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Ohio Passenger Sues Celebrity Cruises After Slip and Fall on Slippery Pool Step Aboard Celebrity Ascent
Nataliya Michaels, a 70-year-old passenger from Ohio, has filed a negligence lawsuit against Celebrity Cruises in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-24073, alleges that Michaels suffered serious injuries after slipping on an unreasonably slippery and dirty pool step aboard the Celebrity Ascent during a Caribbean cruise in February 2025.
Celebrity Ascent Passenger Slips on Oily, Dirty Pool Step While Entering Onboard Swimming Pool
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on February 3, 2025, while the Celebrity Ascent was sailing in navigable waters south of Florida. Michaels was attempting to enter a small swimming pool located on or around the ship’s fifteenth floor when her foot slipped out from under her as she stepped onto the top ladder step. Describing the sensation as if she had “stepped onto ice,” she fell hard, striking her head, back, neck, and arm.
After reorienting herself and regaining her composure, Michaels examined the step and found it was extremely slippery to the touch. The surface was discolored with deeply embedded dirt and coated with an oily substance that did not wipe away—indicating, in her view, that the hazardous condition had been present for an extended period.
Lawsuit Alleges Longstanding Hazardous Pool Conditions and Constructive Notice by Celebrity Cruises
Michaels contends that the dangerous condition was not transient but instead the result of embedded grime and oil buildup over weeks or even months. As such, the lawsuit argues that Celebrity Cruises had constructive notice of the slipping hazard. The complaint alleges that, had Celebrity exercised reasonable care in maintaining the ship’s pool areas, it would have detected and corrected the dangerous condition prior to the incident.
The plaintiff further states that the cruise line’s failure to monitor and maintain the pool ladder steps violated its duty to provide passengers with a reasonably safe environment. Because the surface was both visibly discolored and dangerously slick, the plaintiff asserts that Celebrity either knew or should have known of the risk through routine inspections and maintenance practices.
Celebrity Cruises Accused of Failing to Maintain Safe Pool Access on the Celebrity Ascent
The lawsuit alleges that Celebrity Cruises breached its duty of care by failing to prevent, clean, or otherwise address the slipperiness of the pool ladder step. The complaint states that Michaels’ injuries were directly caused by this breach. She is seeking damages for bodily injury, pain and suffering, physical impairment, mental anguish, and lost income. The complaint also references the aggravation of preexisting conditions and asserts that her losses are permanent or continuing in nature.
The Celebrity Ascent, one of the newer ships in the Celebrity Cruises fleet, is marketed as offering luxury amenities and modern poolside relaxation. However, the plaintiff’s legal team argues that this incident exposes critical shortcomings in the cruise line’s pool maintenance protocols and passenger safety practices.
Complaint Seeks Compensation for Serious Injuries and Emotional Distress Caused by Fall on Pool Step
The plaintiff is demanding damages exceeding $75,000 and has requested a jury trial. Her legal team argues that cruise lines must proactively prevent avoidable injuries in high-risk wet areas such as pools, hot tubs, and adjacent decks. The complaint emphasizes that, under maritime law, cruise lines owe passengers a heightened duty of care due to the foreseeably hazardous conditions on ships, especially in slippery areas.
Michaels’ attorneys allege that Celebrity’s failure to act in light of the longstanding condition constituted negligence and resulted in serious, lasting harm that disrupted her vacation and daily life. The complaint does not allege any signage, crew warnings, or safety measures that would have alerted passengers to the danger posed by the slippery step.
Injured in a Pool Slip and Fall Aboard a Cruise Ship? Contact a Maritime Injury Lawyer Today
Slipping accidents aboard cruise ships—especially in pool areas—are a frequent source of passenger injury and litigation. If you or a loved one suffered an injury due to a slippery pool deck, ladder, or step aboard a cruise ship, you may be entitled to compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines like Celebrity have a legal duty to ensure that walking surfaces are regularly cleaned, maintained, and inspected for safety.
Do not delay in exploring your legal rights if you have been injured on a cruise. Our experienced cruise ship injury attorneys are available to evaluate your case and help you understand your options.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise pool slip and fall attorney.
Disclaimer:
Our firm does not represent the plaintiff in this case and is not involved in the litigation. The information provided is a summary of allegations based on publicly available court filings. We make no representations about the truth of these allegations, are not commenting on the merits of the case, and are not predicting any outcome.