Louisiana Man Sues Royal Caribbean After FlowRider Surfing Simulator Accident Aboard Mariner of the Seas

Darius Green, a resident of Louisiana, 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-23602-DSL, alleges that Green sustained severe and permanent injuries while participating in the FlowRider surfing attraction onboard the cruise ship Mariner of the Seas on June 10, 2025.

Cruise Passenger Injured on Mariner of the Seas FlowRider Surfing Simulator Due to Unsafe Modifications and Lack of Pillow Padding

According to the complaint, Green was a novice participant who had never previously surfed or ridden a FlowRider attraction before the date of the incident. While Green was riding the simulator on his stomach, a Royal Caribbean crewmember instructing the attraction directed him to attempt riding upright on his knees. Almost immediately after attempting this maneuver, Green lost control, fell onto his left side, and was spun roughly 180 degrees by the rush of water. The high-velocity stream of water propelled Green backward into the rear wall of the simulator. The impact caused significant injuries to his head, neck, and his dominant left thumb, specifically resulting in a Grade III ulnar collateral ligament tear that required surgical repair.

The lawsuit emphasizes that the FlowRider onboard the Mariner of the Seas is significantly more dangerous than standard land-based models. Royal Caribbean allegedly shortened the overall length of the attraction to make it fit onto the deck of the cruise ship. Because the rear recovery wall was positioned much closer to the wave front, passengers who fall face a heightened risk of being violently thrown into the solid structure. Furthermore, the plaintiff asserts that despite the reduced size of the riding surface, the cruise line utilized a water propulsion motor that was just as powerful as those used on full-sized land attractions, compounding the velocity of passenger falls. The complaint also notes that Royal Caribbean failed to upgrade the attraction with modern industry safety features, such as updated pillow padding in the recovery zones designed to absorb impacts and mitigate injuries.

Royal Caribbean Accused of Having Prior Notice of Dangerous FlowRider Injury Rates Across Cruise Fleet

The legal filing asserts that Royal Caribbean possessed actual and constructive knowledge that its shipboard FlowRider attractions were causing passenger injuries at a high rate, yet the company failed to alter its operations or provide adequate warnings. To demonstrate that the cruise line had extensive notice of the hazard, Green’s legal counsel cited nine prior lawsuits filed against Royal Caribbean in the Southern District of Florida involving similar FlowRider accidents.

These prior cases include lawsuits filed by Kristina Fann regarding an accident on the Oasis of the Seas, Kaylian Thomas on the Mariner of the Seas, Jonathan Pope on the Harmony of the Seas, and Beckey Dasis on the Navigator of the Seas. Additional actions cited involve injuries suffered by Dana Adam Navarro on the Wonder of the Seas, Jeffrey Zisko on the Navigator of the Seas, Carl Schuenemann on the Adventure of the Seas, and both Oren Alkabetz and Rommel Baldoza on the Symphony of the Seas. The plaintiff argues that these extensive past incidents gave the cruise line ample opportunity to recognize and remedy the operational and structural dangers of the simulator, particularly the dangers associated with water pressure malfunctions, high velocity streams, and the hazards of riding near the water jets at the front of the attraction.

Complaint Alleges Cruise Line Uses Unenforceable Personal Injury Waivers to Deter Injured Passengers From Seeking Legal Counsel

The complaint raises significant allegations regarding Royal Caribbean’s continued use of liability waivers for the shipboard attraction. The plaintiff’s legal team references the landmark case of Johnson v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., in which the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that shipboard personal injury waivers are legally void and completely unenforceable under federal maritime law, specifically 46 U.S.C. Section 30509.

Despite this federal ruling standing since 2011, Royal Caribbean allegedly continues to require cruise passengers to execute the exact same electronic personal injury waivers before they are permitted to access the FlowRider. The lawsuit characterizes this ongoing corporate practice as a blatant attempt to mislead passengers who are unfamiliar with maritime law. The plaintiff argues that the cruise line relies on these unenforceable documents to create the false impression among average passengers that they have signed away their legal rights, effectively deterring them from contacting an attorney or filing a legitimate lawsuit for their injuries.

Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Thumb Injury, Medical Expenses, and Lost Vacation Value Due to Royal Caribbean’s Negligence

Green has brought four specific counts of negligence against the cruise line: negligent instruction and assistance, negligent failure to warn, negligent failure to maintain, and general negligence. The complaint states that Royal Caribbean breached its legal duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances by failing to provide adequate initial safety training or baseline competency testing for novice riders. The cruise line is also accused of failing to instruct passengers on how to safely fall or dismount when losing their balance, failing to maintain consistent water pressure distribution, and operating the ride at excessive speeds that were inappropriate for a beginner’s skill level.

The lawsuit alleges that as a direct consequence of Royal Caribbean’s operational failures, Green suffered permanent and continuing physical injuries, severe physical pain, mental anguish, and a loss of life enjoyment. The injuries have led to ongoing medical expenses, physical handicap, lost wages, and a permanent impairment of his overall working ability. Additionally, the plaintiff is seeking compensation for the lost financial benefit of his vacation, cruise fare, and related transportation costs because the incident entirely disrupted his cruise.

Contact a Cruise Ship FlowRider Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt in a Shipboard Water Attraction Accident

Cruise passengers who suffer severe injuries while participating in high-risk shipboard attractions like surfing simulators, water slides, or extreme sports decks may be entitled to significant financial compensation under general maritime law. Cruise operators have a strict legal obligation to maintain all onboard recreational facilities in a reasonably safe condition, properly train their ride operators, and provide adequate safety instructions to guests. If you or a loved one sustained an injury due to unsafe ride modifications, improper supervision, or a lack of proper safety padding on a cruise ship, our experienced maritime injury legal team is ready to assist you.

Contact us now to speak with a dedicated cruise ship slip and fall attorney and evaluate your potential claim.

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.