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.
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.
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.
