Florida Woman Sues Royal Caribbean After Tripping on Uneven Casino Floor Aboard Voyager of the Seas
Virginia Dewees, a resident of Trenton, 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-22304-DPG, alleges that Dewees suffered serious and permanent injuries after tripping on a hazardous floor transition inside the casino of the Voyager of the Seas on April 10, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Voyager of the Seas Due to Raised Ramp Surface and Uneven Flooring in Casino
According to the legal filing, the incident occurred shortly after Dewees and her husband boarded the vessel for a four-night Bahamas cruise. While the ship was still waiting to depart, Dewees visited the casino located on Deck 4. As she was ascending a ramp within the casino, her foot caught on a raised portion of the flooring that divided the carpeted and tiled surfaces. This unexpected vertical change caused her to fall forward abruptly onto the ground. The lawsuit includes photographic evidence of the transition area, highlighting the specific location where the flooring surfaces meet at an uneven height.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Constructive Notice of Tripping Hazards Based on Prior Casino and Ramp Incidents
The lawsuit alleges that Royal Caribbean had constructive notice of the dangers posed by uneven floor surfaces and height differences on its ramps due to a history of similar incidents across its fleet. To support this claim of prior knowledge, the plaintiff’s legal team cites several previous lawsuits filed in the Southern District of Florida involving passengers who tripped on ramps or uneven surfaces aboard other Royal Caribbean ships. These referenced cases include incidents on the Azamara Journey, Harmony of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas. The complaint argues that these repeated occurrences should have alerted the cruise line to the inherent risks of such walkway designs, yet the company allegedly failed to implement corrective measures or safety protocols to prevent future falls.
Complaint Alleges Violation of Passenger Vessel Accessibility Guidelines and Industry Safety Standards
In addition to the history of prior falls, the complaint asserts that Royal Caribbean was on notice of the hazard because the casino ramp violated specific industry safety standards. The lawsuit specifically points to the Passenger Vessels Accessibility Guidelines, which require deck surfaces to be stable, firm, and slip resistant. Furthermore, the plaintiff alleges the ramp may have failed to comply with slope requirements. By failing to maintain a flush transition between the carpet and tile, the cruise line allegedly created a hidden and non-obvious tripping hazard that was not apparent to a reasonable passenger navigating the casino walkway.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Serious Injuries and Extensive Medical Treatment Following Casino Fall
Dewees brings two primary counts against Royal Caribbean: negligent failure to maintain the casino floor and failure to warn of a known dangerous condition. The lawsuit claims that the cruise line breached its duty of reasonable care by failing to inspect and monitor the ramp, failing to implement necessary repairs, and failing to provide verbal or written warnings to passengers regarding the uneven flooring. Following the fall, the onboard infirmary conducted x-rays and advised Dewees to disembark the ship immediately rather than proceeding with the cruise. As a result of the negligence, the plaintiff claims she sustained serious injuries to her neck, face, legs, and right shoulder. She is seeking compensation for past and future pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical expenses, physical therapy, and the loss of earning capacity.
Contact a Cruise Ship Casino Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Injured by an Uneven Walkway or Tripping Hazard
Cruise passengers who suffer injuries due to poorly maintained flooring, uneven ramps, or hidden tripping hazards may be entitled to significant compensation under maritime law. Cruise operators like Royal Caribbean have a non-delegable duty to maintain their vessels in a reasonably safe condition and to warn of any dangers that are not open and obvious. If you or a loved one experienced a slip and fall or trip and fall accident while on a cruise, our team of experienced maritime attorneys is available to help you navigate the legal process and protect your rights.
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.
