Royal Caribbean Injury Lawyer: Utah Passenger Sues Over Slip-and-Fall on Wet Deck Aboard Symphony of the Seas
A Utah resident has filed a personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., alleging that he suffered severe injuries after slipping on a wet floor near Central Park aboard the Symphony of the Seas. The case, Don Johnson v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (Case No. 1:25-cv-21048-EAL), raises concerns about cruise ship deck safety, failure to maintain passenger walkways, and Royal Caribbean’s negligence in preventing known hazards in high-traffic areas.
Slip-and-Fall Accident Aboard Symphony of the Seas
On January 10, 2024, the plaintiff, a fare-paying passenger aboard Symphony of the Seas, was walking on Deck 8 in the area known as Central Park when he slipped on a wet floor and fell, sustaining serious injuries.
According to the complaint:
- The wet floor was not marked with caution signs or any warning indicators.
- The Defendant allegedly created the hazardous condition by spilling water onto the deck during cleaning activities from an upper deck.
- The deck surface was unreasonably slippery when wet, increasing the likelihood of passenger falls.
- The plaintiff suffered significant injuries, including pain, disability, and ongoing medical treatment.
Allegations Against Royal Caribbean
The lawsuit accuses Royal Caribbean of negligence, claiming the cruise line:
- Failed to maintain the deck in a safe condition – The plaintiff argues that Royal Caribbean knew that the deck near Central Park frequently became slippery but failed to install slip-resistant flooring or implement proper drainage measures.
- Failed to warn passengers of the hazard – The complaint alleges that no warning signs, caution cones, or crew instructions were provided to alert passengers about the wet surface near the area.
- Negligent maintenance of the ship’s decking – The plaintiff claims that Royal Caribbean failed to properly train crew members on how to manage and clean wet surfaces in high-traffic areas.
- Failure to address prior slip-and-fall incidents – The lawsuit states that Royal Caribbean had prior knowledge of similar slip-and-fall incidents in Central Park aboard Symphony of the Seas and other vessels in its fleet yet failed to take corrective action.
Prior Slip-and-Fall Incidents Aboard Royal Caribbean Ships
The complaint references several prior legal claims involving wet deck injuries aboard Royal Caribbean ships, including:
- Mitchell v. Royal Caribbean (Case No. 1:23-cv-21101) – Passenger slipped on a wet deck near Central Park aboard Oasis of the Seas in March 2023.
- Gonzalez v. Royal Caribbean (Case No. 1:22-cv-22540) – Passenger suffered a severe knee injury after slipping near the outdoor pool deck on Harmony of the Seas in September 2022.
- Reed v. Royal Caribbean (Case No. 1:21-cv-20380) – Passenger sustained head trauma after slipping near the Solarium aboard Navigator of the Seas in May 2021.
The lawsuit argues that these prior cases should have put Royal Caribbean on notice that slip-and-fall incidents in wet deck areas were foreseeable and preventable, yet the cruise line failed to implement safety measures.
Legal Implications for Cruise Ship Passenger Safety
This case raises questions about Royal Caribbean’s duty of care to prevent foreseeable slip-and-fall accidents aboard its vessels, including:
- Should cruise lines be required to install non-slip surfaces in high-risk wet areas such as Central Park and pool decks?
- Is Royal Caribbean liable for failing to place warning signs in known wet deck areas?
- Does the cruise line’s history of prior slip-and-fall incidents establish negligence?
- What duty does Royal Caribbean have to properly train crew members on wet deck maintenance and passenger safety?
What Happens Next?
The case will likely focus on:
- Whether Royal Caribbean had prior knowledge of the dangerous deck conditions and failed to take corrective action.
- If the cruise line’s failure to warn passengers directly contributed to the plaintiff’s injuries.
- Whether Royal Caribbean’s maintenance and deck safety policies meet industry standards.
- Will Royal Caribbean argue that the plaintiff should have been more careful, or will this case expose systemic safety failures in deck maintenance aboard Symphony of the Seas?
Stay tuned as Cruise Lawyer Weekly continues to track this legal battle and its potential impact on cruise ship safety regulations and maritime law.
