A passenger has launched legal action against Carnival Cruise Line after allegedly suffering serious injuries on a waterslide aboard Carnival Sunshine, claiming crew continued operating the attraction despite unsafe conditions.
Savannah Ward, from Virginia, filed suit against the cruise line on Thursday 19th February 2026 in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The claim relates to an incident that took place nearly a year earlier, on 20th March 2025, while she was sailing on a six night Bahamas itinerary.
The 104,000 gross ton Carnival Sunshine had departed from Norfolk, Virginia on 16th March and was on the next to last full day of the voyage when the incident occurred. The ship remains homeported in Norfolk.
According to court documents, Ward “rode on a water slide aboard the vessel that was open to passengers for their enjoyment, and she was injured when she reached the bottom and her feet collided with a wall at the bottom of the slide.”
The lawsuit states that the injury occurred in the final runout section of the slide, an area designed to slow riders as they reach the end. Typically, several inches of water are maintained in this section to cushion guests and provide enough resistance to bring them safely to a stop.
However, Ward alleges that the minimum water level was not properly maintained at the time of her ride. Despite this, two crew members are said to have continued dispatching passengers down the slide.
As a result of the collision, Ward reportedly suffered a broken right foot and a sprained left ankle. The complaint claims the injuries have led to permanent loss of mobility, reduced range of motion and strength, as well as ongoing chronic pain.
Questions Over Slide Operations
It has not been specified which of the ship’s waterslides was involved in the incident. Carnival Sunshine features three slides as part of its WaterWorks park on Deck 10 aft. The yellow Twister slide offers a solo ride experience, while the green and blue Speedway Splash slides allow guests to race side by side on parallel tracks.
Although these attractions are curved rather than vertical drop slides, riders can still build considerable speed before entering the runout braking section at the end. All three slides are equipped with similar splashdown and stopping areas designed to manage water flow and safely decelerate guests.
Water levels in runout zones can fluctuate depending on several factors, including how quickly riders are sent down, how much water is displaced during splashdown, and the volume of water being pumped through the slide system. When guests exit the slide, water is also naturally carried out of the runout area.
Carnival Cruise Line advises that height and weight restrictions apply to WaterWorks attractions, though specific limits may vary by ship and slide type. Onboard signage is typically used to detail those requirements. It is not clear from the filing whether any operational guidelines or rider restrictions were breached in this case.
Ward is seeking a jury trial and is requesting compensation for medical expenses already incurred, as well as damages for future losses, pain and suffering.
Previous Waterslide Injury Claims
The lawsuit reportedly references prior claims made against Carnival Cruise Line involving similar waterslide injuries, highlighting that such cases are not uncommon in the industry.
Waterslide attractions have become a major feature on many modern cruise ships, marketed as family friendly highlights. However, they have also been the subject of legal scrutiny when mechanical failures or operational issues are alleged.
In a separate high profile case, a guest was injured aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas when a waterslide component failed mid ride, drawing widespread attention to onboard safety procedures and ride maintenance standards.
As cruise ships continue to introduce ever larger and more complex water parks at sea, legal cases such as Ward’s are likely to intensify debate over where responsibility lies when injuries occur on attractions operated and supervised by crew members.
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