Florida Resident Sues Celebrity Cruises After Onboard Doctors Fail to Diagnose Stroke Symptoms Aboard Celebrity Edge

Jose A. Encarnacion Acevedo, a resident of Florida, has filed a maritime medical malpractice and negligence lawsuit against Celebrity Cruises Inc., Dr. Carlos Federico Gonzalez Ibanez, and Dr. Christelle Steenkamp in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-23402-JEM, alleges that the plaintiff suffered permanent and severe neurological injuries after shipboard medical staff repeatedly failed to properly evaluate and treat his evolving stroke symptoms during a voyage in May and June of 2025.

Cruise Passenger Exhibits Focal Neurological Deficits and Stroke Symptoms Aboard Celebrity Edge

According to the complaint, the incident began while Acevedo was a paying passenger aboard the Celebrity Edge in navigable waters. On June 1, 2025, Acevedo presented to the shipboard medical facility with critical complaints, including right leg numbness and weakness, a burning sensation on the left side of his face, dizziness, head pressure, and distinct voice changes. He reported that these concerning neurological symptoms had initiated the previous evening. Despite the plaintiff presenting with clear focal neurological symptoms and possessing a known medical history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, the onboard medical staff failed to recognize the indicators of an acute cerebrovascular event. Instead, the ship’s doctors diagnosed the plaintiff with right-sided sciatica, acute frontal sinusitis, and a pressure ulcer of the head, ultimately discharging him with no follow-up care required.

Shipboard Medical Personnel Misdiagnose Evolving Cerebrovascular Event as Diabetic Polyneuropathy and Sinusitis

The next day, Acevedo returned to the ship’s medical facility because his neurological symptoms were persistently progressing. He reported experiencing facial numbness, numbness involving both his upper and lower extremities, a loss of power and hot or cold sensations in his left lower limb, and ongoing voice changes. Despite the clear progression of these serious neurological red flags, the ship’s medical staff did not evaluate the plaintiff for a posterior circulation stroke or a transient ischemic attack. Instead, they misdiagnosed him with diabetes mellitus with diabetic polyneuropathy and acute sinusitis. The complaint highlights that while Acevedo was suffering from these worsening symptoms, the cruise ship was docked in Juneau, Alaska, for several hours. This port stop meant that definitive shoreside emergency evaluations, neuroimaging, stroke assessments, and hospitalization were readily available. However, the shipboard doctors failed to refer, transport, or evacuate Acevedo to a shoreside medical facility for emergency neurological care. Upon disembarking the vessel on June 6, 2025, Acevedo immediately presented to a shoreside hospital where he received a proper diagnosis of a subacute left medullary ischemic stroke.

Celebrity Cruises Accused of Negligent Provisioning and Failing to Equip Onboard Medical Facility Properly

The lawsuit brings forth multiple legal theories, including a count against Celebrity Cruises for negligent provisioning and equipping of the medical facility. The plaintiff alleges that the cruise line has a duty to exercise reasonable care to properly man and resource its onboard medical centers, especially since the company markets its high-quality onboard medical care, increased staffing, and state-of-the-art equipment enhancements to prospective passengers. The complaint claims Celebrity breached this duty by failing to maintain an adequate number of medical employees to handle complex emergencies, failing to supply operational diagnostic equipment to promptly assess neurological conditions, and failing to provide sufficient emergency medications. Furthermore, the plaintiff asserts that the cruise line failed to provide necessary medical resources, manuals, or standard protocols for contacting shoreside medical specialists in the United States when passengers exhibit significant neurological symptoms.

Complaint Alleges Negligent Hiring and Retention of Incompetent Shipboard Doctors and Nurses

In addition to the physical layout and equipment of the facility, the lawsuit alleges that Celebrity Cruises was negligent in the hiring and retention of the shipboard medical staff. The plaintiff asserts that the cruise line failed to diligently inquire into the qualifications and competence of the medical team. The complaint argues that the ship’s doctors and nurses lacked the necessary education, training, experience, licenses, and skills to recognize, triage, and refer passengers who are actively experiencing a stroke. The plaintiff’s legal team states that Celebrity Cruises should have been aware of these deficiencies through proper background checks, employment history verifications, and monitoring of prior passenger complaints or incidents involving improper medical treatment aboard their fleet. The lawsuit contends that the shipboard personnel lacked the basic capability to implement an effective triage system to prioritize treatments based on the severity of life-threatening conditions.

Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Neurological Injuries Caused by Delayed Medical Evacuation and Treatment

The plaintiff seeks substantial damages from the defendants, bringing counts of general negligence against the ship’s doctors directly, as well as vicarious liability claims against Celebrity Cruises under theories of respondeat superior, apparent agency, and joint venture. The lawsuit alleges that Celebrity Cruises maintained strict control over the medical department, billed passengers directly for medical services via onboard accounts, and provided the uniforms and nametags worn by the staff, leading passengers to reasonably believe the doctors were actual agents of the cruise line. The complaint states that the delayed and inadequate medical care directly contributed to the severity and permanency of Acevedo’s neurological injuries. As a result of the alleged negligence, the plaintiff suffered physical pain, mental anguish, permanent disability, disfigurement, post-traumatic stress disorder, loss of earnings, and extensive past and future medical expenses, alongside losing the total benefit and value of his vacation. Acevedo has demanded a trial by jury for all recoverable damages.

Contact a Cruise Ship Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today if You Received Inadequate Care Aboard a Vessel

Cruise passengers who suffer severe injuries or worsening medical conditions due to delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, or a failure to evacuate by shipboard medical personnel may be entitled to significant compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines have a strict legal obligation to ensure that their onboard medical facilities are properly equipped and that their medical staff provides an acceptable professional standard of care to passengers in need of urgent attention. If you or a loved one experienced medical negligence or a failure to provide proper emergency treatment during a cruise vacation, contact our team of experienced maritime injury lawyers today. We are here to answer your questions, protect your rights, and help you navigate the complexities of maritime litigation.

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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.