Key Aspects:
- Carnival is being sued by a former guest who fell from her mobility scooter during the debarkation process.
- The former guest claims the cruise line created unsafe conditions and that the scooter she fell from was rented from Carnival’s website.
- While the conditions on the gangway haven’t been confirmed, Carnival only makes recommendations and does not rent scooters to its guests.
To say Carnival Cruise Line has been having bad luck with mobility scooters might just be the understatement of the century.
On May 10, 2026, Cruise Hive covered a tragic incident in which an elderly woman died after her mobility scooter plunged off the dock at Celebration Key, which is Carnival’s newest private island in the Bahamas.
No legal action has come from that incident yet, but a separate scooter-related lawsuit was drawing attention by May 11.
The claim was technically filed by Alabama resident Etta Brock on April 28, 2026, but has gained more publicity following the death on Celebration Key.
In her lawsuit, the former Carnival Valor guest is accusing Carnival of negligence after she suffered a fall from her mobility scooter during debarkation on January 2, 2025.
The cruiser alleges that she suffered significant mental and physical pain and aggravation of pre-existing conditions. Her legal team is seeking a jury trial and judgment for all recoverable damages, including significant medical expenses and compensation for pain and suffering.
Did Carnival Create Unsafe Conditions?
A major component to Brock’s argument is that Carnival’s crew members created unsafe and inaccessible conditions during the disembarkation process.
According to the complaint, Brock attempted to disembark from the 110,000-gross ton Carnival Valor from a Deck 3 gangway, which she had used with her scooter several times throughout the voyage.
However, she claims that the gangway was configured differently on that final morning, with crew members placing retractable belt stanchions and narrowing the path to control the flow of guests.
While attempting to navigate what she says was a sudden, sharp turn, Brock’s scooter tipped, and she fell to the floor.
She says there were no signs, barriers, or visual indicators that the sharp turn was coming, nor could she see the turn past the line of other passengers attempting to exit the ship.
Her legal team argues that Carnival created unsafe conditions, which the cruise line should have known were dangerous, and that crew members failed to properly inspect the area to ensure safety and accessibility.
The suit also goes on to say that Carnival had advance notice of Brock’s disability and knew that she was using a mobility scooter, and should have provided an alternative exit route that would have been safer for Brock and other disabled guests.
As of the time of this writing, images and/or footage to confirm the conditions on the gangway at the time of Brock’s fall are not publicly available.
While Carnival has not publicly commented on the lawsuit, the cruise line does take accessibility and safety very seriously.
“Our team of trained crew members provide attentive service, and our ships have a variety of accessible features to ensure our guests with disabilities have a relaxing and enjoyable cruise,” Carnival’s website affirms.
“We are working on additional modifications to our ships and services to further enhance the guest experience,” the cruise line confirmed.
Currently, Carnival Valor is cruising normally, with guests still typically instructed to disembark from Deck 3 Forward or Midship.
The 2,980-guest ship is homeporting in New Orleans, from where she is operating 4- to 5-night Western Caribbean itineraries.
Did Carnival Rent Out an Unsafe Scooter?
Another key part of Brock’s claim is that she says Carnival rented her the scooter that she was using at the time of her injury. However, this is not entirely true.
Carnival Cruise Line does not rent out mobility scooters to guests, but rather recommends Scootaround as its preferred vendor on its website. Guests must then contact the vendor directly to secure their rental.
“Guests who require the regular use of a wheelchair, scooter, or other mobility device are encouraged to bring their own or rent from our preferred vendor, Scootaround,” Carnival’s website states.
Scootaround is a preferred vendor because the company is already well informed about onboard policies related to size limitations and proper storage for mobility devices, and can usually deliver mobility scooters directly to Carnival’s ships.
But beyond giving a recommendation, Carnival is not directly affiliated with Scootaround or affiliated with the rental brand. The cruise line has no power over which scooters are rented and how they are maintained, nor is it part of the rental agreement guests make with Scootaround.
