Maryland Woman Sues Royal Caribbean Cruises After Slip and Fall on Wet Central Park Walkway Aboard Symphony of the Seas
Samantha Zipp-Dowd, a resident of Maryland, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-24060-FAM, alleges that Zipp-Dowd suffered serious and permanent injuries after slipping on a wet and slippery foreign substance while walking through the Central Park neighborhood aboard the Symphony of the Seas on May 13, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured Walking on Symphony of the Seas Due to Slippery Central Park Walkway with No Warnings
According to the complaint, the incident occurred while Zipp-Dowd was walking on Deck 8 of the vessel in the high-traffic area known as Central Park, near the Park Café. While traversing the walkway, she encountered a dangerous, transitory foreign substance and an otherwise slippery surface that lacked appropriate warning signs, barriers, or immediate crew intervention. The wet hazard was allegedly difficult to see against the coloration of the flooring and was partially concealed by nearby floor mats, meaning the danger was not open or obvious to an unsuspecting passenger. Despite Royal Caribbean’s internal safety policies, which recognize that slips and falls should be prevented by promptly cleaning walkways and placing specialized moisture-absorbent floor mats, the cruise line failed to provide a safe walking surface or alert passengers to the hazard.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Failing to Maintain, Warn, and Secure Unsafe Walkway Conditions After Prior Passenger Fall
The lawsuit alleges that Royal Caribbean had explicit actual and constructive knowledge of the unsafe walkway conditions prior to the plaintiff’s accident. According to the filing, another passenger named Helen Sutherland had slipped and fallen on the exact same dangerous condition earlier that day. Cruise line crew members and a supervisory employee responded to the initial fall and were physically present at the scene. Despite this direct notice, the hazard was not dried, cordoned off, or marked with caution signs in the interim between the two falls. In fact, a supervisory crew member allegedly directed that the Central Park walkway remain open to traffic rather than restricting access to prevent further injuries.
Complaint Alleges History of Slip and Fall Accidents on Central Park Deck 8 Walkways Across Oasis-Class Cruise Fleet
To establish a recurring pattern of negligence, the plaintiff’s legal team references multiple prior slip and fall lawsuits filed in the Southern District of Florida involving similar external walkway hazards on Royal Caribbean ships. The complaint cites previous cases including Squarer v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., Selwood v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., and Sorenson v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., all of which involved passengers slipping on external walking surfaces in the Central Park area of the Symphony of the Seas. Additionally, the lawsuit points to Couto v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., which involved a similar slip and fall on the Harmony of the Seas, a sister Oasis-class vessel utilizing the same deck design and flooring material. These prior cases, along with established pedestrian safety standards from ANSI and ASTM International, are cited as evidence that the cruise line was fully aware of the slick nature of these weather-exposed walkways but failed to implement permanent corrective measures.
Plaintiff Seeks Compensatory Damages for Permanent Injuries, Medical Expenses, and Lost Earnings Due to Cruise Line Negligence
Zipp-Dowd brings three counts against Royal Caribbean: negligent maintenance, negligent failure to warn, and vicarious liability under the doctrine of respondeat superior for the actions of its crew members. She claims the cruise line breached its duty of reasonable care by failing to properly inspect, clean, or close the area after a known hazard was identified. The lawsuit states that as a direct result of the heavy fall, Zipp-Dowd suffered severe and permanent injuries, physical impairment, disability, emotional distress, shame, humiliation, and a diminished capacity to enjoy life. She is seeking compensatory damages for past and future medical expenses, as well as compensation for lost earnings and future earning capacity resulting from her ongoing physical limitations.
Contact a Cruise Ship Walkway Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt Boarding or Traveling on a Vessel
Cruise passengers injured while walking through common areas, decks, or neighborhoods due to hidden puddles, foreign substances, or poorly maintained floor mats may be entitled to financial compensation under maritime law. Major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean have a strict legal obligation to maintain all passenger walkways in a reasonably safe condition and to provide prompt warnings or close off areas when hazards arise. If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury due to a slip and fall accident while on a cruise vacation, reach out to our team of experienced maritime injury attorneys today to discuss your rights.
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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.
