Florida Passenger Sues Margaritaville at Sea After Elevator Free Fall Aboard Islander Cruise Ship
Daniel Antonis, a Florida resident, has filed a maritime injury lawsuit against Classica Cruise Operator Ltd., Inc., doing business as Margaritaville at Sea, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 6:25-cv-01770-WWB-NWH, alleges that Antonis sustained serious and permanent injuries after an onboard elevator malfunctioned and dropped multiple floors during a return voyage from Mexico aboard the Margaritaville at Sea – Islander.
Cruise Passenger Injured After Elevator on Margaritaville at Sea Islander Allegedly Free Falls Multiple Decks
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on October 29, 2024, while the Islander was sailing back to Tampa, Florida. Antonis was using the forward elevator to travel from Deck 1 to Deck 10 when the elevator doors reportedly malfunctioned—opening and closing erratically without allowing him to exit. The elevator then dropped four decks abruptly, throwing Antonis toward the floor. Moments later, it allegedly dropped another two decks, causing further injury.
Eventually, the elevator became stuck near Deck 3. Unable to exit, Antonis was forced to climb out using a small step ladder with assistance from Classica crew members.
The lawsuit claims Antonis suffered serious injuries to his right arm, neck, and other areas of his body, necessitating surgery and ongoing treatment. The complaint emphasizes that the elevator’s dangerous behavior was not open and obvious, and a reasonably safe elevator would not behave in such a way.
Complaint Alleges Classica Had Prior Notice of Dangerous Elevator Conditions Aboard the Islander
Antonis claims that Classica was aware—or should have been aware—of the elevator hazard before the incident. The lawsuit alleges that crewmembers had been working on the specific elevator earlier that day and had taken it out of service for maintenance. Moreover, other passengers reportedly observed elevator outages throughout the cruise, suggesting systemic mechanical issues onboard.
The complaint asserts that Classica failed to warn passengers about the dangerous condition of the elevator despite this knowledge. It also argues that Classica knew of the inherent risks elevators pose when not properly inspected or maintained, particularly in a maritime environment where emergency response options may be limited.
Negligence Claims Include Failure to Warn, Maintain, Inspect, and Train Crewmembers
The lawsuit brings five causes of action against Classica:
- Negligent Failure to Warn – for failing to inform passengers of known hazards despite prior maintenance activity on the elevator earlier that day.
- Negligent Failure to Maintain – alleging that Classica failed to properly service, inspect, or calibrate the elevator and allowed it to remain in service despite obvious defects.
- Vicarious Liability for Negligent Inspection – asserting that crew members responsible for elevator inspections failed to verify that the elevator was safe before returning it to service, and Classica is therefore liable for their actions.
- Vicarious Liability for Negligent Maintenance – stating that engineering and maintenance crews failed to carry out necessary repairs and maintenance, directly contributing to the malfunction.
- Negligent Training of Crewmembers – alleging that Classica failed to implement proper training protocols for its crew, especially those assigned to monitor and maintain critical systems like elevators.
Throughout the complaint, Antonis relies on established maritime case law, including Yusko v. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd., to argue that cruise lines can be held vicariously liable for negligent acts of their employees without requiring proof of prior notice.
Plaintiff Seeks $2 Million in Compensatory Damages for Permanent Cruise Elevator Injury
The complaint alleges that the injuries Antonis sustained from the elevator malfunction are permanent and continuing in nature. Damages sought include pain and suffering, disability, medical expenses, loss of earnings and earning capacity, and diminished enjoyment of life. Antonis also claims he lost the value of the cruise and incurred additional incidental costs.
He is seeking more than $2 million in compensatory damages, along with prejudgment and post-judgment interest and legal costs.
Elevator Malfunction Aboard Cruise Ship Raises Broader Safety Concerns
This case underscores growing concerns about the maintenance and oversight of critical shipboard systems such as elevators. As the cruise industry expands with increasingly large vessels, the risk posed by equipment failures can escalate without rigorous inspection, maintenance, and crew training.
Passengers expect cruise lines to uphold stringent safety standards, particularly for essential systems that, if compromised, can lead to severe injury. In maritime settings where emergency response options are limited, prevention and early detection of mechanical failures are critical.
Contact a Cruise Elevator Injury Attorney If You Were Hurt Due to Onboard Mechanical Failures
Cruise lines have a legal duty under maritime law to maintain their vessels—including elevators—in a safe condition and to warn passengers of known dangers. If you or someone you care about was injured due to an elevator malfunction or other mechanical failure aboard a cruise ship, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.
Contact our experienced team of maritime personal injury attorneys today to discuss your case and protect your rights.
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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.
