Carnival Cruise Ordered to Pay $300,000 to Passenger for Overserving Alcohol Leading to Injury

A federal jury in Miami awarded a $300,000 judgment to a California woman injured while traveling aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship, finding the company negligent in its alcohol service policies. The verdict was delivered last Friday in favor of Diana Sanders, 45, of Vacaville, California, after an 18-month legal battle.

According to testimony and court documents, Sanders was served at least 14 shots of tequila while on the Carnival Radiance on January 5, 2024. The sequence of drinks occurred over nearly nine hours, culminating in Sanders suffering a fall down a stairway late that night. The incident resulted in a concussion and potential traumatic brain injury, as well as other injuries including back and tailbone trauma.

Sanders' attorney, Spencer Aronfeld, described the case as illuminating the risks associated with all-inclusive drink packages on cruise ships and suggested that such policies can incentivize excessive consumption. He also noted that key surveillance footage was missing from the period immediately following Sanders' last visit to a casino bar, which drew scrutiny during the trial.

In response to the verdict, Carnival Corporation issued a statement voicing disagreement and signaling its intention to seek a new trial or appeal. The company maintains there are grounds to challenge the jury's decision.

The outcome comes as increased attention falls on alcohol safety practices within the cruise industry, including a separate ongoing lawsuit against Royal Caribbean over alleged overserving that resulted in a passenger fatality.

For now, the court's decision stands, with Carnival Cruise Line ordered to pay damages as litigation continues around broader questions of alcohol service at sea.