Florida Man Sues Royal Caribbean After Biting Down on Foreign Object Hidden in Bagel Aboard Wonder of the Seas
Joseph Gurvich, a Florida resident, has filed a personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida. The complaint, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-24520-PCH, alleges that Gurvich suffered serious dental injuries after biting into a bagel contaminated with a hard foreign object—believed to be a pebble or glass shard—while dining at the Solarium Bistro aboard the Wonder of the Seas.
Cruise passenger suffers dental injuries after biting into contaminated food item aboard Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on November 22, 2024, during breakfast at the ship’s Solarium Bistro. Gurvich selected a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon from a self-service buffet. Upon taking a bite, he experienced a crunching sensation and immediate pain in his upper jaw, which resulted in bleeding and significant damage to his tooth.
The lawsuit asserts that the foreign object was not visible or detectable by the passenger and had been embedded within the food during either the preparation or presentation phase. Gurvich alleges that there was no warning of potential contamination and that nothing in the bagel’s appearance indicated the presence of a dangerous object.
Royal Caribbean accused of failing to inspect and maintain buffet food safety on Wonder of the Seas
Gurvich’s complaint outlines multiple theories of negligence, including failure to warn and failure to maintain safe dining conditions. He alleges that Royal Caribbean and its crew had either actual or constructive knowledge of the hazardous condition. The cruise line’s self-serve buffet was subject to routine restocking and visual inspection by crew members, who allegedly failed to detect the dangerous item despite it being visibly embedded in the food.
The lawsuit claims Royal Caribbean did not adhere to industry-standard food safety protocols, including adequate inspection of food items before they were placed on the buffet line. Gurvich argues that the crew’s failure to discover and remove the foreign object reflects a broader failure in oversight and training.
Complaint cites prior food contamination cases aboard Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises as notice of recurring risk
To support his claim that Royal Caribbean had notice of the food safety hazard, Gurvich references at least five previous cases involving foreign objects found in food served on cruise ships operated by Royal Caribbean or its affiliates:
- A passenger on Adventure of the Seas discovered a hard object in a dessert in October 2024
- A guest aboard Celebrity Reflection encountered metal in a slice of pecan pie in November 2023
- In September 2023, a plastic fragment was found in soup aboard Navigator of the Seas
- In January 2023, a foreign object was found in a cupcake on Anthem of the Seas
- In July 2022, a walnut shell fragment in oatmeal caused dental damage on Ovation of the Seas
These prior incidents are presented as evidence that Royal Caribbean knew or should have known about the risk of food contamination aboard its vessels. The complaint also references international maritime safety guidelines, including SOLAS standards, that require cruise operators to identify and correct hazards in food preparation areas.
Lawsuit alleges Royal Caribbean violated duty to provide reasonably safe food service environment for passengers
Under general maritime law, cruise lines owe passengers a duty of reasonable care, which includes ensuring that food served aboard is safe for consumption. The complaint alleges that Royal Caribbean breached this duty by failing to detect and remove a foreign object from a bagel and by failing to warn Gurvich of the risk. The design and oversight of the buffet service, according to the plaintiff, lacked sufficient safeguards to prevent contamination.
The suit also states that Royal Caribbean directly oversaw the design and management of its food service systems and therefore bears responsibility for inadequate inspection procedures and training failures that contributed to the incident.
Plaintiff seeks damages for dental trauma, pain and suffering, and cruise disruption
Gurvich claims that the incident caused serious dental trauma, including damage to his upper jaw and tooth. He seeks damages for:
- Medical and dental expenses
- Physical pain and emotional distress
- Disfigurement and loss of function
- Loss of the value of the cruise
- Diminished enjoyment of life
The injuries are alleged to be continuing in nature and may require long-term care.
Hurt by contaminated food on a cruise ship? Speak with a maritime injury lawyer today
Cruise passengers have the right to expect food served onboard to be safe and free of hazardous foreign objects. If you were injured after consuming contaminated food aboard a cruise, you may be entitled to compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines can be held liable for failing to detect and prevent foreseeable food safety risks.
Contact our team at https://holzberglegal.com/contact-us/ to speak with a cruise ship injury attorney about your legal options.
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.
