Florida Woman Sues Celebrity Cruises After Tripping on Vacuum Extension Cord Inside Sundial Shop on Celebrity Equinox
Yvette Aguiar, a resident of Ocala, Florida, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Celebrity Cruises, Inc. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-21659, alleges that Aguiar sustained serious and permanent injuries after tripping over an electrical extension cord left in a public walkway on the Celebrity Equinox. The incident occurred on February 15, 2025, while the vessel was in navigation.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Celebrity Equinox Due to Trip Hazard in Shipboard Retail Store
According to the legal filing, the incident took place during the evening hours while Aguiar was walking through the Sundial Shop located on Deck 4 of the cruise ship. While navigating the store, her foot caught on an electrical extension cord that had been left on the floor by a crew member. The fall caused her to strike a nearby wall with significant force, resulting in injuries to her right knee and right shoulder. The complaint states that the cord belonged to a vacuum cleaner being operated by a Celebrity employee. Immediately following the fall, the employee allegedly stowed the cord and apologized profusely for leaving the hazard in a designated walking area. Other staff members present in the Sundial Shop also reportedly witnessed the accident and offered apologies to the injured passenger.
Celebrity Cruises Accused of Constructive Notice Following Similar Trip and Fall Incidents Involving Electrical Cords
The lawsuit asserts that Celebrity Cruises had both actual and constructive notice of the dangerous condition. Aguiar’s legal team argues that because the cruise line’s own employees created the hazard by stretching the cord across a public walkway, the company was fully aware of the risk. Furthermore, the complaint points to a history of similar incidents across the industry and within the defendant’s own operations to establish a pattern of negligence. The filing references several prior maritime personal injury cases, including Hlister v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Baudoin v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Domenico v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, and Geremia v. Celebrity Cruises. These past cases involved passengers tripping over vacuum cords or speaker wires in hallways and public decks, which the plaintiff argues should have prompted the cruise line to implement better safety protocols regarding the use of electrical equipment in high-traffic areas.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Failure to Maintain Safe Walkways and Failure to Warn of Hidden Trip Hazards
Aguiar brings three counts of negligence against the cruise line, including negligent failure to maintain the premises, failure to warn, and vicarious liability. The lawsuit alleges that Celebrity breached its duty of reasonable care by failing to monitor the Sundial Shop to ensure walkways remained unobstructed. The plaintiff contends that the presence of the cord was not an open or obvious danger to a reasonable shopper whose attention was intended to be on the merchandise for sale. The complaint further alleges that the cruise line failed to provide any verbal warnings, signage, or safety cones to alert passengers that cleaning was in progress or that a cord was stretched across the floor. By failing to implement rules restricting the use of extension cords in public areas, the cruise line allegedly created a foreseeable risk of bodily harm.
Plaintiff Seeks Compensation for Medical Expenses and Permanent Disability Resulting from Shipboard Negligence
As a direct result of the fall, Aguiar claims to have suffered significant physical and emotional damages. The lawsuit seeks compensation for past and future medical expenses, hospitalization costs, and nursing care. Additionally, the plaintiff alleges she has suffered from physical pain, mental anguish, disability, disfigurement, and a loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life. Because the injuries are described as permanent and continuing, the legal action seeks to hold Celebrity Cruises vicariously liable for the negligent acts of its crew members under the doctrine of respondeat superior. The plaintiff has demanded a trial by jury to determine the full extent of the damages owed by the foreign corporation.
Contact a Cruise Ship Trip and Fall Lawyer Today if You Were Injured by a Hazard in a Shipboard Shop
Cruise passengers who suffer injuries due to trip hazards, misplaced equipment, or negligent maintenance in shipboard shops and walkways may be eligible for compensation under federal maritime law. Cruise operators have a non-delegable duty to maintain their vessels in a reasonably safe condition for all guests. If you or a loved one experienced a similar accident involving a vacuum cord or other obstruction on a cruise ship, it is important to understand your legal rights. Our team of experienced maritime attorneys is dedicated to helping injured passengers navigate the complexities of cruise ship litigation.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship slip and fall 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.
