Maryland Man Sues Royal Caribbean After Suffering Shoulder Injury on Symphony of the Seas Waterslide
William Nichols, a Maryland resident, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, Case No. 1:25-cv-24977-MD, alleges that Nichols suffered a torn rotator cuff and bicep after being forcefully pulled by a crew member at the bottom of the Symphony of the Seas’ yellow waterslide.
Cruise Passenger Allegedly Injured by Crew Member While Exiting Waterslide on Symphony of the Seas
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on November 1, 2024, while Nichols was using the yellow waterslide aboard the Symphony of the Seas. After reaching the bottom of the slide, a Royal Caribbean crew member allegedly grabbed his arm and yanked him backward before he had fully stopped sliding. The abrupt and forceful movement caused Nichols to be submerged in water and inhale fluid. The crewmember allegedly continued pulling against the momentum of the slide, resulting in significant injury to Nichols’ arm and shoulder.
The lawsuit claims that the crew member’s actions tore Nichols’ rotator cuff and bicep, and that the pulling technique used was both inappropriate and dangerous. Nichols was allegedly not warned about the risk of this type of crew interaction before using the waterslide and had no reason to expect physical handling upon exit.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Vicarious Liability for Crew Member’s Negligence in Handling Slide Exit
The complaint asserts that the crew member was acting in the course and scope of employment with Royal Caribbean and that the cruise line is vicariously liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior. The crew member was allegedly trained, paid, supervised, and uniformed by Royal Caribbean and was following company procedures while managing the water slide area.
Nichols contends that Royal Caribbean failed to properly train its crew on safe passenger assistance techniques and failed to implement appropriate safety procedures for the exit area of the waterslide. The lawsuit argues that grabbing passengers exiting at high speed—especially without waiting for the slide’s momentum to subside—is inherently dangerous and should have been avoided with safer alternatives like handrails or verbal guidance.
Lawsuit Cites Prior Incidents Involving Slide and Ferry Disembarkation Injuries on Royal Caribbean Ships
Nichols’ legal team points to prior known incidents as evidence that Royal Caribbean was aware of the risks associated with improper crew intervention. The complaint specifically cites:
- Rosadeo v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (Case No. 22-cv-23991-KMW): Involving improper crew instructions on how to descend a waterslide on the Symphony of the Seas
- Hazelitt v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (Case No. 23-cv-21014-BB): Where a passenger was injured after crew members allegedly pulled and pushed her while disembarking a ferry from the Harmony of the Seas
These earlier cases are offered to show Royal Caribbean’s actual and constructive knowledge of the dangers of crew members physically handling guests during moments of momentum or transition and its failure to mitigate those risks through improved training or revised procedures.
Complaint Alleges Failure to Warn, Poor Crew Training, and Unsafe Waterslide Management
The lawsuit includes three counts of negligence against Royal Caribbean:
- Vicarious Liability for negligent actions by the crew member
- Negligent Failure to Warn passengers about the risk of injury from crew handling at the waterslide exit
- General Negligence for failing to provide a safe waterslide experience, including lack of handrails, poor positioning of crew members, and inadequate training
Nichols alleges that Royal Caribbean should have provided passengers with a choice regarding physical assistance at the end of the slide, implemented safer alternatives, and warned of the risks posed by crew actions. The lack of procedures allegedly created a hazardous condition that was not open or obvious to passengers.
Passenger Seeks Compensation for Permanent Injury, Lost Wages, and Diminished Cruise Experience
As a result of the alleged negligence, Nichols claims he sustained severe and permanent injuries, including physical impairment, pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical expenses. He also claims to have lost the benefit of his cruise and associated travel costs. The lawsuit states that the emotional and physical impact of the injury is ongoing and has diminished his quality of life.
Cruise Ship Waterslide Injuries May Be Grounds for Maritime Lawsuits
Cruise lines are responsible for the design, supervision, and safe operation of waterslides and other onboard attractions, especially when crew interaction is involved. If you or someone you love was injured by unsafe slide management, negligent crew conduct, or inadequate safety procedures aboard a cruise ship, you may have a right to compensation under maritime law.
Contact us today to speak with a cruise injury lawyer.
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.
