California Minor Injured by Stateroom Door Slamming Shut Aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas
Juliet Antoun, a California resident, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit on behalf of her minor daughter, H.A., against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. The complaint, filed in the Southern District of Florida under Case No. 1:25-cv-23089-DPG, alleges that the child suffered serious injuries when a stateroom door aboard the Navigator of the Seas forcefully slammed shut on her thumb, causing permanent damage.
Child Passenger Injured by Forcefully Closing Stateroom Door Allegedly Caused by Wind Tunnel Effect
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on August 3, 2024, while H.A. was entering her stateroom on the Navigator of the Seas. As she crossed the doorway, the cabin door suddenly slammed shut on her left thumb, allegedly due to a wind tunnel effect caused by an open balcony door. The force of the door’s closure resulted in significant trauma to the child’s hand.
The lawsuit asserts that Royal Caribbean failed to equip the door with appropriate safety mechanisms—such as a door damper or soft-close feature—and did not adequately warn passengers of the potential for forceful door closures caused by air pressure differentials in the cabin.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Failing to Maintain, Warn, and Design Safe Stateroom Door Systems for Passenger Use
Antoun alleges that Royal Caribbean had both actual and constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition based on numerous similar incidents on its vessels. The cruise line had even posted signage in the cabin stating: “Always make sure to close the balcony door before opening your front door.” However, the lawsuit contends this was an insufficient and ineffective attempt to mitigate the hazard.
The complaint cites multiple prior lawsuits in the Southern District of Florida involving the same or similar wind tunnel effects and forcefully closing doors, including:
- Fitzgerald v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (2023)
- Keith v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (2019)
- Fletcher v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (2017)
- Kaufman v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (2018)
- Lynch v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (2017)
- Chapman v. Celebrity Cruises Inc. (2021)
- DiMare v. Celebrity Cruises Inc. (2020)
These cases allegedly demonstrate a pattern of similar injuries linked to stateroom door conditions, bolstering the plaintiff’s claim that Royal Caribbean failed to implement industry-standard safety precautions.
Complaint Alleges Unsafe Cabin Door Design, Lack of Child-Specific Safety Measures, and Poor Inspection Protocols
The lawsuit brings four negligence-based counts against Royal Caribbean: general negligence, failure to warn, failure to maintain, and negligent design. Antoun argues that the cruise line failed to install appropriate safety features, such as hold-open devices, slow-close dampers, or automated door mechanisms, especially in cabins used by families with children.
She further claims the cruise line did not inspect or maintain door components like dampeners and failed to test whether the door systems met applicable maritime safety standards, including ASTM F1166 for door closures.
Family Seeks Damages for Child’s Permanent Injuries, Emotional Trauma, and Disrupted Cruise
As a result of the door-slamming incident, H.A. allegedly suffered permanent injuries to her thumb, along with associated pain, disfigurement, and emotional distress. The family is seeking damages for medical treatment, reduced quality of life, and the lost value of their vacation. The injuries are claimed to be ongoing in nature, with long-term physical and psychological impacts.
Cruise Lines May Be Held Liable for Poorly Maintained or Dangerous Stateroom Doors Under Maritime Law
Cruise ship operators have a legal duty under maritime law to ensure that staterooms and all passenger-accessible areas are free from foreseeable dangers. Failing to maintain safe cabin doors, especially in family-use areas where wind tunnel effects are known to occur, may constitute negligence. Injuries from rapidly closing stateroom doors are preventable and often result from poor design or inadequate maintenance protocols.
If you or your child has been injured by a slamming door or other dangerous condition aboard a cruise ship, you may be entitled to compensation under federal maritime law.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship injury attorney.
