Florida Woman Sues Royal Caribbean After Slip and Fall on Wet Floor While Boarding Liberty of the Seas
Gloria Caban, 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. 1:26-cv-23541-JB, alleges that Caban suffered serious and permanent injuries after slipping on a wet, clear, transitory substance inside the vessel after returning from a port visit on October 30, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured Boarding Liberty of the Seas Due to Wet Interior Floor and Lack of Warning Signs
According to the complaint, the incident occurred while the Liberty of the Seas was docked in Nassau, Bahamas, as part of a regularly scheduled three-day vacation cruise itinerary. After temporarily leaving the ship, Caban returned to the vessel and ascended a metal ramp that led to the designated guest re-boarding entrance. Upon stepping inside the interior of the ship, she immediately slipped and fell on an accumulation of a wet, clear, transitory substance on the flooring. The lawsuit asserts that this liquid accumulation constituted an unsafe and dangerous condition aboard the cruise ship. Caban alleges that Royal Caribbean failed to provide adequate warning signs near the wet area, failed to block guest access to the hazardous location, and failed to maintain a safe environment for passengers transitioning from the exterior dock to the interior check-in space.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Failing to Maintain, Inspect, and Secure Safe Boarding Conditions During Rain
The lawsuit alleges that Royal Caribbean breached its legal duty of reasonable care by failing to properly inspect and maintain its business premises. At the time of the incident, it was raining and the surrounding dock area was wet. Despite these actively wet weather conditions, crew members directed multiple passengers to climb a metal ramp that lacked a rubber mat, rug, or any other traction-enhancing tool to mitigate the moisture. The complaint argues that the cruise line crew knew or should have known that directing crowds of passengers up an uncarpeted, wet metal ramp would directly cause water to track indoors and accumulate into a dangerous transitory puddle at the ship entrance. Caban claims she had no practical alternative route to enter the vessel and had to follow the explicit instructions of the ship crew, which led directly to her slip and fall on the slick interior surface.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Boarding Procedures and Failure to Use Mats on Wet Metal Ramp
In addition to a lack of maintenance, the complaint details how the actions of the vessel crew directly contributed to the creation of the hazard. By affirmatively taking control of the boarding process and instructing passengers on how to return to the ship, the crew members assumed a specific legal duty to execute the process with reasonable care to prevent foreseeable harm. The plaintiff argues that the cruise line failed this duty by choosing an operational method that practically guaranteed a slippery interior floor. The lawsuit states that Royal Caribbean failed to remove the liquid substance from the floor in a timely manner, failed to issue verbal warnings regarding the slick floor, and failed to implement standard safety protocols such as laying down absorbent walk-off mats at the threshold of the entry door during active rainfall.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Injuries and Medical Expenses Due to Cruise Line Negligence
Caban brings two separate counts of negligence against Royal Caribbean, focusing on negligence regarding a transitory substance and active or direct negligence by the ship crew. The lawsuit contends that as a direct and proximate result of the cruise line’s failure to maintain a safe boarding area, the plaintiff suffered severe bodily injury. The complaint states that these injuries have resulted in significant physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical disability, disfigurement, inconvenience, and a loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life. Furthermore, Caban has incurred expenses for hospitalization, medical treatment, and nursing care, and has suffered the aggravation of a previously existing physical condition. The plaintiff asserts that these physical and financial losses are permanent and continuing in nature, and she is seeking a jury trial to determine a fair award for damages, court costs, and interest.
Contact a Cruise Ship Boarding Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt in a Slip and Fall Accident
Cruise passengers who suffer injuries due to wet interior floors, unmaintained gangways, or negligent boarding directions during poor weather may be entitled to significant financial compensation under federal maritime law. Cruise lines have a strict legal obligation to maintain their vessels in a reasonably safe condition and to warn travelers of hidden slip and hazard risks. If you or a loved one experienced a serious slip and fall accident while traveling on a cruise ship, reaching out to an experienced attorney can help protect your rights. Our legal team is prepared to review the details of your incident and help you pursue the accountability you deserve.
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.
