Florida Woman Sues Royal Caribbean After Trip and Fall on Unsecured Carpet Aboard Voyager of the Seas
Maria Toro, a resident of Florida, has filed a federal maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-26097-CMA, alleges that Toro suffered severe, permanent physical injuries after tripping over an improperly secured carpet while walking through a passenger corridor aboard the Voyager of the Seas on September 4, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Voyager of the Seas Due to Dangerous Walking Surface Hazards and Lack of Warnings
According to the complaint, Toro was traveling as a fare-paying passenger aboard the Voyager of the Seas when she encountered an uneven, hazardous floor surface in the luggage hall gangway area. The lawsuit states that the carpet in this busy passenger walkway was not properly placed or secured, which created a hidden tripping hazard that caused Toro to lose her balance and fall violently to the floor. The complaint emphasizes that the defect was neither open nor obvious to reasonable passengers navigating the corridor, and Royal Caribbean personnel failed to post warning signs, place protective cones, or provide verbal cautions to alert travelers to the dangerous floor condition.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Failing to Inspect, Maintain, and Secure High-Traffic Passenger Walkways
The legal filing contends that Royal Caribbean had actual or constructive knowledge of the hazardous walkway conditions before the fall took place. Toro claims that the cruise line knew or reasonably should have known about the displaced flooring through routine inspection rounds, crew member oversight, and prior passenger complaints concerning uneven walking surfaces on the vessel. Despite having a non-delegable duty to keep high-traffic thoroughfares safe, the vessel operators allegedly allowed the dangerous carpet to remain uncorrected in an active pathway. The complaint argues that the failure to conduct timely maintenance and floor inspections created an unreasonable danger for guests moving through the luggage hall gangway.
Lawsuit Asserts Negligent Training and Shore-Side Oversight Led to Hazardous Conditions Aboard the Vessel
Beyond the immediate hazards on the ship floor, the complaint targets Royal Caribbean corporate management for negligent selection, retention, and supervision of onboard personnel. The plaintiff points to the cruise line dedicated shoreside operations department at its principal headquarters in Miami, Florida, which is tasked with supervising fleet safety protocols, housekeeping guidelines, and maintenance procedures. Toro asserts that this management arm failed to enforce adequate safety policies or provide appropriate training for staff responsible for inspecting and maintaining passenger corridors. Because crew members were allegedly not properly instructed to detect and correct floor irregularities, an avoidable hazard was left unattended in a primary thoroughfare.
Injured Guest Seeks Compensation for Lasting Shoulder, Elbow, and Knee Trauma Caused by Shipboard Negligence
The complaint formally asserts two counts against Royal Caribbean: negligent failure to warn and negligent selection, retention, and supervision. Toro alleges that the trip and fall resulted in serious and permanent bodily harm, specifically targeting her left shoulder, left elbow, and left knee. The lawsuit claims that in addition to acute physical suffering, the injuries have caused ongoing physical impairment, mental anguish, depression, and a diminished ability to enjoy life. The lawsuit seeks recovery for substantial past and future medical expenses, permanent impairment damages, and all additional legal compensation permitted under United States General Maritime Law.
Contact a Cruise Ship Trip and Fall Lawyer Today if You Suffered an Injury from Unsafe Shipboard Hazards
Passengers injured while traveling aboard a cruise vessel due to improperly maintained walkways, loose carpeting, wet surfaces, or a lack of cautionary signage may have a right to pursue compensation under maritime law. Major cruise lines have a strict duty of reasonable care to maintain passenger spaces in a safe condition and to warn travelers of known hazards. If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a cruise ship fall caused by hazardous flooring or negligent crew supervision, an experienced maritime personal injury attorney can help protect your legal interests.
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.
