Florida Woman Sues Royal Caribbean After Slip and Fall on Polished Marble Stairs Leads to Miscarriage Aboard Allure of the Seas
Kenia Guillaume, a resident of Florida, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-21479-JAL, alleges that Guillaume suffered catastrophic physical and emotional injuries, including the loss of her unborn child, after slipping on a dangerous substance on an interior stairway of the Allure of the Seas on December 13, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Allure of the Seas Due to Slippery Marble Stairway Near Royal Promenade
According to the legal filing, the incident occurred on the very first night of a six-night Western Caribbean cruise. Guillaume, who was twelve weeks pregnant at the time, was traveling with her family to celebrate her upcoming 37th birthday. As she exited an elevator on Deck 6 and began to descend the interior stairway toward the Royal Promenade, she stepped onto a smooth, polished marble step coated with a slippery transitory substance. The complaint states that the substance was not visible because it blended into the marble surface, making the hazard impossible to detect through ordinary senses. Guillaume lost her footing and tumbled down approximately six steps, landing on a platform below. Despite the stairway being located in a high-traffic area near the Shore Excursions and Loyalty desks where crew members were present, no warning signs or wet floor cones had been placed to alert passengers to the hazard.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Ignoring Prior Slip and Fall Incidents Involving Slippery Marble Surfaces
The lawsuit asserts that Royal Caribbean had actual and constructive notice of the unreasonably dangerous nature of the polished marble stairs used throughout its fleet. To support this claim, the plaintiff’s legal team cites several prior similar incidents where passengers slipped on interior stairs or decks of Royal Caribbean vessels, including Maloney v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. on the Wonder of the Seas and Vega v. Royal Caribbean Group on the Oasis of the Seas. The complaint argues that the cruise line’s own internal safety policies require crew members to inspect staircases regularly and apply non-slip treatments or grip tape where hazards exist. The failure of the crew to identify the spill or provide a verbal warning on the night of the accident suggests a systemic failure in training, supervision, or the enforcement of safety protocols designed to protect passengers during the high-risk period of initial embarkation.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Stairway Design and Lack of Non-Slip Treads on Royal Caribbean Vessel
In addition to maintenance failures, the lawsuit alleges that the subject stairway was defectively designed and constructed. The plaintiff argues that Royal Caribbean actively participated in the design and approval of the Allure of the Seas and chose to prioritize aesthetics over safety by selecting polished marble for high-traffic walking surfaces. The complaint states that the steps lacked adequate non-slip treads, nosings, or grip tape, and instead featured only thin decorative metal nosings that provided insufficient traction. The legal team points to industry standards, such as those established by the International Maritime Organization and the Safety of Life at Sea treaty, which require walking surfaces to maintain a specific coefficient of friction. The plaintiff alleges that the marble steps, when wet, fail to meet these minimum safety standards, rendering them inherently dangerous in a maritime environment.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Catastrophic Loss and Permanent Injuries Caused by Cruise Line Negligence
Guillaume brings five counts of negligence against Royal Caribbean: negligent maintenance, negligent failure to warn, negligent design and selection of materials, negligent training, and negligent supervision. The lawsuit describes the injuries sustained as severe and permanent, encompassing physical trauma to her hip, back, shoulder, and ankle. Most significantly, the fall resulted in a miscarriage, which the complaint describes as a direct result of the trauma sustained during the tumble. The plaintiff is seeking compensation for past and future medical expenses, mental anguish, grief, disfigurement, and the loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life. The complaint also includes a demand for a jury trial and requests damages for lost income and the aggravation of pre-existing conditions caused by the cruise line’s alleged breach of its duty of care.
Contact a Cruise Ship Stairway Injury Lawyer Today if You Suffered a Fall Due to Unsafe Conditions
Cruise passengers who suffer serious injuries due to slippery flooring, defective stairway design, or a lack of proper safety warnings may be entitled to significant compensation under general maritime law. Cruise companies like Royal Caribbean are required to maintain their vessels in a reasonably safe condition and must provide adequate warnings for hazards that are not open and obvious to passengers. If you or a loved one experienced a slip and fall accident on a cruise ship resulting in orthopedic injuries or pregnancy complications, contact our team of dedicated maritime attorneys to discuss your case. We can help you navigate the complexities of filing a claim in federal court and hold the cruise line accountable for their negligence.
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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.
