Ruth Brown, a Florida resident, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., doing business as Silversea Cruises, in the Southern District of Florida. Filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-23637-RAR, the lawsuit alleges that Brown sustained serious and permanent injuries after slipping on a hazardous, poorly maintained gangway while disembarking the Silver Muse in Hobart, Tasmania, on January 23, 2025.
According to the complaint, Brown was attempting to disembark the Silver Muse using a steel gangway consisting of 36 steps when she slipped approximately halfway down the incline. The lawsuit alleges the gangway surface was damp or wet and lacked sufficient non-slip protection. The gangway’s anti-slip strips were either worn out or partially missing, and the stair surface was described as dangerously slick.
The lawsuit states that Brown lost her footing due to these unsafe conditions and was only stopped by another passenger at the bottom of the gangway. She sustained serious injuries to her knees, legs, and right elbow, resulting in scarring, disfigurement, emotional distress, and physical impairment.
The complaint asserts that Silversea, a brand operated by Royal Caribbean, knew or should have known that the gangway was unreasonably slippery due to its outdated materials, age, and worn condition. Brown alleges that the cruise line failed to replace or maintain the anti-slip features despite having used the same gangway for years and witnessing repeated use by passengers and crew in similar conditions.
It further claims the cruise line breached its duty to provide a reasonably safe means of disembarkation by allowing passengers to use a gangway in a deteriorated state and failing to assign sufficient crew to assist those exiting the ship.
In addition to negligent maintenance and design, Brown brings a separate count of negligent failure to warn. She claims the hazard was not open or obvious, and that Silversea failed to post signs, give verbal warnings, or cordon off the unsafe gangway during disembarkation.
The complaint argues that the cruise line knew about the hazard, as the gangway had been used extensively and exhibited visible signs of wear. Despite this, the cruise operator allegedly took no steps to address the risk or to notify passengers of the slippery and dangerous conditions.
Brown seeks damages for pain and suffering, permanent scarring, emotional anguish, medical expenses, physical disability, and loss of enjoyment of life. She also requests compensation for the diminished value of her cruise experience due to the injury. Her injuries, the complaint states, are ongoing and will require continued treatment.
The lawsuit demands a jury trial and asserts that Silversea’s failure to properly inspect, maintain, and supervise disembarkation procedures directly caused the incident.
Gangway slip and fall incidents are among the most serious and avoidable cruise ship injuries. Cruise lines are responsible under maritime law for ensuring that all passenger access points—including gangways—are safe, properly maintained, and free of known hazards. If you or a loved one slipped while boarding or disembarking from a cruise ship, speak with an experienced maritime injury lawyer to explore your legal rights.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship gangway accident 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.