A relaxing ocean getaway turned into an itchy ordeal for two Carnival Cruise passengers who now say the company failed to protect them from a bed bug infestation onboard one of its ships.
Catherine Shockley and William Maycock filed a lawsuit against Carnival Cruise Line after claiming they were attacked by bed bugs while staying in their stateroom aboard the Carnival Horizon this past February. The couple says they first noticed something wasn’t right on February 17, when they woke up feeling itchy and discovered red marks on their legs and arms.
By the next day, those marks had spread to their shoulders, upper arms, faces, hands, and buttocks. Shockley took a closer look around the room and said she uncovered a disturbing scene.
“Shockley searched the stateroom and discovered live bed bugs in multiple stages of life, fecal spotting, and eggs,” the complaint reads. “[She] identified the cause of the red markings as bed bug bites.”
Photos taken by the couple allegedly show over 30 bites. They reported the issue to their stateroom attendant and guest services, but say no corrective actions were taken by staff.
The lawsuit accuses Carnival of negligence, claiming the cruise line failed to properly inspect and maintain the cabin, leading to painful welts, medical treatment, emotional distress, loss of sleep, damaged property, and economic losses.
Though the CDC states bed bugs don’t carry disease, they can cause intense itching, allergic reactions, and sleep issues.
Carnival declined to comment on the active case but told PEOPLE it follows strict sanitation procedures and inspects rooms weekly.
