Burned by Scalding Tea on Royal Caribbean: Passenger Sues Over Second-Degree Burns from Unstable Table and Hot Water
A California woman has filed a federal lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, alleging severe injuries caused by a scalding hot beverage and an unstable table aboard the Navigator of the Seas. The complaint, filed in the Southern District of Florida under Case No. 1:25-cv-23789-RAR, seeks damages for second-degree burns and permanent scarring sustained during a cruise dinner service gone wrong.
Passenger Claims Cruise Line Served “Super-Hot” Water and Failed to Secure Wobbly Dining Table
According to the lawsuit, passenger Arezoo Didar was dining at Café Promenade aboard Navigator of the Seas on the night of August 23, 2024, when a series of unsafe conditions culminated in a painful accident. Didar was served an “excessively hot” cup of water for tea without warning about the liquid’s temperature. As she reached for the cup, the table violently wobbled and shook—allegedly due to poor maintenance and unstable positioning by the ship’s crew—causing the scalding water to spill directly onto her right thigh.
Didar suffered serious second-degree burns covering roughly 4% of her body, according to onboard and follow-up medical records. The hot water incident was immediately reported to crew, and she was transported by wheelchair to the ship’s medical bay for urgent care.
Cruise Burn Lawsuit Highlights Failure to Warn and Negligent Maintenance Aboard Navigator of the Seas
The 19-page complaint outlines a multi-pronged legal theory. Plaintiff Didar alleges Royal Caribbean:
- Failed to secure and inspect the unstable table
- Served overheated water far beyond a safe beverage temperature
- Did not provide proper verbal or visual warnings about hot beverages
- Neglected to train staff on beverage safety procedures
The lawsuit points to prior known incidents across the Royal Caribbean fleet involving unstable dining furniture and hot liquid burns, claiming that the cruise line’s own corporate safety meetings and internal reviews documented similar accidents.
Medical evaluations conducted on board and after the cruise detail a long treatment plan involving extensive wound care, blister debridement, and prescription antibiotics. Plaintiff was ultimately treated at a California burn and wound care center for six weeks, resulting in permanent discoloration and scarring.
Lawsuit Claims Pattern of Neglect Across Fleet Regarding Burn Hazards and Table Stability
The complaint also alleges that the cruise line ignored warnings from industry groups like the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and safety standards set by the International Safety Management (ISM) Code. These guidelines, according to the plaintiff, require regular maintenance of furniture and safer beverage service protocols—areas Royal Caribbean allegedly failed to address.
Notably, the complaint cites other lawsuits involving hot beverage burns on cruise ships, arguing that Royal Caribbean had actual or constructive knowledge of the dangers and still failed to act. Despite having policies requiring staff to warn passengers when serving hot beverages, the lawsuit alleges this step was skipped in Didar’s case.
Legal Remedies Available for Cruise Passengers Injured by Unsafe Conditions
Passengers injured aboard cruise ships due to hot liquid spills, unsecured furniture, or failure to warn may have legal recourse under federal maritime law. When a cruise line has actual or constructive notice of a hazard and fails to act, it can be held liable for resulting injuries—including burns, disfigurement, and emotional distress.
This case underscores the duty cruise operators owe passengers to ensure safe conditions in dining areas, appropriate beverage service temperatures, and clear warnings about foreseeable risks.
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.
