Norwegian Cruise Line is facing two separate personal injury lawsuits filed in March 2026, with passengers alleging negligence in unrelated incidents both onboard and during a shore excursion.
The claims, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, stem from incidents that occurred in early 2025 aboard Norwegian Escape and during a port call in Roatan, Honduras, involving Norwegian Joy.
The first lawsuit was filed on 2nd March 2026 by Donka Kennedy, who claims she was injured while sailing on Norwegian Escape. According to the complaint, the incident occurred on 31st January 2025 when she slipped on a transparent, slippery substance on Deck 16 near one of the ship’s swimming pools.
Kennedy was walking towards the Garden Café buffet when she fell, sustaining a fractured left femur that required surgery and ongoing physical therapy.
Her legal team alleges that the cruise line failed to properly maintain the area and did not adequately warn guests of the hazard.
The lawsuit also claims that crew members did not sufficiently inspect the high-traffic pool deck and failed to implement appropriate non-slip flooring or cleaning measures that could have reduced the risk.
Norwegian Cruise Line has not publicly commented on the allegations, and there is no publicly available evidence confirming the exact conditions at the time of the incident.
Pool Deck Safety Under Scrutiny
While Kennedy’s claim raises concerns about onboard safety procedures, pool decks are widely recognised as areas where wet conditions are difficult to avoid entirely due to constant guest activity.
Norwegian Cruise Line states that its ships feature American Red Cross-certified lifeguards, slip-resistant surfaces, and enforced safety rules such as prohibiting running and requiring children under 12 to be supervised.
However, the lawsuit argues that such measures were insufficient in this case. Additional details, such as what footwear Kennedy was wearing or whether other contributing factors played a role, have not been disclosed.
Norwegian Escape continues to operate as scheduled, sailing Caribbean itineraries from New Orleans through mid-May.
Shore Excursion Incident Leads To Second Claim
A second lawsuit was filed on 18th March 2026 by Kelly Damron, a former passenger aboard Norwegian Joy, following an ATV accident during a shore excursion in Roatan, Honduras.
The incident took place on 19th March 2025 during the “Buggy Eco-Adventure & Mayan Eden Park” tour, which involved navigating steep terrain in off-road vehicles.
According to the claim, Damron lost control of her ATV while attempting to pass a stalled buggy on a hill, causing the vehicle to overturn and land on top of her.
“As DAMRON attempted to safely maneuver around the stalled buggy, she began descending the steep hill and attempted to brake,” the claim states.
“Due to the steepness and dangerous condition of the trail, and the lack of adequate supervision or guidance from excursion staff positioned along the trail, DAMRON lost control of the ATV, causing it to overturn and land on top of her,” the claim continues.
Damron reportedly suffered serious injuries, including a shattered collarbone requiring surgery, multiple fractured ribs, lower back injuries, neuropathy in her legs, memory loss, and possible cervical spine damage.
Her lawsuit is seeking at least $250,000 in damages and includes multiple allegations, including negligence, failure to warn, and claims that Norwegian Cruise Line is responsible for the actions of the third-party excursion operator.
“The subject excursion was purchased by DAMRON through NCL’s excursion website. There was no sufficient mention in the advertisement or the purchase confirmation for the excursion from NCL that the excursion was being operated by independent contractors,” the claim argues.
The filing also alleges that the cruise line had prior knowledge of safety concerns linked to similar ATV excursions, citing passenger complaints, reviews, and previous lawsuits.
Wider Questions Around Risk And Responsibility
Together, the two lawsuits highlight broader questions around passenger safety and liability, both onboard and during shore excursions operated by third parties.
Excursions such as ATV tours are typically classified as high-intensity activities and require guests to acknowledge potential risks before participating.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s listings for similar tours in Roatan note that they are intended for physically fit and adventurous travellers and involve uneven or steep terrain.
At the same time, onboard environments such as pool decks remain challenging to manage due to their inherently wet conditions.
Both cases are likely to explore the extent to which cruise lines are responsible for mitigating these risks, as well as how clearly those risks are communicated to passengers.
As of publication, Norwegian Joy is sailing Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries from Port Canaveral before repositioning to Seattle for the Alaska season in May, while Norwegian Escape continues her scheduled voyages without disruption.
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