A Florida cruise passenger is suing Carnival Cruise Line for $5 million after he says a scorching hot pool deck left him with second-degree burns on the soles of his feet.
Jorge Luis Alverio Nunez claims the nightmare happened aboard the Carnival Magic on May 21, 2025, during what should have been a simple walk from the pool back to his shoes.
According to his lawsuit filed in Florida federal court, Nunez got out of the pool on the ship’s Lido Deck and walked about 20 steps barefoot toward his chair.
Within seconds, the suit claims, the deck was so dangerously hot that it burned the bottoms of his feet.
The lawsuit says Nunez suffered “severe and life changing” injuries that left him in pain, forced him to seek hospital treatment, and kept him out of work.
He also claims he lost the value of the cruise and had to deal with other expenses because of the injury.
But the lawsuit does not stop there.
Nunez alleges Carnival knew its decks could become dangerously hot and failed to warn passengers. His complaint claims at least 25 other people have suffered burns on Carnival ships over the last six years.
The lawsuit also claims two passengers suffered such severe injuries from similar burns that their lower extremities had to be amputated.
According to the filing, another 42 passengers have complained about extremely hot pool deck surfaces across Carnival’s fleet.
The lawsuit blames the problem partly on API Syntheteak, the material allegedly used on the decks of various Carnival ships. The complaint claims the material can become scorching under direct sunlight.
Nunez accuses Carnival of failing to post warning signs, cool the deck, create shaded areas, require passengers to wear shoes, or replace the heat-absorbing surface.
“It is reasonable for a passenger to believe they can walk safely on the pool deck when they are going to the pool,” the lawsuit claims.
The complaint also argues that dangerously hot decks may be especially risky for passengers with diabetes, who can have reduced sensation in their feet and a harder time healing from wounds.
The lawsuit does not say whether Nunez is diabetic.
Carnival had not immediately responded to a request for comment, according to the report.