Arizona Man Sues Royal Caribbean Cruises and Huna Totem Corporation After Slip and Fall on Wet Gangway While Disembarking Radiance of the Seas

George Abarca, a resident of Arizona, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. and Huna Totem Corporation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-23936, alleges that Abarca suffered severe and permanent injuries after slipping on a rainwater-covered gangway threshold while disembarking the Radiance of the Seas at Icy Strait Point, Alaska.

Cruise Passenger Injured Disembarking Radiance of the Seas Due to Slick Metal Gangway Transition with No Warnings

According to the complaint, the incident occurred on June 16, 2025, while the cruise ship was docked in navigable waters and passengers were in the process of disembarking the vessel. Abarca was exiting the ship with his family and walking down the gangway toward the dock in Icy Strait Point. As he stepped onto an angled metal threshold piece connecting the gangway system to the dock, his right foot suddenly slipped out from under him on the wet surface.

The lawsuit alleges that the transition plate consisted of smooth, shiny metal that becomes exceptionally slick when exposed to rain, whereas other portions of the gangway featured slip-resistant or porous materials. Abarca notes that he was walking in a careful, normal manner and looking ahead immediately before his foot slid forward. The impact caused his left leg to buckle, throwing him onto the metal surface of the walkway and causing severe trauma to his left leg and knee. At the time of the incident, there were no warning signs, safety cones, barriers, or protective non-slip mats deployed to alert passengers to the slick conditions or to mitigate the hazard.

Cruise Line and Port Operator Accused of Failing to Maintain and Secure Unsafe Gangway Conditions During Disembarkation

The lawsuit alleges that both Royal Caribbean and Huna Totem Corporation had actual and constructive knowledge of the dangerous conditions on the gangway. Plaintiff’s legal team points out that both entities continuously operate and utilize these passenger pathways during port calls, making environmental hazards like rainwater accumulation entirely foreseeable. To demonstrate that the defendants had notice of recurring slip hazards in passenger egress areas, the complaint references multiple prior gangway slip and fall lawsuits filed against Royal Caribbean in the Southern District of Florida, including Boineau v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Bordage v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Butler v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Paulsen v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Wiles v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Gulley v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and Quinones Torres v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Furthermore, the plaintiff contends that the water was distributed evenly across the smooth metal transition plate rather than pooled in a isolated spot, indicating that the dangerous condition had existed for a sufficient length of time for crew members to discover and remediate it. Despite having numerous crew members and port personnel stationed in the immediate vicinity to supervise the flow of passenger traffic, the defendants allegedly failed to clean, dry, or rope off the hazardous walking surface before Abarca fell.

Complaint Alleges Negligent Training of Personnel and Defective Gangway Material Selection at Icy Strait Point Port

In addition to maintenance failures, the complaint brings forward heavy allegations regarding improper safety procedures, negligent training, and defective design choices. Abarca claims that Royal Caribbean failed to properly train its shipboard crew members under its Safety Management System protocols to recognize the hidden dangers of wet metallic thresholds or to promptly deploy safety measures like temporary rubber mats.

The suit also links both defendants to the selection, configuration, and approval of the standardized gangway system used at the Alaskan port. The plaintiff argues that the use of an uncoated, smooth metal transition component in an area highly exposed to routine rainfall constitutes a direct failure to meet recognized maritime and industry safety standards, including international regulations promulgated under the Safety of Life at Sea Convention. While Royal Caribbean requires its own operational crew members to wear specialized slip-resistant footwear, the lawsuit notes that the cruise line failed to design a walkway that accounted for standard passenger footwear under inclement weather conditions.

Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Knee Injuries and Economic Losses Caused by Cruise Ship Negligence

Abarca brings a massive sixteen-count complaint against the cruise line and the port corporation, addressing direct and vicarious liability theories across actual agency, apparent agency, and joint venture frameworks. Following the fall, Abarca was evacuated from the gangway in a wheelchair and treated at the shipboard medical center. Upon returning home, advanced diagnostic imaging revealed internal structural damage to his left knee, including a significant ligamentous injury that required physical therapy and ongoing medical interventions.

The lawsuit states that Abarca continues to suffer from severe physical impairment, joint instability, chronic pain, and mental anguish. He is seeking compensation for both economic and non-economic damages, including past and future medical expenses, household diagnostic and care costs, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, and physical disfigurement.

Contact a Cruise Ship Gangway Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt Boarding or Exiting a Vessel in Unsafe Conditions

Cruise passengers injured while embarking or disembarking via unsafe gangways, especially those involving smooth metal surfaces, wet walking areas, or a total lack of safety signs, may be entitled to significant compensation under general maritime law. Cruise operators and port management companies maintain a strict legal duty to ensure that all access points are safe, properly supervised, and treated with non-slip materials to protect travelers from foreseeable harm. If you or someone you love was injured in a similar cruise line slip and fall accident, contact our team of experienced maritime injury lawyers today to discuss your rights.

Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship 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.