Key Aspects:
- A Louisiana woman suffered an unusual rope swing injury during a shore excursion from her first Carnival Cruise.
- The severity of the injury accelerated quickly once the woman returned to the ship, eventually requiring evacuation.
- Costs of the medical care, surgeries, and evacuation have risen to $53,500.
Even a small injury on a cruise is never welcome, but one Louisiana woman suffered a traumatic and unusual injury while visiting Honduras during her very first Carnival cruise, ultimately leading to an expensive medical evacuation from a foreign country.
According to KTAL NBC 6, Kirsten Lindsey from Shreveport, Louisiana, was injured while on an excursion using a rope swing. Video of the incident shows Lindsey holding the knotted rope swing on an elevated platform and swinging out over the water.
A retrieval line attached to the top of the swing appears to catch between Lindsey’s legs, and as she slips, it roughly snags her in a sensitive area.
She is held briefly by the thin retrieval line before letting go of the rope and falling into the water. Lindsey’s boyfriend, Blake Ford, believes the retrieval line was not connected properly.
“As she swung out, the line tightened between her legs just before she dropped, causing a catastrophic injury,” Ford described in a GoFundMe he has organized to help cover medical expenses.
At first, neither Lindsey nor Ford believed the injury to be serious, but within hours her pain had increased severely and the injury site was significantly swollen.
Expenses Quickly Rose
Lindsey initially spent more than 12 hours in the ship’s medical center and was eventually evacuated to Costa Maya in Mexico. From there, the couple had to make arrangements to return to the United States via air evacuation for further care, including surgery.
Ultimately, medical bills from the cruise ship reached more than $3,500, with the evacuation costs soaring to more than $50,000 for ambulance fees in Mexico and private medical jet transportation to Fort Lauderdale.
The ship and sailing date of the incident have not been revealed, only that Lindsey was injured on the third day of the sailing. Isla Roatan in Honduras, now known as Isla Tropicale, is a popular port visit for many Carnival ships on Western Caribbean itineraries.
Carnival Celebration from Miami, for example, typically visits the destination on the third or fourth day of its weeklong cruises, and was most recently in Honduras on Wednesday, July 15.
Carnival Jubilee also visits Isla Tropicale on its 7-night sailings from Galveston, but not always on the third day depending on the sailing date and exact route. The same is true on Carnival Liberty‘s 7-night sailings from New Orleans.
On her 6-night sailings from Tampa, Carnival Paradise often visits Isla Tropicale on the third or fourth day of the cruise. Most recently, the ship was in Honduras on Thursday, July 9.
Mardi Gras from Port Canaveral also visits the destination during 7-night Western Caribbean voyages, sometimes but not always on the third day.
Was the Excursion Unsafe?
While the incident is described as occurring during an “excursion,” there is no indication if the tour may have been purchased through Carnival Cruise Line or arranged independently while visiting Honduras.
Many tour operators offer safe, enjoyable activities for cruise guests, but costs can seem unreasonable, particularly for new travelers or those on tighter budgets. Tours offered directly at the cruise port or close to the terminal area may seem like easier, more affordable options, but they are not always covered by the same guidelines and safety regulations.
Cruise Hive has reported unusual accidents before, both from tours recommended by cruise lines as well as independent tour operators.
For example, in March 2025, a young woman was drastically injured during an excursion in the Bahamas, ultimately losing both her legs. That incident occurred during a Carnival Celebration sailing and a tour purchased through the cruise line.
Carnival Cruise Line’s shore excursions FAQ, however, makes it clear that the cruise line is not responsible for the safety of excursions.
“Carnival is not responsible for any losses, damage, death, injuries, or claims whatsoever arising from, connected with, or related to any activities engaged in by guests while off of Carnival’s ships or tenders in any port of call,” the FAQ reads.
“This includes all shore excursions, whether sold onboard or by third parties ashore. You will engage in all such activities off the ship at your own risk.”
Guests should always be aware of their own abilities when selecting and participating in shore tours, as well as remain alert during excursion activities for possible hazards or uncertain situations.
