Canadian Resident Sues Royal Caribbean After Slip and Fall on Wet Stairs Aboard Explorer of the Seas
Suela Prendi, a resident of Ontario, Canada, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-23002-BB, alleges that Prendi suffered severe and permanent physical injuries after slipping on a wet and slippery substance while descending a staircase on the Explorer of the Seas on April 29, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Explorer of the Seas Due to Wet Substance at Foot of Deck 12 Stairs
According to the complaint, the incident occurred while Prendi was lawfully present as a fare paying passenger aboard the vessel. While she was descending the stairs on Deck 12, she encountered a foreign, wet, slippery, or transitory substance on the deck floor at the base of the staircase. This hazardous condition caused her to slip and fall with significant force. The plaintiff asserts that the area was a high traffic common area and that the fall was caused by a combination of inadequate drainage leading to water accumulation and the presence of a dangerous substance that had not been properly addressed by the ship’s crew. Prendi maintains she was given no warning of the hazard and that the cruise line failed to provide a reasonably safe environment for passengers navigating the ship’s upper decks.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Failing to Inspect and Clean Hazardous Staircase Areas Despite Prior Incidents
The lawsuit alleges that Royal Caribbean had both actual and constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition at the foot of the staircase. Prendi’s legal team argues that the cruise line was aware of the risk due to the recurring nature of the water accumulation and the specific inspection and cleaning policies applicable to that area of the ship. To establish that the cruise line had notice of the propensity for slip and fall occurrences on this class of vessel, the complaint cites several prior similar incidents. These include a March 2022 fall on the Liberty of the Seas involving a passenger named S.L., a November 2021 fall on the Explorer of the Seas involving N.A., and a December 2019 fall on the Navigator of the Seas involving L.M. Each of these prior cases involved passengers slipping on foreign substances while descending stairs on similar deck layouts, which the plaintiff argues should have prompted the cruise line to implement better safety measures.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Maintenance and Failure to Use Non-Skid Materials on High Traffic Deck Surfaces
In addition to notice of the hazard, Prendi alleges that Royal Caribbean was negligent in the maintenance of the Deck 12 staircase area. The complaint argues that the cruise line failed to conduct sufficiently frequent or timely inspections to detect the slippery surface. Furthermore, the plaintiff claims that Royal Caribbean failed to use or place nonskid strips or appropriate floor coverings in an area known for moisture accumulation. The lawsuit suggests that the cruise line should have cordoned off the area or provided adequate drainage to prevent the specific type of water buildup that led to the fall. By failing to correct the dangerous condition or implement preventive flooring solutions, the cruise line allegedly breached its duty of reasonable care to its passengers.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Fractured Tibia and Fibula Requiring Surgery Following Cruise Ship Fall
Prendi brings two primary counts against Royal Caribbean: negligent maintenance and negligent failure to warn of a hazard. She claims that as a direct result of the cruise line’s negligence, she sustained serious injuries including a fractured tibia and fibula that required surgical intervention. The lawsuit states that she has suffered from physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, and disability. Prendi asserts that her injuries are permanent or continuing in nature and have resulted in a loss of the ability to lead a normal life. She is seeking compensatory damages for past and future medical expenses, hospital costs, and other out of pocket healthcare burdens incurred because of the incident.
Contact a Cruise Ship Staircase Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt on a Vessel Due to Wet Deck Conditions
Cruise passengers who suffer serious injuries due to wet floors, slippery staircases, or poorly maintained common areas may be entitled to significant compensation under federal maritime law. Cruise operators like Royal Caribbean are required to maintain their vessels in a reasonably safe condition and must provide adequate warnings when they are aware of a hidden hazard. If you or a loved one experienced a slip and fall accident on a cruise ship caused by a foreign substance or lack of warning signs, 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.
Contact us now to speak with a maritime 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.
