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Published 09:22 23 Jul 2026 GMT
A woman was left needing multiple surgeries after an emergency evacuation, following a day out during a cruise.
Kirsten Lindsey was on a Carnival Cruise when it docked in Honduras, and she decided to go on an excursion involving rope swinging.
Unfortunately for the Louisiana woman, the adventurous activity would leave her in the hospital with genital trauma.
The risk is always there with outlandish activities such as this one, but many wouldn't have expected this one to become as severe as it has.
Kirsten was only on the third day of her first cruise when she suffered a "catastrophic saddle injury" after swinging on a rope.
Together with her boyfriend Blake, the couple needed to fork out tens of thousands of dollars to receive the specialist medical treatment required, as per WFLA.
Blake recalled that the retrieval line was improperly connected to the rope, becoming caught between Kirsten's legs as she swung over the water.
He recalled: "The line suddenly tightened between Kirsten’s legs just before she dropped."
While it first appeared as nothing more than a scratch, it swelled up to the size of a baseball within hours, causing immense amounts of pain.
Kirsten would spend over 12 hours in the ship's medical center receiving treatment, which set the couple back around $4,000 before they could leave.
To get her back to the US for further treatment, they would need to spend even more money, after deciding not to spend the rest of the cruise in the ship's medical facility or going to a hospital in Mexico.
The couple chose to pay for an emergency air evacuation, which set them back around $20,000 simply to leave Costa Maya.
It would then cost $30,000 to get back to the US, as Blake explained: "We chose the air evacuation because we believed it was the best way to get Kirsten the care she needed."
After hours of delays, the couple ended up at HCA Florida Aventura Hospital, where Kirsten had her first of at least two surgeries.
Genital trauma is scary, and it is a risk with activities such as rope swinging, despite how innocent and fun it can look from the outside.
Following the incident, a spokesperson from Carnival Cruise Line has provided a statement to the publication.
They said: "We are aware of reports regarding a guest who was injured while independently exploring Honduras.
"After returning to the ship, the guest was promptly cared for by our onboard medical team, which provided treatment and facilitated access to additional medical resources.
"While the incident did not occur on a Carnival-sponsored excursion, we remain concerned for the guest's recovery. The safety and well-being of our guests is always our top priority," they concluded.
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Published 16:40 12 Jul 2024 GMT
Published 15:54 07 Jun 2026 GMT
A recent high school graduate is now taking legal action against a cruise handler after she lost both her legs in a freak accident during an excursion on holiday in the Bahamas.
Hannah Smith, now 23, was on a celebratory post-graduation trip with her childhood friend last year when she was sucked beneath a catamaran and struck by the propeller, suffering injuries so horrendous that both her legs had to be amputated.
According to the lawsuit the Memphis native has filed against Carnival Cruise Line and the excursion operators, she lost 60% of her blood in the accident that could have killed her.
It has been alleged by Smith’s attorneys that the young woman was lured and coerced into accepting "complimentary" alcohol and marijuana while on the excursion before they boarded the ferry back to Nassau.
The lawsuit also claims that the catamaran ferry was improperly docked and unsecured, and crew members were inadequately trained.
According to Smith, the incident occurred when a crew member recommended that she enter the water to urinate while the boat was docked.
Brooklyn Pitre, Smith’s friend who witnessed the life-changing accident, said she heard Smith enter the water, then watched her submerge before resurfacing around three seconds later.
Describing the moment to local Memphis outlet WREG, Pitre said: "She was like, get me. And me and another woman had met on the cruise ship during the excursion with us.
"We pulled her out, and then there was like a lot of blood in the water."
The sporty student underwent two surgeries in the Bahamas shortly after the incident in May 2025. She was later flown back to the US for further reconstructive procedures.
However, it is not just the physical impact of losing her legs that will stay with Smith. The attorneys representing her are seeking a jury trial as she has suffered physical pain, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, disability, disfigurement, and PTSD as a result of her injuries.
The founding partner of Brais Law Firm, Keith S. Brais, said in a statement: “Our client, Hannah Smith, was a bright, accomplished young woman celebrating a tremendous academic milestone when she suffered these horrific injuries.
“We are fully committed to pursuing justice on her behalf and holding accountable those responsible for the sequence of unsafe decisions that resulted in this life-altering tragedy.”
Reportedly, Carnival Cruise Line is trying to dismiss the case, arguing that it does not own the tour companies that were involved in the excursion where the incident occurred.
Published 15:36 01 Jun 2024 GMT
Published 10:02 02 May 2026 GMT
Tragic new details have emerged about the final moments of a young woman who died after falling from a Carnival cruise ship off the California coast earlier this week.
The 24-year-old, who has been identified as Briana Miller, reportedly fell to her death from the balcony of her stateroom on board the Carnival Firenze on Monday morning (April 27).
According to a source close to the case who spoke to The California Post, Miller had been arguing with her family in the moments before she fell.
The FBI is said to be still investigating the incident.
The Carnival Firenze had set sail from Long Beach on Sunday and was bound for Mexico when the incident occurred.
The ship can carry up to 4,126 guests and 1,425 crew members, and is around 1,061 feet long.
The source told The California Post that Miller jumped from her stateroom balcony before hitting the deck below.
A private investigator named Kelly Duhs, who happened to be on board the ship at the time, told the outlet that members of the ship's staff said the victim had been fighting with her family before her death.
"It's horrible," she said.
According to a law enforcement officer, Miller's body was transported off the ship on Monday and her family left the same day.
Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed the death and says it's supporting the family.
Spokesperson Julie Leonardi told reporters that the victim had been travelling with her family, and that they were the ones who alerted the ship's crew to what had happened.
"As is customary following these kinds of incidents, law enforcement was on board while the ship was in Catalina Island on Monday to collect information," Leonardi said.
She added that the cruise line's 'Care Team' was with the family in the aftermath.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved ones," she said.
The FBI confirmed it had boarded the Carnival Firenze when it docked in Catalina Island on Monday.
"The FBI responded to the ship when it docked in Catalina Island on Monday and is investigating an incident on board which resulted in death," FBI spokesperson Lourdes Arocho told The California Post.
"More specific details are not being provided at this time as the investigation is ongoing."
Miller's death is the second cruise-related death involving Carnival to make headlines in recent months.
Last November, 18-year-old Anna Kepner was found dead beneath a bed in her cabin on the Carnival Horizon.
Her death was later ruled as mechanical asphyxia, and her 16-year-old stepbrother was charged with homicide in connection with her death in February 2026.
If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available 24/7. In the US, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. In the UK, you can call Samaritans on 116 123.
Published 20:18 13 Jun 2024 GMT
A woman who went viral after revealing how she was allegedly scammed out of a $15,000 Carnival Cruise has provided an update on the fallout -- and the company's response.
Tiffany Banks, from Kentucky, shared her upsetting experience after discovering her meticulously planned vacation was abruptly canceled just a day before departure.
According to Banks, Carnival Cruise Line failed to notify her, leaving her family in a lurch after paying in full for the $12,000 Excel Presidential Suite aboard the Carnival Celebration. On top of this, her family also paid thousands of dollars for excursions.
However, in a series of emotional TikToks, Banks recounted how her dream vacation turned into a nightmare when she learned her trip had been canceled after receiving a confirmation email regarding an off-ship excursion, which prompted her to investigate further.
To her dismay, she found out that her entire booking had been canceled via Carnival's online system, allegedly without her consent or knowledge.
Despite her protests, Carnival reportedly offered Banks two interior rooms as an alternative, which she deemed unacceptable. Adding to her frustration, the cruise line refused to issue a full refund, citing their policy that no refunds are provided within 15 days of the cruise date, per the New York Post.
Undeterred, Banks and her family traveled to Miami hoping for a resolution at the last minute, only to watch their ship sail away without them.
In a subsequent video, Banks tearfully shared Carnival's explanation that her booking was canceled due to a form of identity theft. She revealed that she inadvertently shared her booking reference number on Facebook, leading to someone allegedly using it to access and cancel her reservation.
According to Banks, Carnival informed her that the perpetrator's IP address traced back to British Columbia, but they were unable to identify the individual behind the fraudulent act.
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In an effort to appease her, Carnival offered future cruise credit amounting to $10,404, contingent upon Banks posting a social media statement acknowledging resolution of the issue.
However, Banks declined the offer and expressed skepticism over Carnival's security measures, questioning how easily her booking could be compromised without proper verification procedures.
“We’re not sailing with Carnival ever again,” she said in an emotional video.
However, many social media users have placed the blame with Banks for sharing her booking number - alongside her full name - on social media.
The incident has drawn attention beyond social media, with Banks claiming that the Florida attorney general has reached out to her.
She is considering legal action against Carnival, not just for herself but for others who may have faced similar situations. Banks expressed a desire for broader policy changes within Carnival to prevent such incidents in the future.
In response to queries from media outlets, a Carnival representative emphasized the company's commitment to guest safety and reminded travelers to take precautions to safeguard their bookings during the busy summer travel season.
While the company stated that they "refuse to comment on any specific guest complaint or incident," they did add: "It is never a good idea to post personal information about your travel plans, including a confirmation number for a booking, which could allow a bad actor or [idenity thief] to use that information in inappropriate or even illegal ways."
However, Banks claims that the company has updated its website to clearly state: "Never share booking and personal information," as part of their "Summer Travel Tips".
The message is at the top of the Carnival website at the time of this writing.
Banks believes that this is an admission of guilt, and is now no longer speaking out just for her family, but for others.
"This is no longer just about me," she says in a new video. "This is me now wanting to really make a company change their policies and do what is right.
"I would love for this to be a class action because big corporations should not be allowed to just take people’s money.”
A rep from the cruise company told The Post: "With a busy summer travel season underway, we are reminding our guests about several things to make their travel go smoothly."
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