Florida Man Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Bed Bug Infestation in Stateroom Aboard Carnival Freedom
Joseph Rivera, a resident of Altamonte Springs, Florida, has filed a personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation, doing business as Carnival Cruise Line, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-25709-KMM, alleges that Rivera suffered numerous, painful, and intensely itchy bites from a bed bug infestation in his assigned stateroom aboard the Carnival Freedom.
Carnival Freedom Passenger Discovers Live Bed Bugs After Multiple Nights of Bites
According to the complaint, Mr. Rivera boarded the Carnival Freedom on or about December 7, 2024, and went to his stateroom, Cabin No. 2417. On the evening of December 7, he woke up feeling something crawling on him and felt an itchiness on his skin. Feeling exhausted, he went back to sleep. The following morning, December 8, he woke up feeling itchy irritation across his body.
On the morning of December 9, Mr. Rivera woke abruptly to find raised, red, itchy welts that were painful and hot to the touch. Upon inspecting his room and looking beneath the mattress, he discovered live bed bugs. The plaintiff took pictures and video of the bed bugs and the more than 50 individual bites on his body, then visited the guest services desk to inform ship employees of his discovery and injuries.
Cruise Line Accused of Failing to Follow Its Own Bed Bug Detection and Treatment Protocols
The lawsuit alleges that the bed bug bites were the result of a pre-existing infestation in Cabin No. 2417. The plaintiff asserts that the pre-existing population of bed bugs rendered the vessel unsanitary and unfit for human habitation.
The complaint highlights Carnival’s own policies regarding pests. Carnival’s Detection and Treatment Plan for Bedbugs requires all stateroom stewards to be trained to recognize the possible presence of bed bugs and conduct weekly inspections of every cabin, including mattresses, curtains, and carpeting. Furthermore, the plan states that if signs of infestation are present, “the room is chemically treated along with all other cabins within that section”.
The plaintiff claims that after he reported the incident, two crew members accompanied him back to his stateroom and merely vacuumed the floor and changed the sheets. The crew did not remove the mattress or clean underneath it. They then informed Mr. Rivera that the cabin was clean and suitable for the remainder of his cruise. The complaint states that no chemical treatment was done in his presence, and he was told the room was fit to stay in. Mr. Rivera asserts that this action, or lack thereof, demonstrates Carnival’s failure to follow its own required treatment plan.
Prior Incidents Cited to Establish Carnival’s Actual Knowledge of Recurring Problem
Mr. Rivera asserts that Carnival had actual or constructive knowledge of the infestation because the crew members, including Cabin Stewards and Housekeepers, had notice. Furthermore, the cruise line is on notice of numerous prior substantially similar incidents involving passengers suffering injuries due to bed bug infestations across its fleet.
The complaint cites multiple specific incidents on various Carnival vessels to establish a history of recurring problems. These include incidents on the Carnival Vista, Carnival Victory, Carnival Glory, and the Carnival Freedom itself, along with others dating back to 2011 on ships like the Carnival Triumph, Carnival Dream, Carnival Ecstasy, and Carnival Paradise. The plaintiff argues that Carnival’s existence of a Detection and Treatment Plan is itself evidence of corrective action and actual knowledge of the dangerous condition.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Scarring, Pain, and Mental Anguish
Mr. Rivera brings three counts of negligence against Carnival: Negligent Failure to Warn, Negligent Failure to Maintain, and General Negligence.
He claims that Carnival breached its duty by failing to adequately and regularly inspect and maintain the stateroom, and by failing to warn him that the stateroom contained a bed bug infestation and was unreasonably dangerous.
As a direct and proximate result of Carnival’s negligence, Mr. Rivera suffered bodily injuries resulting in pain and suffering, physical and mental pain and anguish, permanent scarring, disability, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, and medical expenses. The plaintiff asserts that these losses are either permanent or continuing in nature and will suffer these losses into the future.
If you were a cruise ship passenger who suffered injuries due to a bed bug infestation on a vessel like the Carnival Freedom, you may be entitled to compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines have a duty to maintain reasonably safe accommodations for their passengers, which includes inspecting and treating staterooms for pests. Contact our experienced maritime injury lawyers today to discuss your rights and explore your legal options.
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Disclaimer: Our firm does not represent the plaintiff in this case and is not involved in the litigation. The information provided is a summary of allegations based on publicly available court filings. We make no representations about the truth of these allegations, are not commenting on the merits of the case, and are not predicting any outcome.
