Carnival Hit With Lawsuit Over Alleged Bedbug Infestation

Carnival Cruise Line is facing a lawsuit filed by two passengers who allege that they suffered from severe bedbug bites during their February 2025 sailing aboard the Carnival Horizon.

The plaintiffs, Catherine Shockley and William Maycock, filed their case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on October 28, 2025, accusing the cruise line of negligence in addressing the bedbug infestation.

The couple claims that their vacation quickly turned into a nightmare when, just two days into their 8-night Southern Caribbean cruise, they began experiencing intense itching and noticed insect bites on their arms and legs.

By the following day, the bites had spread to their faces, shoulders, and hands. Shockley then reportedly inspected their stateroom bedding and discovered live bedbugs, as well as fecal stains and eggs, leading them to believe the infestation was ongoing and improperly managed.

How to Tell If You’ve Got Bedbug Bites

Bedbug bites can be easy to mistake for mosquito bites at first — both show up as small, red, raised welts that itch. One key difference to watch for: bedbug bites often appear in a straight line or tight cluster, since the insects tend to feed several times from one spot before moving on. In Shockley and Maycock’s case, what started as a few marks on their arms and legs eventually grew to more than 30 bites across both passengers, spreading to their shoulders, hands, faces, and lower backs by the end of the cruise.

Despite alerting crew members to the problem, the couple claims that nothing was done to resolve the issue. They were also not offered a room change during the remainder of their cruise. Shockley and Maycock assert that they saw crew members fumigating nearby staterooms, which they believe indicates that Carnival was aware of the issue during their sailing.

The lawsuit describes the couple’s suffering, including “intensely itchy bites resulting in large, painful welts” that required medical treatment, as well as dark splotches, loss of sleep, emotional distress, and scarring. The plaintiffs are seeking damages for medical expenses, lost property, emotional harm, and other ongoing impacts related to the alleged bedbug incident.

What the Lawsuit Alleges

The complaint accuses Carnival of three separate counts of negligence: failing to warn passengers of a known hazard, failing to properly maintain the vessel, and general negligence. Shockley and Maycock are requesting a jury trial and are seeking damages, though the exact amount hasn’t been specified.

Carnival Cruise Line has an established protocol for detecting and managing bedbugs. The line’s procedures include weekly stateroom inspections by attendants to check for signs of infestation in beds, curtains, and carpets.

If an infestation is found, the affected cabin is treated chemically, along with surrounding staterooms. The cruise line also performs extensive pest control treatments during dry dock refurbishments, the next of which for the Carnival Horizon is scheduled for spring 2026.

Carnival Responds

Carnival has declined to comment directly on the pending litigation, but a company spokesperson told PEOPLE that the cruise line follows strict sanitation procedures and inspects staterooms on a weekly basis — consistent with the pest-control protocol already in place fleet-wide.

Not Carnival’s First Bedbug Lawsuit

According to the couple’s legal team, this isn’t an isolated incident. Their complaint reportedly points to a history of bedbug reports across several other Carnival ships, including the Carnival Magic, Carnival Victory, Carnival Vista, Carnival Triumph, Carnival Elation, and Carnival Dream — some of which led to lawsuits of their own, including Collins et al. v. Carnival Corp. and Patton v. Carnival Corp. The attorneys are using that pattern to argue Carnival had prior notice that bedbugs were a recurring issue across its fleet, not a one-off.

The Couple’s Attorney Speaks Out

Grant I. Schwarz, the attorney representing Shockley and Maycock, said his clients trusted Carnival to deliver a safe, sanitary vacation and instead were left with painful injuries, emotional distress, and lingering anxiety about travel. He described the lawsuit as an effort to hold Carnival accountable and push for stronger protections for future passengers.

The presence of bedbugs on cruise ships, while not uncommon, often raises concerns among passengers. The tiny parasites can be difficult to eliminate and are not indicative of cleanliness.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bedbugs do not transmit diseases, though their bites can cause discomfort and allergic reactions.

While such incidents are rare, the lawsuit has brought attention to the issue, and Carnival’s response will likely impact its reputation and future protocols. The outcome of the lawsuit could take months to resolve, leaving the couple to pursue compensation for the physical and emotional toll of their ordeal.

Should Cruisers Be Worried About Bedbugs?

Bedbug incidents like this one are rare, and their presence on a ship isn’t necessarily a sign of poor housekeeping — even five-star hotels deal with them. The bigger question is how quickly a cruise line catches and contains an infestation once it’s reported. A few things travelers can do on embarkation day to protect themselves: check the mattress seams, headboard, and nightstand for small reddish-brown insects or dark spotting before unpacking, keep luggage off the bed and floor until the room checks out clean, and report any bites to guest services immediately rather than waiting to see if they go away on their own.

As this case unfolds, it underscores the importance of vigilant pest control and responsive customer service in ensuring a safe and comfortable experience for cruise passengers.