Carnival Sued After Princess Cays Tender Ride Allegedly Turns Dangerous

Carnival Corporation is facing a new lawsuit after three guests aboard Carnival Sunrise said a tender ride to Princess Cays turned into a chaotic and painful ordeal in rough seas. The case was filed on February 26, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, where Brandi Leber, Patrick Leber, and Carol Susie McCabe are seeking a jury trial over injuries they say happened during the March 10, 2025 incident.

The image presents an aerial view of the Carnival Sunrise docked at Princess Cays, a resort owned by Princess Cruises. The vibrant tropical setting features colorful buildings, a sprawling pool area with sun loungers, and a beautiful beachfront, all under the watchful presence of the cruise ship. Its signature red funnel and the name "Carnival Sunrise" are visible on the vessel, which towers over the idyllic island getaway, with the turquoise sea extending into the horizon beneath a dramatic sky. — Carnival Sunrise docked at Princess Cays

According to the lawsuit, the three guests were on a tender heading from the ship to Princess Cays in the Bahamas when worsening conditions allegedly caused passengers to be thrown around the boat. The complaint claims the bench they were sitting on became unbolted from the floor during the ride, turning an already rough transfer into the focus of a negligence case against Carnival.

What the Lawsuit Alleges

The complaint does not just blame the weather. It argues that Carnival failed in several ways, including how the tender was operated and the condition of the bench itself. The complaint say the voyage involved “red flag weather conditions,” and criticize the captain’s alleged decision to operate “parallel to heavy wave patterns.”

It also claims the tender’s alleged “top-heavy instability and the lack of adequate passenger restraints” contributed to the cause of the guests’ injuries.

The bench is a major part of the claim too. The complaint says it was “visibly loose prior to the incident,” and the filing says the suit includes photos that allegedly show the bench had been re-bolted before and that the existing bolts were loose. That is important because it shifts the case from a simple rough-seas incident to a broader argument that the equipment may already have been unsafe before the tender ever left the ship.

The image shows a serene coastal scene with two tenders—small boats used to ferry passengers to and from a cruise ship—sailing across clear turquoise waters towards a rocky shoreline. In the background, a large white cruise ship is anchored in the calm sea under a cloudless blue sky, waiting for passengers to return from their shore excursion. The tenders are painted orange and white, contrasting with the natural colors of the sea and rocks. The scene evokes the tranquility of a perfect day at sea.

The plaintiffs are specifically accusing Carnival of negligent failure to remedy the bench, negligent failure to warn about the danger tied to it, and negligence tied to the actions of the tender captain. In other words, the case is aimed at both maintenance and decision-making.

Injuries Described in the Filing

The lawsuit says Brandi Leber struck her head on a metal railing and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Patrick Leber allegedly injured his left knee when it became pinned beneath the collapsed bench. McCabe, meanwhile, is said to have suffered injuries to her left leg, back, and neck.

The complaint also takes issue with what allegedly happened once the guests returned to Carnival Sunrise. According to the filing, ship medical staff allegedly told the three passengers their injuries “were not serious and required minimal treatment.” The suit further claims Carnival said it would follow up about the incident, but that no follow-up occurred.

Final Word

Tender rides are a routine part of many cruise itineraries, but this lawsuit puts a spotlight on the risks when conditions turn rough. Carnival’s own shore excursion guidance notes that when a port requires tendering, guests need extra time for the transfer between ship and shore.

For now, these are still allegations, not proven facts. But the filing is now public, the plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial, and the case could force closer scrutiny of how tenders are maintained and operated when sea conditions are less than ideal.

If the quoted complaint language holds up exactly as filed, Carnival may end up defending not just a rough boat ride, but whether this was a preventable safety failure before passengers ever set foot on the tender.