Wisconsin Woman Sues Holland America and Carnival After Tram Accident at Half Moon Cay Island Excursion
Julie Anne Friedl, a resident of Wisconsin, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Holland America Line Inc., Holland America Line Ltd., and Carnival Corporation in the Western District of Washington at Seattle. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 2:26-cv-01743-JNW, alleges that Friedl suffered severe and permanent physical injuries after being thrown from an open-air excursion tram while traveling back from an island excursion on February 25, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured During Eco Lagoon Tour Excursion Due to Unsafe Tram Speed and Lack of Seatbelts
According to the complaint, the incident occurred while Friedl was a fare-paying passenger aboard the MS Nieuw Amsterdam, which originally departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. While the vessel was anchored off Half Moon Cay, an island in the Bahamas operated by the defendants, Friedl participated in the Eco Lagoon Tour. After completing the excursion, she boarded a small transportation van or open-sided bus with bench seats to return to the boat dock. The lawsuit alleges that the tram lacked seatbelts entirely and was driven at a speed that was not reasonably safe given the narrow layout of the island road. When the tram operator negotiated a sharp turn at an excessive speed, Friedl was violently flung from her bench seat onto the floor of the vehicle.
Holland America and Carnival Accused of Negligent Excursion Operation and Failure to Train Personnel
The lawsuit alleges that Holland America and Carnival joint-venture entities shared control, operation, and benefits of the facilities at Half Moon Cay and are jointly liable for the safety of passengers during the excursion. The plaintiff asserts that the cruise operators breached their legal duty of reasonable care by failing to ensure that the transport equipment was operated in a safe manner. The complaint highlights that the defendants failed to properly hire and train their employees to manage transport vehicles safely. By permitting an employee to drive an open vehicle without passenger restraints at high speeds around turns, the cruise lines exposed passengers to an unreasonable and foreseeable risk of severe injury.
Complaint Details Severe Femur Fracture and Emergency Medical Evacuation Following Island Excursion Fall
As a direct result of being thrown to the floor of the tram, Friedl suffered a severe fracture to her femur. The injury required immediate and drastic medical intervention, forcing her removal from the cruise ship at the next scheduled port of call in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. From there, she required emergency transport to Miami, Florida, to undergo an extensive open reduction, internal fixation surgical procedure to repair the broken bone. The complaint states that the plaintiff has incurred substantial medical bills and faces ongoing physical suffering, permanent impairment, and a severe loss of enjoyment of life due to the traumatic incident.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Physical Injuries and Medical Expenses Under Theories of General Negligence and Vicarious Liability
Friedl brings two formal counts against the cruise lines: general negligence and vicarious liability. The lawsuit claims that the defendants are directly responsible for the actions of the tram operator, who was acting within the scope of employment at the time of the accident. The plaintiff is seeking full compensation for past and future medical treatment, litigation expenses, and ongoing pain and suffering resulting from the permanent injuries. The lawsuit requests that a jury determine the final amount of damages necessary to cover the extensive financial and physical toll caused by the excursion accident.
Contact a Cruise Ship Excursion Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt During an Island Tour Accident
Cruise passengers injured during shore excursions, island transfers, or port transportation due to unsafe driving or poorly equipped vehicles may be entitled to financial compensation under maritime law. Cruise operators have a strict legal obligation to maintain safety protocols during official ship-sponsored excursions and transport services. If you or someone you love suffered an injury due to an excursion accident or negligent transport operation, contact our experienced team of maritime injury attorneys today to learn more about your rights.
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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.
