Georgia Woman Sues Royal Caribbean After Slipped and Fall on Wet Solarium Steps Aboard Wonder of the Seas
April Shear, a resident of Georgia, 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 lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-21057, alleges that Shear suffered serious and permanent injuries after slipping and falling on wet and unreasonably slippery steps in the Solarium area of the Wonder of the Seas on February 21, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Wonder of the Seas Due to Water Accumulation Near Solarium Hot Tubs
According to the complaint, Shear was a fare-paying passenger walking in the Solarium near the vessel’s hot tubs when she suddenly slipped on a set of wet steps. The plaintiff asserts that Royal Caribbean allowed a significant amount of water or liquid to accumulate on the open deck floor and failed to maintain the area in a dry and safe condition. Despite the presence of amenities such as pools, showers, and jacuzzies that foreseeably cause water to splash onto walkways, the cruise line allegedly failed to provide any warning signs, cones, or barriers to alert passengers to the hazard. Shear maintains she was exercising due care for her own safety and was holding the handrail at the time of the incident, yet the slippery surface made the fall unavoidable.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Failing to Inspect and Warn of Known Slippery Conditions in Shipboard Solarium
The lawsuit alleges that Royal Caribbean had both actual and constructive knowledge of the dangerous conditions in the Solarium. The complaint highlights that the cruise line documents slip and fall incidents through safety meetings, repair logs, and internal databases, yet failed to take corrective action. To support the claim of notice, the legal team references several prior lawsuits involving passengers who slipped on wet deck floors aboard the Wonder of the Seas, including cases such as Hehl v. Royal Caribbean, Schaub v. Royal Caribbean, Mabry v. Royal Caribbean, and Karikas v. Royal Caribbean. Furthermore, the plaintiff alleges that multiple crewmembers were present in the vicinity at the time of the fall but failed to mop the area or redirect passenger traffic away from the large puddles that had been allowed to accumulate over an extended period.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Medical Care and Failure to Train Crew in Safety Awareness Protocols
In addition to the initial fall, the complaint brings forth allegations regarding the medical treatment Shear received on board. Shear claims the shipboard medical staff negligently bandaged her right wrist too tightly and in an awkward, flexed position, which she alleges complicated her injury. The lawsuit also points to a failure in the cruise line’s own internal safety initiatives, such as the Shipboard Safety Awareness program and the Own the Spill initiative. These policies require crewmembers to inspect and maintain floors in a dry condition, yet the plaintiff alleges the staff failed to adhere to these procedures, failed to adequately supervise those present, and failed to properly train employees on how to manage recurring slip hazards on the open decks.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Wrist Fracture and Loss of Vacation Value Following Cruise Injury
Shear brings five counts of negligence against Royal Caribbean: negligent failure to warn, vicarious liability for failure to warn, negligent failure to maintain, vicarious liability for failure to maintain, and general negligence. As a result of the fall, Shear sustained a three-part interarticular distal fracture of her right wrist and an injury to her left ankle, eventually requiring surgery in March 2025. She claims to suffer from continued pain, decreased range of motion, and physical handicap. The lawsuit seeks compensation for medical expenses, mental anguish, disability, and the loss of the benefit of her vacation and transportation costs. Shear contends that her injuries are permanent and that the cruise line breached its duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances.
Contact a Cruise Ship Solarium Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt on a Vessel Due to Slippery Decks
Cruise passengers who suffer injuries due to wet floors, lack of warning signs, or improper maintenance of pool deck areas may be entitled to seek compensation under maritime law. Cruise operators have a legal responsibility to ensure that all public walkways and steps are kept free of hazards that could lead to serious slip and fall accidents. If you or a loved one experienced a similar incident while on a vacation cruise, it is important to understand your rights and the specialized statutes that govern maritime claims. Contact our team of experienced maritime injury lawyers today to discuss your case and explore your legal options.
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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.
