Key Facets:
- Two cruise visitors have filed go well with in opposition to Carnival Cruise Line over an alleged infestation of mattress bugs.
- The pair reportedly suffered extreme bites throughout a Carnival Horizon crusing in February 2025.
- Mattress bug infestations usually are not associated to cleanliness and may be troublesome to eradicate.
Itchy bug bites can actually put a damper on a cruise trip, however what if these bugs are coming from the cruise itself?
Two Carnival Cruise Line visitors have filed a go well with in opposition to the cruise line, alleging a bedbug infestation onboard Carnival Horizon brought on issues and the cruise line was negligent of their response.
The go well with comes from plaintiffs Catherine Shockley and William Maycock and was filed within the US District Court docket for the Southern District of Florida on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
The pair had been onboard Carnival Horizon‘s February 15, 2025 crusing, an 8-night Southern Caribbean itinerary from Miami.
Shockley and Maycock declare that simply two days into their getaway, they observed extreme itching and what seemed to be insect bites on their legs and arms. After one other night time, extra bites had appeared and appeared to unfold to their shoulders, arms, and faces.
Fearing bedbugs, Shockley inspected the bedding within the stateroom and reportedly found reside bedbugs in addition to fecal stains and eggs. This led the pair to imagine the infestation was ongoing however improperly handled.
The 2 visitors did alert crew members about the issue, however declare nothing was carried out and so they weren’t provided to relocate to a distinct stateroom.
Carnival Cruise Line has an ongoing detection protocol for locating bedbugs that features inspections of mattresses and bedding in addition to carpeting and draperies in staterooms.
“If indicators of infestation are current, the room is chemically handled together with all different cabins inside that part. Frequent re-inspection continues for the subsequent a number of months,” the protocol states.
When Carnival ships enter dry dock, additionally they bear “in depth pest management therapy” throughout that point. Carnival Horizon‘s subsequent scheduled dry dock refurbishment is in spring 2026.
Shockley and Maycock have alleged that they witnessed crew members fumigating close by staterooms, which may point out an ongoing drawback that Carnival Cruise Line was conscious of on the time of their crusing.
The visitors did search medical therapy for aid, however it’s unclear whether or not or not they sought that therapy whereas nonetheless onboard Carnival Horizon or after debarkation.
“Plaintiffs suffered quite a few intensely itchy bites leading to giant, painful welts that required medical therapy and drugs, a number of darkish splotches, lack of sleep, psychological misery, lack of private property and financial loss,” the lawsuit states.
It might take a number of months earlier than this case is resolved. Shockley and Maycock are looking for damages associated to medical prices, scarring, misplaced property, emotional misery, and different “ongoing” hurt associated to the incident.
Are Bedbugs Actually That Unhealthy?
Mattress bugs are often reported on all totally different cruise ships, with various levels of infestation and affirmation. Most lately, such a report was made aboard Disney Magic in July 2025.
Social media teams typically be aware mattress bug stories from visitors, however many of those are both not reported to the cruise line or usually are not substantiated. Some anecdotal stories may very well be sand fleas, mosquitoes, or comparable bites from different blood-feeding bugs.
I used to be as soon as attacked by mattress bugs at a boutique resort at a selected Caribbean vacation spot (not on a cruise), and whereas it was excruciatingly itchy – I’ll spare you the photograph of my polka-dotted legs! – there was no scarring and no long-term affect. In fact, totally different folks react in another way to insect bites.
Learn Additionally: Cleansing or Overconsuming? Passenger’s Cruise Cabin Routine Attracts Criticism
Mattress bugs are tiny parasites, normally a couple of quarter-inch in dimension. They thrive in darkish, hidden spots similar to mattress seams or the cracks the place carpeting and partitions meet, and so they can simply be carried in baggage. As a result of they’ll survive six months or longer with out feeding, it may be troublesome to eradicate mattress bugs.
In accordance with the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), mattress bugs don’t unfold ailments to folks, although the itching may be uncomfortable and a few allergic reactions may be extra extreme. The presence of mattress bugs will not be associated to total cleanliness.
In additional than 40 sailings, I’ve by no means as soon as encountered mattress bugs on any cruise. That doesn’t imply such infestations can be unimaginable, however they is probably not as widespread at sea as social media would possibly point out.
Carnival Cruise Line Hit With Lawsuit Over Alleged Bedbug Infestation
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