Florida Woman Sues Royal Caribbean After Slip and Fall on Sticky Floor Before Disembarking Independence of the Seas

Gladys Diaz, a resident of Florida, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-25779-JAL, alleges that Diaz suffered serious and permanent injuries after slipping on a sticky substance left on a tiled floor aboard the Independence of the Seas just before disembarkation on November 11, 2024.

Cruise Passenger Injured by Sticky Substance on Tile Floor While Disembarking Independence of the Seas

According to the complaint, the incident occurred immediately prior to passengers disembarking the Independence of the Seas. Diaz alleges that while walking through a passenger area, her left shoe became stuck to a sticky substance that had been left on the tile floor for an extended period of time. The condition was allegedly not visible, was not marked with warning signage, and was not actively monitored by crew members during a high-traffic phase of the voyage.

The lawsuit claims that Royal Caribbean failed to properly clean, inspect, or supervise the area, allowing a hazardous condition to exist where passengers were expected to walk while preparing to leave the vessel. Diaz contends that she had no reason to anticipate the danger and that the condition was not open and obvious to a reasonable passenger exercising ordinary care.

Royal Caribbean Accused of Failing to Clean, Inspect, and Warn of Hazardous Floor Conditions

The complaint alleges that Royal Caribbean knew or should have known about the sticky substance on the floor through reasonable inspection and supervision. The lawsuit asserts that the cruise line had ample opportunity to discover and remedy the condition but failed to do so. Diaz further alleges that no verbal warnings, caution signs, or barriers were placed in the area to alert passengers of the danger, despite the foreseeable risk of slips and falls in common passenger walkways.

The lawsuit emphasizes that cruise ships routinely experience food spills, beverage residue, and other foreign substances in public areas, particularly near the end of a voyage when passengers are moving about with luggage and preparing to disembark. Diaz claims that Royal Caribbean failed to follow reasonable safety practices designed to protect passengers from precisely this type of hazard.

Complaint Alleges Negligent Maintenance of ADA Accessible Passenger Walkways on Deck 5

In addition to failing to warn, the lawsuit alleges that the incident occurred in an area designated as an ADA-compliant passageway on Deck 5 near the Spinnaker Lounge. Diaz claims that Royal Caribbean had a heightened responsibility to ensure that accessible walkways were properly maintained, clean, and safe for passengers with mobility limitations.

The complaint asserts that Royal Caribbean failed to implement adequate inspection protocols for these areas and did not deploy additional safety measures despite knowing that passengers of varying physical abilities would be using the walkways during disembarkation. The lawsuit also alleges that the cruise line failed to adequately train and supervise crew members responsible for maintaining floor safety in common passenger areas.

Plaintiff Alleges Inadequate Onboard Medical Care Following Fall on Royal Caribbean Cruise

Following the fall, Diaz was evaluated in the ship’s medical facility. According to the complaint, onboard x-rays revealed a non-displaced fracture of the olecranon process of her right ulna. Diaz alleges that the treatment she received onboard was limited to immobilization and cold compress therapy, which she claims was insufficient given the nature of her injuries.

After returning home, Diaz sought further medical treatment and underwent open reduction and internal fixation surgery on November 19, 2024. The complaint states that she later developed additional complications, including inflammation of the bursa, which required a second surgical procedure. Diaz also alleges that she required extensive physical therapy and continues to experience pain and functional limitations.

Lawsuit Claims Permanent Injuries, Lost Income, and Reduced Quality of Life After Royal Caribbean Slip and Fall

The lawsuit alleges that as a result of the fall, Diaz suffered permanent injuries that significantly affected her personal and professional life. According to the complaint, Diaz works as a hairdresser, a profession that requires repetitive arm movements and sustained physical exertion. She claims that her injuries forced her to stop working for approximately three months and later reduce her clientele due to ongoing pain and limited mobility.

Diaz alleges that the injuries caused a loss of independence, emotional distress, and a diminished ability to enjoy daily activities. The complaint seeks damages for past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and permanent impairment.

Florida Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Lawsuit Brings Negligence Claims Against Royal Caribbean

Diaz brings claims for negligent failure to warn and general negligence against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. The lawsuit alleges that the cruise line breached its duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances by failing to maintain safe flooring conditions, failing to warn passengers of a known hazard, and failing to properly train and supervise its crew. The complaint also alleges that Royal Caribbean’s shoreside safety and operations departments had the authority and responsibility to implement policies that could have prevented the incident but failed to do so.

Cruise passengers injured by unsafe floor conditions, foreign substances, or poorly maintained walkways may have legal rights under maritime law. Cruise lines are required to take reasonable steps to inspect, clean, and warn of hazards in passenger areas, especially during high-traffic events like embarkation and disembarkation. If you or a loved one were injured in a cruise ship slip and fall accident involving unsafe walking surfaces, foreign substances, or lack of warning signs, speak with an experienced Florida cruise ship injury lawyer to learn more about your legal options.

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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.