Australian Woman Sues Celebrity Cruises After Leg Crushed Between Tender and Pier While Boarding Celebrity Solstice
Maureen Lipinski, a resident and citizen of Australia, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Celebrity Cruises Inc. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-22755-RAR, alleges that Lipinski suffered severe and permanent leg injuries during a ship-to-shore transfer while the Celebrity Solstice was anchored off the coast of Kailua Kona, Hawaii, on April 24, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured During Fiji Transpacific Cruise Following Erratic Tender Movement in Hawaii
The incident occurred during a seventeen-night Fiji Transpacific Cruise that had originally departed from Sydney, Australia. According to the complaint, the Celebrity Solstice was using small tender boats as the exclusive means to transport passengers from the anchored vessel to the port of call in Kailua Kona. On the day of the accident, the water conditions were reportedly choppy, causing the tenders to move sharply and erratically. The plaintiff alleges that other tenders were approaching the pier at high speeds, creating large wakes and waves that further destabilized the boarding area. Despite these hazardous conditions, Lipinski claims that crew members appeared to be laughing and joking rather than focusing on the safety of the boarding process.
Celebrity Cruises Accused of Negligent Passenger Assistance and Failure to Secure Tender Operations
While attempting to board the tender to return to the cruise ship, Lipinski was instructed by crew members to begin her boarding step. The lawsuit alleges that as she was mid-step, the tender suddenly jerked and rocked. At that critical moment, the crew member providing physical assistance allegedly released her hands prematurely. This caused Lipinski to fall, with her right leg landing inside the tender while her left leg was caught in the gap between the moving vessel and the concrete pier. As the tender continued to rock against the pier due to the heavy wake and waves, Lipinski’s left leg was crushed. The complaint asserts that the tender was not properly secured and that Celebrity failed to provide a reasonably safe means of ingress and egress for its passengers.
Lawsuit Cites Prior Celebrity Cruises Tender Accidents as Evidence of Actual and Constructive Notice
The legal team representing Lipinski argues that Celebrity Cruises had both actual and constructive knowledge of the dangers associated with tender operations. To support this claim, the complaint references several prior lawsuits involving similar incidents where passengers were injured while boarding tenders on Celebrity vessels. These include Whetzel v. Celebrity Cruises involving the Celebrity Eclipse in 2023, and Moreno v. Celebrity Cruises involving the Celebrity Solstice in 2022. The plaintiff also cites older cases like Konstantinidis v. Celebrity Cruises and Metcoff v. Celebrity Cruises. Furthermore, the complaint alleges that other passengers had fallen on the very same day of Lipinski’s accident, and that the cruise line failed to stop or delay operations despite monitoring weather conditions that clearly impacted the stability of the small boats.
Negligence Claim Seeks Damages for Surgical Procedures and Loss of Working Ability Due to Permanent Injuries
The lawsuit brings four specific counts against Celebrity Cruises: vicarious liability, negligent failure to warn, failure to maintain, and general negligence. Lipinski alleges that the cruise line breached its non-delegable duty to provide safe passage. As a result of the crushing injury, she has reportedly undergone significant medical care, including hospitalization and surgical procedures. The complaint states that Lipinski has suffered physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, and a loss of enjoyment of life. Additionally, she is seeking compensation for lost wages, impaired future working ability, and the lost value of her vacation and transportation costs. The plaintiff maintains that these injuries are permanent and will require ongoing medical attention.
Contact a Cruise Ship Tender Accident Lawyer Today if You Were Injured During a Ship to Shore Transfer
Passengers who suffer injuries while boarding or disembarking tenders, especially in cases involving improper assistance, unsecure vessels, or dangerous sea conditions, may have grounds for a claim under general maritime law. Cruise companies have a legal responsibility to monitor weather and provide trained staff to ensure the safety of all passengers during the tendering process. If you or a loved one suffered a crushing injury or a fall while traveling from ship to shore, contact our team of experienced maritime injury attorneys to discuss your case. We can help you navigate the complexities of filing a claim against a major cruise line.
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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.
