Michigan Resident Sues Norwegian Cruise Line and Island Shipping After Broken Seat on Tortola Shore Excursion
Lori Chinnici, a resident of Michigan, has initiated a maritime personal injury lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida against NCL (Bahamas) Ltd., doing business as Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Island Shipping & Trading Co. Ltd. The legal action, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-20724-JAL, stems from a traumatic incident on February 5, 2025, where Chinnici allegedly suffered severe and permanent injuries during a shore excursion in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. The complaint asserts that the plaintiff was a fare-paying passenger aboard the Norwegian Epic when she participated in a tour that resulted in her falling five feet onto pavement after her seat on a novelty vehicle malfunctioned.
Cruise Passenger Injured During Historical Ride in the City Shore Excursion After Party Cycle Seat Failure
According to the factual allegations in the complaint, Chinnici and her family were solicited by Norwegian Cruise Line to purchase a shore excursion titled Historical Ride in the City. The marketing materials provided by the cruise line allegedly described the mode of transportation as a bus. However, upon arrival at the tour site in Tortola, the plaintiff discovered the vehicle was actually an engine-powered novelty vehicle known as a Party Cycle. This vehicle featured a central bar-height table with individual seats on both sides. During the boarding process, Chinnici noticed her seat lacked a seatbelt and notified the operator. After several attempts by the operator to adjust and repair the seat and its backrest, the plaintiff was assured it was safe. While the tour was at its third stop, Chinnici sat back down on her assigned seat, at which point the entire seatback allegedly broke free. This caused her to fall backward from an elevated height of approximately five feet directly onto the asphalt below.
Norwegian Cruise Line and Island Shipping Accused of Negligence and Misrepresenting Excursion Transportation
The lawsuit brings ten counts against the defendants, including negligent misrepresentation, negligent selection and retention, and misleading advertising. The plaintiff alleges that Norwegian Cruise Line and Island Shipping failed to provide a reasonably safe excursion and misrepresented the nature of the transportation used. Specifically, the complaint argues that the defendants used the word bus to describe a novelty vehicle that was not designed or maintained to the safety standards of a commercial motor vehicle. Furthermore, the plaintiff claims the defendants had actual or constructive knowledge that the Party Cycle was unsafe. The complaint points to the fact that the operator had to make multiple field repairs to the seat just before the incident. Additionally, the plaintiff alleges that the seats on this specific Party Cycle had been altered or replaced in 2024 without proper approval from authorities or the manufacturer, rendering the equipment defective and dangerous for cruise ship passengers.
Complaint Highlights Significant Safety Risks and Lack of Oversight for Cruise Shore Excursions in the British Virgin Islands
A central theme of the litigation is the alleged failure of the cruise line to warn passengers of known dangers associated with transportation in the British Virgin Islands. The complaint cites U.S. State Department warnings indicating that the tourism industry in the region is unevenly regulated and that safety inspections for equipment are uncommon. To establish notice, the plaintiff’s legal team referenced several prior incidents in Tortola involving cruise passengers, including a 2015 bus crash that killed two passengers and multiple taxi accidents between 2017 and 2023. The lawsuit contends that Norwegian Cruise Line has a duty to audit and inspect its shore excursion providers to ensure they are qualified and that their vehicles are reasonably safe. The plaintiff alleges that had a proper investigation been conducted, it would have revealed that Island Shipping utilized subcontractors and operated equipment that fell below a reasonable standard of care.
Plaintiff Sustains Comminuted Fracture and Seeks Damages for Medical Expenses and Permanent Disability
As a direct result of the fall from the Party Cycle, Chinnici suffered a closed, comminuted, and displaced fracture of her right distal radius in her dominant arm. The complaint states she required an immediate closed reduction procedure at a local hospital in Tortola to realign the bone before being transported back to the Norwegian Epic. The lawsuit seeks compensation for a wide range of damages, including severe physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, and disfigurement. In addition to these non-economic losses, the plaintiff is seeking recovery for medical expenses, pharmaceutical costs, and the loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life. The complaint also highlights that the cruise line refunded the cost of the excursion following the incident, which the plaintiff views as an acknowledgement of the failure of the service provided.
Contact a Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Injury Lawyer if You Were Hurt Due to Defective Equipment or Unsafe Tours
Passengers who suffer injuries during shore excursions due to defective equipment, lack of supervision, or misleading descriptions of tour activities may have grounds for a maritime personal injury claim. Cruise lines are often held responsible for the safety of the excursions they market and sell, especially when they fail to properly vet local operators or warn of known hazards. If you or a loved one experienced a fall or injury during a cruise-sponsored tour in a foreign port, it is important to understand the legal protections available to you under maritime law. Our team of experienced lawyers is dedicated to investigating these incidents and holding cruise companies accountable for passenger safety failures.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship and maritime injury attorney.
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.
