latest in a growing list of legal and safety-related problems tied to the company over the past several months.

Earlier this month, Alabama passenger Etta Brock sued Carnival after her mobility scooter allegedly tipped over while she was disembarking from the Carnival Valor, claiming crew-created barriers made the gangway unsafe .

That lawsuit arrived days after another passenger died when her mobility scooter went off a dock at Celebration Key in the Bahamas .

At the same time, Carnival Cruise Line has also faced federal assault citations tied to a fight aboard the Carnival Spirit , backlash over canceled bookings caused by an IT pricing glitch , and scrutiny following the death of a woman who fell from a balcony aboard the Carnival Firenze near Catalina Island .