Louisiana Woman Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Trip and Fall on Unmarked Bathroom Threshold Onboard Carnival Jubilee
Sharon Fontenot, a resident and citizen of Louisiana, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-23647-FAM, alleges that Fontenot sustained severe and permanent injuries after tripping on an unmarked and concealed change in level while exiting her cabin bathroom aboard the Carnival Jubilee on May 26, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured Inside Carnival Jubilee Cabin Due to Concealed Bathroom Step and Dim Lighting Conditions
According to the complaint, Fontenot was a paying passenger aboard the vessel when the incident occurred in the morning hours. As she was exiting the restroom inside her passenger cabin, she tripped and fell on an unmarked step, threshold, or change in level. The lawsuit describes the transition from the main cabin area to the bathroom floor as a concealed or camouflaged hazard. Furthermore, the complaint alleges that the cruise line failed to provide adequate lighting or illumination near the threshold. This lack of proper visibility effectively hid the dangerous elevation change in the dim lighting conditions of the stateroom, creating an unreasonably dangerous structural environment that was neither open nor obvious to the passenger.
Carnival Accused of Having Prior Knowledge of Hazardous Cruise Ship Cabin Doorway Thresholds and Ignoring Safety Standards
The lawsuit asserts that Carnival Corporation possessed actual or constructive knowledge of the unsafe condition before the accident took place. To support this claim, the plaintiff’s legal team points to previous slip, trip, and fall incidents that occurred on other Carnival vessels. Specifically, the complaint references a July 2022 incident aboard the sister ship Carnival Mardi Gras, where a passenger named B.M. was injured after tripping over an excessively heightened cabin doorway threshold. It also references a November 2023 incident involving passenger M.R., who suffered injuries after tripping over an unmarked bathroom threshold under similar circumstances. Because the Carnival Mardi Gras and the Carnival Jubilee share substantially similar structural configurations and fleet-wide features, Fontenot argues the cruise line was fully aware of the danger. Additionally, the complaint notes that Carnival has produced passenger safety videos for years specifically warning guests about the tripping hazards posed by shipboard thresholds, which directly proves the company understood the inherent risks of these unique design features.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Design, Improper Floor Material Selection, and Failure to Follow International Maritime Safety Treaties
Beyond a simple failure to warn, the lawsuit alleges that Carnival was heavily involved in the custom design, specification, and construction of the Carnival Jubilee. The plaintiff claims that Carnival directly participated in and approved the choice of flooring and the dangerous configuration of the cabin thresholds across its fleet. The complaint asserts that the cruise line violated international vessel safety regulations promulgated by the International Maritime Organization under the Safety of Life at Sea treaty, which mandates that escape routes and walkways must be maintained in a safe condition free of obstacles. The lawsuit further notes that the cruise line failed to comply with established domestic and international industry safety standards regarding safe walkway surfaces, floor materials, and accessibility guidelines, including those outlined by ASTM International, the American National Standards Institute, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Injuries, Medical Treatment, and Lost Vacation Value Caused by Cruise Line Negligence
Fontenot has brought four counts of negligence against the cruise line, which include general negligence, negligent failure to warn, negligent failure to maintain, and negligent design, construction, and selection of materials. The lawsuit claims that Carnival breached its legal duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances by failing to install visibly distinct thresholds, failing to use luminous paint or strip lighting, and failing to provide an adequately level cabin transition area. As a direct consequence of this fall, Fontenot suffered severe physical injuries, ongoing physical pain, mental anguish, physical handicap, disfigurement, and the aggravation of pre-existing conditions. She seeks financial compensation for her medical expenses, permanent physical impairments, and the total loss of enjoyment of her cruise vacation and transportation costs.
Contact a Cruise Ship Cabin Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt by a Tripping Hazard Onboard a Vessel
Cruise passengers who suffer serious injuries due to hidden tripping hazards, poorly illuminated steps, or dangerously designed cabin bathroom thresholds may be entitled to significant financial compensation under general maritime law. Mega cruise lines like Carnival have a strict legal obligation to maintain passenger cabins and staterooms in a reasonably safe condition and to clearly mark any structural elevation changes that could cause a foreseeable fall. If you or a loved one experienced a severe trip and fall accident while traveling on a commercial cruise ship, our dedicated team of maritime injury attorneys is prepared to review your case.
Contact us now to speak with an experienced cruise ship slip and fall attorney who can protect your rights and help you pursue the justice you deserve.
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.
