• A Miami jury awarded $300,000 to a passenger after she was served 14 shots of tequila in under nine hours.
• The plaintiff suffered significant physical injuries, including a concussion and back trauma, following a fall on the ship.
• The lawsuit alleged that the cruise line lacks adequate corporate responsibility for monitoring and stopping alcohol service to intoxicated guests.
• Carnival Corporation intends to appeal the decision, citing a lack of specific evidence regarding which employees were negligent

A federal jury in Miami has awarded $300,000 to a cruise passenger following a lawsuit against Carnival Corporation for over-service of alcohol. The plaintiff, a 45-year-old nurse from California, was a passenger aboard the Carnival Radiance in January 2024. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that she was served at least 14 shots of tequila within a period of less than nine hours. While intoxicated, she suffered a severe fall down a flight of stairs, resulting in a concussion, back and tailbone injuries, and a possible traumatic brain injury.

The legal arguments focused on the responsibility of the cruise line to monitor guest intoxication levels. The passenger’s attorneys contended that bartenders failed to follow standard safety practices by continuing to serve alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person. They further alleged that the ship’s design prioritizes high-volume alcohol sales over passenger safety. In response, Carnival Corporation argued that the plaintiff could not identify specific crew members who served her and noted a lack of documented evidence regarding her behavior at the time of service.

Despite the cruise line’s defense that individuals should be responsible for their own consumption, the jury ruled in favor of the passenger. The $300,000 award significantly exceeded the initial amount requested by the plaintiff’s legal team. Carnival Corporation has expressed its disagreement with the verdict and has indicated plans to pursue a new trial or an appeal. This case follows other recent high-profile legal actions regarding excessive alcohol service and passenger safety in the maritime industry.