Florida Woman Sues Princess Cruise Lines After Being Struck by Intoxicated Passenger on PCL Sky
Elizabeth Zawacki, a resident of Fort Myers, Florida, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-20513-DPG, alleges that Zawacki suffered severe and permanent injuries after an unidentified, visibly intoxicated passenger fell onto her while she was dancing in the ship’s atrium on January 27, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured on PCL Sky Dance Floor Due to Intoxicated Passenger Fall and Overservice
According to the complaint, the incident occurred while Zawacki was on Deck 5 in the Atrium of the PCL Sky. She had been seated at a table overlooking the dance floor with family members before proceeding to the dance floor herself. While she was dancing, an unidentified female passenger, who was described as being visibly intoxicated to the point of being unable to remain standing, suddenly fell onto Zawacki. This impact caused Zawacki to fall backwards and violently strike her head on the ground, resulting in a loss of consciousness. The plaintiff alleges that the cruise line overserved the offending passenger and failed to intervene despite the passenger’s obvious state of inebriation.
Princess Cruise Lines Accused of Failing to Monitor Alcohol Consumption and Prevent Dangerous Conditions
The lawsuit alleges that Princess Cruise Lines had both actual and constructive knowledge of the hazards posed by overserving alcohol to passengers. Zawacki’s legal team references several prior incidents involving sister cruise line Carnival to demonstrate that the defendant was on notice of the dangers presented by intoxicated passengers. The complaint cites cases such as Lamarca v. Carnival, Dimitri v. Carnival, D.S. v. Carnival, and Dempsey v. Carnival, all of which involved injuries resulting from passenger intoxication or overservice. The plaintiff asserts that Princess Cruise Lines maintains sophisticated tracking of alcoholic drink orders through passenger medallions or accounts, yet failed to use this data to prevent the offending passenger from becoming a danger to others.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Supervision of Public Areas and Failure to Enforce Alcohol Policies on PCL Sky
In addition to the failure to monitor individual consumption, the complaint argues that Princess Cruise Lines failed to properly supervise public entertainment spaces where alcohol is served. Zawacki alleges that the cruise line breached its own internal policies, which allow the vessel to refuse service or revoke beverage packages if a guest becomes intoxicated. The lawsuit claims the defendant failed to monitor closed-circuit television cameras or provide adequate staff supervision in the Atrium to identify and remove passengers who posed a risk of harm. Furthermore, the plaintiff alleges that the cruise line failed to follow industry standards regarding the monitoring of vessel areas and the control of alcohol distribution.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Head Injury and Medical Expenses Following Cruise Ship Accident
Zawacki brings two counts against Princess Cruise Lines: negligence and negligent failure to warn. She claims the cruise line breached its duty of reasonable care by failing to stop serving an obviously intoxicated person and by failing to warn other passengers that it would overserve individuals to the point of creating a safety hazard. As a result of the fall and the subsequent head injury, Zawacki claims to have suffered significant damages, including bodily injury, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and the loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life. The lawsuit seeks compensation for past and future medical expenses, hospitalization costs, and nursing care, stating that her injuries are permanent and continuing.
Contact a Cruise Ship Intoxication Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt by an Overserved Passenger
Cruise passengers who are injured due to the overservice of alcohol or the failure of a cruise line to monitor intoxicated individuals may be entitled to significant compensation under maritime law. Cruise companies like Princess Cruise Lines have a legal responsibility to maintain a safe environment and to monitor the conduct and sobriety of guests to prevent foreseeable violence or accidents. If you or a loved one suffered a concussion, broken bone, or other injury because a cruise line failed to manage an intoxicated passenger, contact our team of experienced maritime injury lawyers today. We are dedicated to helping victims navigate the complexities of federal maritime claims and securing the justice they deserve.
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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.
