Florida Woman Sues Princess Cruise Lines After Violent Ship Motion Causes Severe Fall in Cabin Aboard Grand Princess
Una L. Meier, a resident of Lakeland, 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-20674-JAL, alleges that Meier suffered permanent and life-altering injuries after the Grand Princess experienced sudden and unannounced violent movements during a voyage on February 26, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured in Cabin Due to Abrupt Ship Motion and Lack of Weather Warnings on Grand Princess
According to the complaint, the incident occurred around 3:00 a.m. while the vessel was navigating rough seas. Meier had reportedly retired to bed earlier that evening but woke up to adjust her cabin thermostat because the room was uncomfortably cold. As she was walking back toward her bed using her walker, the ship suddenly and violently rocked without any prior announcement or warning. The abrupt motion threw her backward, causing her to strike her head on a nightstand before collapsing to the floor. Meier remained on the floor in severe pain for approximately two hours before she was discovered by her cabinmate. The lawsuit asserts that Princess failed to provide any verbal or digital warnings regarding the anticipated rough weather or the potential for significant vessel instability, leaving passengers unbraced and vulnerable in their private quarters.
Princess Cruise Lines Accused of Negligent Navigation and Prioritizing Schedule Over Passenger Safety
The legal team representing Meier alleges that Princess had actual and constructive knowledge of the deteriorating sea conditions but failed to take appropriate action. The complaint highlights that the ship was reportedly making up time due to a prior medical emergency delay, leading the bridge team to maintain speeds or headings that increased the ship’s susceptibility to severe rolling and pitching. Internal bridge records, weather forecasts, and sensor data allegedly showed rising motion levels and significant wave heights hours before the fall occurred. Despite this real-time data, the lawsuit claims the cruise line failed to utilize available stabilizers to their full capacity or adjust the vessel’s course to minimize violent movement. The plaintiff argues that the decision to prioritize the voyage schedule over safety protocols directly contributed to the hazardous conditions that caused her injury.
Complaint Cites Prior Princess Cruise Incidents and Industry Standards for Rough Sea Safety Protocols
To establish a pattern of notice, the lawsuit references multiple prior incidents involving similar ship motion injuries across the Princess fleet. The complaint cites a significant event involving the Crown Princess on February 25, 2025, just one day prior to Meier’s accident, where high winds caused the vessel to tilt and injured numerous passengers. Additionally, the filing points to previous litigation such as Simpson v. Princess Cruise Lines and Korman v. Princess Cruise Lines, which both involved passengers suffering femur or hip fractures due to sudden ship lurches. Meier alleges that Princess is well aware of the inherent risks nighttime rough sea motions present and that the maritime industry recognizes the necessity of timely warnings and the use of stabilizers to prevent such foreseeable falls.
Plaintiff Seeks Compensation for Multiple Surgeries and Permanent Impairment Caused by Princess Negligence
The lawsuit brings eight counts against Princess Cruise Lines, including negligent navigation, failure to maintain the vessel, failure to warn, negligent training, and negligent design. Meier claims that as a direct result of the fall, she suffered a fracture of the right proximal femur and hip, requiring immediate orthopedic surgery in Hawaii. Upon returning to Florida, it was discovered that the initial surgical hardware was improperly sized and misaligned, necessitating a second corrective procedure. Following these surgeries, Meier underwent weeks of inpatient rehabilitation and physical therapy. She seeks damages for past and future medical expenses, lost earning capacity, physical impairment, mental anguish, and the loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, noting that her recovery has been prolonged and her injuries are permanent.
Contact a Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt During Rough Seas or Violent Ship Movements
Cruise passengers who suffer serious injuries due to sudden ship maneuvers, lack of weather alerts, or failure to deploy stabilizers may be entitled to significant compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines have a strict duty to exercise reasonable care for the safety of their guests, especially when navigating through forecasted storms or rough waters. If you or a loved one experienced a fall or injury aboard a vessel due to negligent navigation or unsafe cabin conditions, contact our team of experienced maritime attorneys to discuss your case. We are dedicated to helping injured passengers understand their rights and hold cruise corporations accountable for safety failures.
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.
