A passenger alleges he suffered severe burns aboard Carnival Cruise Line after walking barefoot on a hot pool deck.
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A Carnival Cruise Line guest is suing the company after allegedly burning his feet on the Lido Deck.
Jorge Luis Alverio Nunez sustained second-degree burns while walking barefoot between the pool and deck chairs aboard Carnival Magic in late May 2025, according to a lawsuit filed in the Southern District of Florida on May 13. “While a passenger may reasonably expect an exterior deck surface exposed to sunlight to become warm, Plaintiff could not reasonably anticipate that the deck surface had reached temperatures capable of causing severe second-degree burns within seconds of ordinary contact,” the complaint said.
The distance between the pool and chairs was roughly 20 steps. There were no signs or other warnings about the risk of burns due to the heat of the deck’s surface, according to the lawsuit.
The complaint said that at least 25 Carnival guests had been similarly burned on the cruise line’s ships in the six years before the incident, and at least 42 passengers had complained about the hot decks over the same period. The manufacturer of the deck material also allegedly told the company as early as 2014 that it could become dangerously hot.
Carnival Corp., the cruise line’s parent company, told USA TODAY that it does not comment on pending litigation. Attorneys listed for Nunez did not immediately respond to a separate request for comment.
Nunez “suffered a severe and life changing injury” – which incurred medical expenses – disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of earnings and other repercussions. He alleged negligence and submitted a punitive damages claim.
“The defendant’s actions outlined in this complaint were more than simply negligent; its conduct was willful, wanton, and displayed a reckless disregard for the safety and rights of the plaintiff,” the complaint said. The lawsuit seeks in excess of $5 million in damages and a jury trial.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].
