California Woman Sues Norwegian Cruise Line After Trip and Fall Over Deck Lounge Chair on Norwegian Bliss
Anahit Zakharyan, a resident of California, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against NCL (Bahamas) Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-27005-JB, alleges that Zakharyan suffered severe and permanent injuries after tripping over a tightly packed lounge chair on an exterior deck aboard the Norwegian Bliss on October 21, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Deck 17 of Norwegian Bliss Due to Overcrowded Sun Loungers and Inadequate Walkway Clearance
According to the complaint, the incident took place on the very first day of the voyage while the vessel was sailing in navigable waters. Zakharyan was visiting Deck 17, an open exterior passenger deck where Norwegian Cruise Line provides lounge chairs for passenger rest and relaxation. After sitting down for several minutes to relax, she stood up and attempted to turn toward the adjacent walking pathway. Due to the tight spacing arranged by ship personnel, there was insufficient room for her to turn her body safely. Her foot caught on the lounge chair framing, causing her to lose her balance and fall forcefully onto the hard deck surface. The complaint asserts that the layout left only a narrow strip of open deck between the rows of loungers and the ship railing, creating a hazard that was not open or obvious to passengers.
Norwegian Cruise Line Accused of Actual Knowledge and Prior Notice of Tripping Hazards on Exterior Sun Decks
The lawsuit alleges that Norwegian Cruise Line had actual and constructive knowledge of the dangerous conditions presented by its deck chair layouts. The filing notes that ship crew members physically handle, place, and arrange every lounge chair each morning, meaning the cruise line directly created the layout and had continuous opportunity to evaluate its safety before guests arrived. The complaint also highlights that on the day following the fall, crew members altered the layout on Deck 17 to leave substantially more open space, demonstrating that a safer configuration was feasible all along. Furthermore, the plaintiff references multiple prior federal lawsuits involving passengers injured by protruding or improperly spaced deck chairs on Norwegian vessels, including Pezoldt v. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd. aboard the Norwegian Bliss on Deck 17, Parkerson v. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd. aboard the Norwegian Escape, and Re v. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd. aboard the Norwegian Joy.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Deck Design and Failure to Establish Safe Lounger Spacing Standards
In addition to maintenance and layout failures, the complaint asserts that Norwegian Cruise Line failed to properly design and manage exterior deck spaces for safe passenger traffic. The lawsuit claims the cruise line approved chair configurations that crowded pedestrian walkways and failed to implement minimum clearance standards between furniture and thoroughfares. The filing argues that cruise operators must account for normal passenger movements, including rising from chairs and turning around, especially for passengers of varying ages, statures, and physical abilities. By packing rows of furniture too close to pathways without evaluating flow or testing the configuration under realistic conditions, the cruise line allegedly exposed guests to unreasonable tripping hazards.
Passenger Seeks Damages for Permanent Bodily Injuries and Disrupted Cruise Vacation Under General Maritime Law
The lawsuit asserts five distinct counts against Norwegian Cruise Line: negligent failure to warn, negligent failure to maintain, negligent design, vicarious liability for crew negligence, and general negligence. The complaint states that the cruise line breached its legal duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances. As a direct result of the fall, Zakharyan suffered severe and continuing bodily injuries, physical pain, emotional distress, medical expenses, physical impairment, and lost earnings. She also seeks compensation for the lost value of her vacation, cruise fare, and related transportation expenses.
Contact a Cruise Ship Deck Trip and Fall Lawyer Today if You Were Injured Aboard a Vessel
Cruise ship passengers injured by overcrowded sun deck chairs, obstructed walkways, or unsafe exterior deck arrangements may have grounds to seek compensation under maritime law. Vessel operators have an obligation to provide reasonably safe accommodations, maintain open pathways, and eliminate preventable physical hazards.
If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a cruise ship fall, you can discuss your rights and legal remedies with an experienced maritime attorney. Please contact our legal team to review your case.
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.
