Connecticut Man Sues Royal Caribbean After Suffering Head Injury on Tidal Wave Slide Aboard Liberty of the Seas
Christopher Grant, a resident of Connecticut, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-24539, alleges that Grant sustained a traumatic brain injury and multiple neck injuries after his inflatable raft capsized on the Tidal Wave slide aboard the Liberty of the Seas on December 8, 2024.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Liberty of the Seas Water Slide After Raft Capsizes Due to Alleged Design Flaws
According to the complaint, Grant was instructed by a Royal Caribbean crew member to ride the Tidal Wave slide with a significantly smaller and lighter woman in a two-person inflatable raft. During the ride, the raft allegedly struck a wall and capsized, causing Grant to hit his head on the steel surface of the slide. He was diagnosed with cervical disc herniations, nerve damage, vision loss, and a traumatic brain injury.
The slide, described as a “boomerang” water ride, features high-speed curves and inclines that the lawsuit claims are dangerously configured. Grant asserts that Royal Caribbean knew the design of the slide was defective and posed foreseeable risks—especially when riders of disparate sizes were paired together.
Lawsuit Claims Royal Caribbean Knew of Prior Tidal Wave Slide Accidents and Failed to Remedy Unsafe Design
The lawsuit accuses Royal Caribbean of having actual knowledge of the hazardous conditions of the Tidal Wave slide. The cruise line reportedly custom-ordered the slide from German manufacturer wiegand.waterrides GmbH and allegedly delayed opening it to the public due to safety concerns. Among those concerns were rafts capsizing and passengers striking the walls of the slide due to narrow clearances and poor design geometry.
According to the filing, Royal Caribbean previously modified the slide by adding padding in certain areas but failed to sufficiently pad all known impact zones. The complaint also states that crew members—including the ship’s engineering staff—were aware of recurring safety issues and the risks posed by pairing passengers of unequal weight in shared rafts. Despite this, Grant was allegedly paired with a passenger who created a significant weight imbalance, contributing to the raft’s instability and eventual capsize.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Negligent Design, Failure to Warn, and Inadequate Crew Training on Slide Safety
Grant brings five counts of negligence against Royal Caribbean: negligent failure to remedy a dangerous condition, negligent failure to warn, negligent design and installation, vicarious liability for employee negligence, and negligent failure to train crew members.
The lawsuit claims that Royal Caribbean had full control over the slide’s design, construction, and operation. Grant alleges that the cruise line’s design team selected specifications that created foreseeable hazards and failed to install adequate safety features or provide necessary warnings. The company is also accused of failing to adequately train crew members responsible for operating the slide and pairing passengers, despite implementing policies requiring crew to account for weight disparities.
Grant’s attorneys cite industry safety standards and internal documents that allegedly confirm Royal Caribbean’s knowledge of the risks posed by the slide. They argue that the cruise line failed to take reasonable steps to eliminate those dangers or provide sufficient warnings to passengers.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Traumatic Brain Injury, Medical Costs, and Loss of Cruise Value Due to Royal Caribbean’s Negligence
Grant is seeking compensation for a wide range of injuries, including permanent head and neck trauma, lost earning capacity, disfigurement, mental anguish, and medical expenses. The complaint also seeks damages for the loss of value of his cruise and related travel costs.
The incident, according to the filing, occurred under the direct supervision of Royal Caribbean staff and involved a slide that had already been flagged internally as a high-risk attraction. Grant’s legal team asserts that the accident was entirely foreseeable and preventable had Royal Caribbean exercised reasonable care.
Contact a Cruise Ship Water Slide Injury Lawyer if You Were Hurt on a Dangerous Attraction at Sea
Water slides aboard cruise ships—especially high-speed slides with custom designs like the Tidal Wave—must meet strict safety standards to protect passengers. Cruise lines that fail to remedy known hazards or warn of the risks may be held liable under maritime law.
If you or a loved one were injured on a cruise ship water slide or other onboard attraction, you may be entitled to compensation. Our team of experienced maritime attorneys is ready to review your case and help you pursue the justice you deserve.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship injury lawyer.
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.
