Woman Sues Carnival After Alleged Waterslide Injury On Carnival Sunshine

A Carnival guest has filed a lawsuit against Carnival Cruise Line after she says she was seriously hurt while riding a waterslide on Carnival Sunshine — and that crew members kept the attraction running even though the slide’s stopping area wasn’t set up safely.

What Allegedly Happened on Carnival Sunshine

According to the complaint, the passenger, Savannah Ward of Virginia, was sailing on a 6-night Bahamas itinerary that departed Norfolk on March 16, 2025. The incident is alleged to have happened on March 20, 2025, the next-to-last full day of the cruise.

The lawsuit says Ward rode a waterslide that was open for guest use, but when she reached the bottom, her feet hit the wall in the slide’s “runout” or end section. This part is designed to slow riders down before they exit.

The Injuries Being Claimed

Ward reportedly suffered a broken right foot and a sprained left ankle.

The complaint also alleges longer-term effects, including ongoing pain and lasting limits to mobility, strength, and range of motion.

Ward is asking for a jury trial and seeking compensation for medical expenses incurred and future losses and suffering due to her injury

The Core Claim: The Runout Area Didn’t Have Enough Water

This case hinges on a detail most of us don’t think about when we climb the steps to a cruise ship slide: the water depth at the very end.

The runout area usually has several inches of water to help “cushion” the rider’s arrival and create resistance that slows them down.

Ward’s lawsuit alleges the minimum water level in that end section wasn’t properly maintained at the time she rode, but two crew members continued dispatching guests down the slide anyway.

It’s also worth noting that runout water levels can fluctuate for practical reasons: big splashes push water out of the area, riders carry water out as they exit, and the level depends on how quickly guests are being sent down versus how quickly the system refills.

Which Slide Was It? What Carnival Sunshine Has Onboard

The filing does not state the exact slide.

Carnival Sunshine’s WaterWorks area includes:

• Twister Waterslide (solo spiraling tube slide)
• Speedway Splash (two side-by-side racing slides)

Carnival’s own guidance also lists slide restrictions for Carnival Sunshine — including a maximum rider weight of 265 pounds and a minimum height requirement that can vary by slide (for Speedway Splash on Sunshine, Carnival notes a minimum height of 42 inches). 

Why the Lawsuit Was Filed In Florida (And Why That’s Common)

Ward filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

If you’ve ever wondered why cruise cases so often pop up in Florida even when a sailing leaves from somewhere else, it often comes down to the passenger ticket contract. Many cruise tickets specify where lawsuits must be filed, and South Florida is a common venue for major cruise lines.

Cruise Slide Incidents Aren’t Unheard Of

Lawsuits tied to onboard waterslide incidents aren’t unusual and can involve any cruise line.

For example, in another widely reported case, a family sued Royal Caribbean after a child was allegedly injured on the “SuperCell” waterslide (part of the Perfect Storm complex) aboard Wonder of the Seas. The lawsuit claims the child flipped in the bowl-style section and struck her face, resulting in a serious injury.

As ships add bigger and more complex water attractions, the focus on maintenance, staffing, and operational checks tends to increase right along with it — especially when a claim centers on how an attraction was being run rather than on a guest doing something unexpected.

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