Florida Woman Sues Royal Caribbean After Zip Line Crash on Oasis of the Seas
Sandra Leibowitz, a resident of Florida, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., doing business as Royal Caribbean Group, in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-24176-RKA, alleges that Leibowitz sustained severe and permanent injuries during an onboard zip line activity while traveling as a paying passenger aboard the Oasis of the Seas on July 2, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Oasis of the Seas Due to Dangerous Zip Line Braking System and Forced Attendant Stop
According to the complaint, the incident occurred at the conclusion of the shipboard zip line attraction. The plaintiff alleges that the onboard zip line braking and stopping system failed to adequately slow her momentum before she reached the end of the course. As a result of this mechanical failure, Leibowitz was either caused to impact the wall or was forcefully grabbed by a Royal Caribbean zip line attendant positioned at the landing platform. The lawsuit claims the zip line activity and its designated stopping area were dangerous because the vessel lacked sufficient automatic braking mechanisms, padding, and safety barriers to prevent passengers from overshooting the arrival zone. Leibowitz asserts that the hazard was not open or obvious, and that she could have done nothing to prevent the violent collision.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Prior Knowledge and Failing to Train Onboard Zip Line Attendants Safely
The lawsuit alleges that Royal Caribbean possessed actual and constructive knowledge of the systemic dangers associated with its onboard zip line activities well before this incident. The plaintiff’s legal team points to previous maritime personal injury lawsuits filed against the cruise line in the Southern District of Florida involving similar zip line overruns on the same vessel. The complaint specifically highlights Schwartz v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. and MacDonald v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., both of which involved severe passenger injuries resulting from insufficient slowing mechanisms, inadequate padding, and a lack of proper crew training at the landing platforms of the Oasis of the Seas. Despite these historical incidents, the cruise line allegedly failed to update its safety protocols, install video monitoring safeguards, or properly train the activity staff on how to safely arrest a passenger’s momentum without using excessive physical force.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Design of Cruise Ship Zip Line Activity and Inadequate Passenger Safety Barriers
In addition to operational failures, Leibowitz alleges that the physical layout and design of the cruise ship zip line attraction were inherently hazardous. The complaint argues that Royal Caribbean directly participated in and approved a design that failed to accommodate riders traveling at variable speeds, body positions, and weights. By failing to integrate reliable automated braking systems or sufficient energy-absorbing safety padding near the termination wall, the design relied entirely on high-risk manual intervention by shipboard staff. The lawsuit asserts that Royal Caribbean failed to properly evaluate and correct these structural design flaws despite knowing that passengers regularly approached the landing area at excessive and dangerous speeds.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Injuries, Medical Treatment, and Lost Cruise Vacation Value Due to Maritime Negligence
Leibowitz brings five counts against Royal Caribbean, including negligent failure to warn, negligent failure to maintain, negligent design, vicarious liability for the conduct of its crew members, and general negligence. She claims the cruise line breached its non-delegable duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances to ensure passenger safety. The lawsuit states that as a direct consequence of the incident, Leibowitz suffered permanent injuries to her body and extremities, physical pain, mental anguish, disability, loss of future earning capacity, and ongoing medical expenses. Furthermore, she seeks compensation for the total loss of enjoyment of her vacation, including the value of her cruise fare and associated travel costs.
Contact a Cruise Ship Zip Line Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt in an Onboard Activity Accident
Cruise passengers who suffer injuries while participating in onboard recreational activities like zip lines, surf simulators, or water slides may be entitled to substantial compensation under general maritime law. Cruise operators have a strict legal responsibility to design, inspect, and maintain these attractions safely, and to ensure that staff members are properly trained to assist passengers without causing harm. If you or a loved one was injured during an onboard cruise activity due to mechanical failure or crew negligence, contact our team of experienced maritime attorneys today. We are prepared to assist you in evaluating your claim and pursuing justice for your injuries.
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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.
