Florida Woman Sues Royal Caribbean After Trip and Fall on Defective Drain Cover While Walking Aboard Icon of the Seas
Lynda Hanono, 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-25376-JB, alleges that Hanono suffered severe and permanent physical injuries after tripping over a sunken and unstable metal grate while walking along a passenger thoroughfare aboard the Icon of the Seas on February 2, 2026.
Cruise Passenger Injured Walking Near Deck 8 Central Park Due to Sunken Metal Drain Hazard With No Caution Signs
According to the legal filing, the incident occurred as Hanono was navigating the busy walkway leading from the Deck 8 Central Park area toward the shipboard theater. While walking through this heavily trafficked area, she encountered a defective, unstable, and sunken metal drain grate running across the floor. The complaint asserts that the metal grate had shifted below the surrounding surface level, creating an uneven lip and an unsteady walking surface that moved underfoot. The structure posed an unexpected trip hazard to passengers walking through the area, as the drain grate shared a similar color scheme with the surrounding tiles, blending in and making the hazard difficult to discern before stepping on it. Royal Caribbean allegedly provided no warning signs, barricades, or crew supervision to alert passengers to the danger, despite expecting guests to use the walkway to reach ship amenities.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Failing to Inspect, Maintain, and Warn of Dangerous Deck Walkway Conditions
The complaint alleges that Royal Caribbean breached its duty of reasonable care under general maritime law by failing to maintain the shipboard walkways in a safe condition. According to the lawsuit, the cruise line had actual or constructive knowledge of the defective metal grate through routine cleaning, previous safety inspections, prior maintenance on the drain, or past similar trip and fall incidents aboard its fleet. The filing further points to international maritime standards, including SOLAS Regulation 13 regarding emergency escape routes, which mandate that primary passenger walkways remain clear of obstacles and properly maintained. Despite these requirements, the cruise line allegedly permitted the sunken grate to remain uncorrected until after Hanono was injured, at which point crew members performed repairs on the drain assembly.
Lawsuit Highlights Complex Fracture Injuries, Ongoing Medical Care, and Loss of Vacation Value Following Fall
As a result of the fall, Hanono sustained severe bodily injuries, including a complex comminuted fracture of her left proximal humerus with inferior glenohumeral joint subluxation and related left shoulder damage. The filing notes that her injuries are permanent and continuing, requiring extensive medical evaluation and treatment. Hanono is seeking recovery for physical pain, mental anguish, physical handicap, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and ongoing medical expenses. In addition, she is seeking compensation for the lost value of her vacation, cruise fare, and associated transportation costs resulting from the incident.
Plaintiff Asserts Counts of General Negligence, Failure to Warn, and Failure to Maintain Against Royal Caribbean
The lawsuit asserts three distinct counts against Royal Caribbean: general negligence, negligent failure to warn, and negligent failure to maintain. The legal team claims the cruise line failed to establish or enforce proper maintenance protocols, failed to secure the drain grate with adequate fasteners, and failed to warn passengers of known trip hazards along main thoroughfares. The complaint emphasizes that the danger was not open or obvious because the defect only became apparent once stepped upon, creating an unexpected shift under weight that precipitated the fall.
Contact a Cruise Ship Trip and Fall Attorney Today if You Were Injured Aboard a Vessel
Cruise ship operators owe a non-delegable duty of reasonable care to ensure that public areas, walkways, and emergency escape routes remain free from hazardous obstructions, uneven transitions, and defective hardware. When cruise lines fail to perform proper safety inspections or neglect known hazards, passengers can suffer severe, life-altering injuries. If you or a family member suffered an injury due to a trip and fall on a cruise ship, contact an experienced maritime attorney to review your case and protect your rights.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship injury attorney about your legal options.
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.
