Woman Awarded $300K After Cruise Ship Served Her 14 Tequila Shots Before Serious Fall
A woman who claimed she was repeatedly served tequila shots while visibly intoxicated aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship has been awarded $300,000 USD (around AUD $460,000) in damages after suffering a serious fall that allegedly left her with a possible traumatic brain injury.
The lawsuit centred around an incident aboard the Carnival Radiance in January 2024, where 45-year-old California nurse Diana Sanders was reportedly served at least 14 shots of tequila over roughly nine hours before collapsing later that night.
According to court documents presented during the Miami federal trial, Sanders visited multiple bars across the cruise ship throughout the day and evening. Her legal team argued that staff continued serving her alcohol despite obvious signs of intoxication.
Shortly before midnight, Sanders allegedly fell down stairs in a restricted crew-only section of the ship. The incident reportedly left her with a concussion, ongoing headaches, bruising, back injuries, and what doctors described as a possible traumatic brain injury.
During the trial, attorneys for Sanders accused Carnival of creating an environment that aggressively encouraged alcohol consumption through unlimited drink packages and bars located throughout the vessel.
Her lawyer Spencer Aronfeld told media outlets the case highlighted “the inherent danger of all-inclusive drink packages” and claimed cruise companies often place profits ahead of passenger safety.
The jury ultimately found Carnival 60% responsible for the incident, while Sanders herself was deemed 40% at fault for her own alcohol consumption. Despite Sanders initially seeking $250,000 in compensation, the jury awarded her an even larger payout of $300,000.
The case has sparked heated debate online, particularly among cruise passengers and hospitality workers. Many argued that individuals should be held responsible for their own drinking, while others said bartenders and venues have a legal obligation to stop serving intoxicated guests.
Carnival has denied wrongdoing and reportedly plans to appeal the decision. The company argued during the trial that there was no clear evidence Sanders showed visible signs of intoxication at the time she was served.
The lawsuit comes amid increasing scrutiny over alcohol service aboard cruise ships, particularly as many cruise lines continue promoting unlimited drinks packages as a major selling point for passengers.
