Booking a shore excursion through a cruise line gives many travelers extra peace of mind.
Most passengers assume that if an activity is offered directly on the cruise line’s website, it has been carefully reviewed and is safe for families.
That assumption is now at the center of a new lawsuit filed against Carnival Corporation.
A former Mardi Gras passenger is suing the company after suffering a serious ankle injury during a dune buggy excursion in the Dominican Republic.
The lawsuit claims the excursion was operated under unsafe conditions and argues Carnival failed to properly warn guests about the potential risks before selling the experience.
While Carnival has not publicly responded to the allegations, the legal case raises fresh questions about where responsibility begins—and ends—when cruise lines sell excursions operated by independent companies.
Vacation Adventure Turns Into Medical Emergency
The lawsuit stems from a cruise taken in July 2025 aboard Carnival Mardi Gras.
During the voyage, passenger Karisha McClinton and her family visited Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, where they booked Carnival’s “Waterfalls, Buggies & Monkeys” shore excursion.
According to the complaint filed in federal court on July 3, 2026, the outing took a frightening turn when the dune buggy McClinton was driving overturned while traveling across muddy and rocky terrain.
The vehicle allegedly rolled onto her left leg, trapping her underneath.
At the time of the accident, her 6-year-old child was riding in the front passenger seat. The lawsuit does not report any injuries to the child.
Instead of enjoying a day exploring the Dominican countryside, the family suddenly found themselves dealing with a serious medical emergency far from home.
Lawsuit Claims Unsafe Conditions Led to the Crash
McClinton’s attorneys argue that several factors contributed to the accident.
According to the lawsuit, the excursion route contained hazardous conditions, including rough terrain that became especially difficult to navigate.
The complaint further alleges that:
- The buggy’s tires were excessively worn.
- Safety barriers along portions of the route were inadequate.
- Participants received insufficient operating instructions before driving.
- The excursion lacked proper supervision by staff.
The lawsuit also claims there were no meaningful protective barriers separating the trail from dangerous areas beyond a barbed-wire fence.
Together, the allegations paint a picture of an excursion that the family believes was not prepared with adequate safety precautions.
Husband Allegedly Had to Lift the Vehicle
One of the more dramatic claims in the lawsuit involves what happened immediately after the rollover.
According to court filings, McClinton’s husband was forced to lift the overturned buggy off his wife because assistance did not arrive immediately from excursion personnel.
The complaint alleges that staff members were not readily available to respond during the emergency.
Those claims have not been addressed publicly by Carnival or the excursion operator.
As with any civil lawsuit, the allegations represent the plaintiff’s version of events and will ultimately need to be examined through the legal process.
Injury Required Surgery After Returning Home
Following the accident, local medical providers in the Dominican Republic reportedly recommended immediate surgery.
Instead, McClinton chose to postpone treatment and return to the ship, where she initially received medical care before traveling home.
After arriving back in San Antonio, Texas, doctors determined the injury was more severe than first believed.
According to the lawsuit, her ankle had been broken in three places, ultimately requiring surgery involving multiple screws and metal plates to stabilize the injury.
The lawsuit seeks compensation for the physical injuries, medical treatment, and other damages resulting from the accident.
Why Carnival Is Being Sued
One of the central arguments in the lawsuit is not simply that the accident occurred—but that Carnival allegedly played a role by promoting and selling the excursion.
McClinton’s legal team argues that Carnival marketed the activity as a safe and reliable experience without making it sufficiently clear that it was actually operated by an independent company.
According to the complaint, the family purchased the excursion directly through Carnival’s website and relied on the cruise line’s reputation when making their decision.
The attorneys argue that guests naturally place trust in Carnival when purchasing excursions offered through the cruise line rather than seeking out local operators on their own.
Carnival’s Excursion Policy Says Tours Are Independently Operated
Carnival’s publicly available shore excursion policy presents a different position.
The cruise line explains that while it offers excursions for guests’ convenience, the vast majority are operated by independent local companies rather than Carnival itself.
Its website states that those operators are solely responsible for conducting the excursions, providing transportation, maintaining equipment, and ensuring guest safety while ashore.
Carnival also notes that it is not responsible for injuries, property damage, or other losses arising from activities that occur off the ship.
The company says it works to partner with reputable local operators but does not directly manage their day-to-day operations.
Whether those disclosures are sufficient will likely become an important issue as the lawsuit moves forward.
Plaintiff Claims Carnival Should Have Known About Safety Concerns
The lawsuit also argues that Carnival allegedly had reason to be aware of potential problems associated with the excursion.
As part of the complaint, attorneys included screenshots of customer reviews posted on Carnival’s own excursion page.
Some reviewers reportedly described mechanical issues involving the dune buggies, including breakdowns and transmission problems.
However, those negative comments appear alongside many positive guest experiences.
At the time the lawsuit was filed, the excursion maintained an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Carnival’s website, suggesting that most passengers who participated rated the experience favorably.
Whether isolated complaints should have prompted additional action from Carnival will likely be another issue examined during the case.
Shore Excursion Lawsuits Continue Across the Cruise Industry
This is far from the first lawsuit involving injuries during cruise-sponsored excursions.
Adventure activities such as:
- ATV tours
- Dune buggy excursions
- Ziplining
- Snorkeling trips
- Off-road vehicle experiences
carry inherent risks, even when operated by experienced providers.
Earlier this year, another lawsuit was filed against Norwegian Cruise Line after a passenger was injured during an ATV excursion.
Similar cases have involved horseback riding, boating accidents, and sightseeing tours in ports around the world.
As cruise lines continue expanding their shore excursion offerings, legal disputes over responsibility occasionally follow when accidents occur ashore.
Carnival Continues Normal Operations
Despite the lawsuit, Carnival Mardi Gras has continued operating its regular schedule from Port Canaveral, Florida.
The ship remains one of Carnival’s flagship vessels and continues sailing seven-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries that frequently include calls at Amber Cove.
Meanwhile, the “Waterfalls, Buggies & Monkeys” excursion also remained available for booking through Carnival’s website at the time the lawsuit was filed.
Carnival Corporation has not publicly commented on the case, and the company has not yet filed its formal response in court.
As the legal proceedings move forward, the lawsuit is likely to draw attention from both cruise passengers and the wider travel industry, particularly regarding how shore excursions are marketed and what responsibilities cruise lines have when selling adventures operated by third-party companies.
