A cruise passenger has shared a stark warning after suffering what she called the “worst experience of her life” during an excursion.
Kirsten Lindsey was left with a severe genital injury while on holiday after taking part in what was described as a rope swing outing on the third day of a Carnival Cruise trip.
The cruise company later said the excursion was neither operated by nor endorsed by Carnival.
As with many cruise lines, Carnival’s shore excursion terms say the activities sold through the line are run by independent contractors rather than by Carnival itself. The company says it makes those arrangements for guests’ convenience and that it does not supervise or control the third-party operators.
Detailing what happened, Kirsten’s partner Blake explained the situation in a GoFundMe post.
“What was supposed to be Kirsten’s first cruise turned into the worst experience of our lives.
“Kirsten was seriously injured during a rope swing excursion. Based on what we witnessed, a retrieval/tag line appears to have been improperly connected to the swing.
“As she swung out, the line tightened between her legs just before she dropped, causing a catastrophic injury.”
At first, Kirsten reportedly thought the damage might be minor, believing it was just a scratch, but her condition quickly worsened.
“Within hours, everything changed,” Blake added. “The swelling became severe, the pain became unbearable, and she eventually needed a wheelchair just to get back to our cabin.”
According to Blake, the injury caused extreme swelling, which later contributed to significant medical costs.
In a Facebook update posted on Thursday (23 July), Kirsten also warned people about fraudulent fundraising pages allegedly being created in Blake’s name.
“We have one go fund me account and that is it,” she wrote. “Please be aware and don’t let people scam you trying to profit from my injuries. I can’t believe I’m even having to get on here to say this.”
After returning home and undergoing surgery, Kirsten continued treatment at CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center in her hometown in Louisiana.
Blake said local doctors were stunned by what they saw and surprised she had been released so soon from the previous hospital.
“They were completely shocked she was even discharged from the last hospital so early but now thank god we’re home and with OUR doctors and not the ones Carnival sent us to!
“Everyone that’s seen the injury has never seen anything like it, but they are doing everything they can to prevent permanent damage to her… grapefruit sized lady bits.”
Carnival Cruise Line later issued a statement addressing the reports.
“We are aware of reports regarding a guest who was injured while independently exploring Honduras.
“After returning to the ship, the guest was promptly cared for by our onboard medical team, which provided treatment and facilitated access to additional medical resources. “While the incident did not occur on a Carnival-sponsored excursion, we remain concerned for the guest’s recovery. The safety and well-being of our guests is always our top priority.”
The case has also renewed attention on the risks of independently operated shore excursions, which can vary widely by location and activity. Cruise passengers are typically encouraged to review operator details, safety requirements and any available medical coverage before taking part in higher-risk activities such as rope swings, zip lines or water sports.