Kathy Gensel, a resident of Michigan, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida. Filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-23630-RKA, the complaint alleges that Gensel suffered serious injuries after tripping over a doorstop left on the floor by a crewmember while walking to her stateroom aboard the Serenity of the Seas.
According to the lawsuit, the incident occurred on December 1, 2024, as Gensel was walking through a stateroom hallway on Deck 8 of the Serenity of the Seas. A Royal Caribbean crew member allegedly dropped one or more rubber doorstops in the hallway and failed to retrieve them. Gensel, unaware of the obstruction, tripped and fell, sustaining injuries to her body and extremities.
The complaint states that the doorstop was not visible, marked, or otherwise warned against, and that Gensel had no reasonable way to avoid the hazard. The fall resulted in significant and permanent injuries that required medical treatment and disrupted her cruise experience.
The lawsuit alleges that Royal Caribbean failed to provide adequate warnings about the doorstop hazard and did not maintain the hallway in a reasonably safe condition. Gensel asserts that the dropped doorstop created a concealed tripping hazard that was not open or obvious to passengers.
The complaint points to international maritime safety standards, including the SOLAS Convention, which requires cruise lines to keep escape routes and walkways clear of obstacles. Gensel claims that Royal Caribbean violated these standards by allowing crewmembers to leave safety hazards in passenger walking paths without proper supervision or warning.
In support of her claims, Gensel cites several prior lawsuits involving similar incidents aboard Royal Caribbean vessels. These include:
These previous cases are cited as evidence that Royal Caribbean knew or should have known about the risks associated with placing small, hard-to-see objects in passenger walkways. The complaint alleges that the cruise line failed to correct these known risks or implement adequate safety protocols fleet-wide.
The complaint includes claims of general negligence and vicarious liability, alleging that Royal Caribbean failed to train and supervise its crewmembers in safe handling of objects like doorstoppers. According to the lawsuit, the crew should have secured or carried the items in a way that would prevent them from falling and posing hazards to guests.
Gensel further alleges that had Royal Caribbean enforced its own safety policies or monitored the hallway using onboard cameras, the hazard would have been identified and removed in time to prevent her fall.
Gensel seeks damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent disability, and loss of enjoyment of life. She also seeks compensation for the lost value of her cruise vacation and transportation. The lawsuit claims her injuries are permanent or continuing in nature, and that she will suffer future losses as a result.
The plaintiff has demanded a jury trial.
Cruise lines are required under maritime law to keep passenger walkways free of obstructions and hazards, including dropped equipment or debris left by crew. If you were injured on a cruise ship due to an object left on the floor or poor hallway maintenance, you may have a claim. Contact our experienced maritime injury attorneys today to discuss your legal options.
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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.