Massachusetts Woman Sues Norwegian Cruise Line After Slip and Fall on Wet Exterior Staircase Aboard Norwegian Jewel
Kathryn Bouffard, a resident of Massachusetts, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against NCL (Bahamas) Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-24009-DPG, alleges that Bouffard suffered serious and permanent injuries after slipping and falling on a wet, slippery, and hazardous exterior staircase while traveling as a passenger aboard the Norwegian Jewel on July 29, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured Descending Norwegian Jewel Exterior Stairs Due to Slippery Surface with No Warnings
According to the complaint, the incident occurred while Bouffard was descending an exterior staircase located on Deck 13 of the Norwegian Jewel. While navigating the stairs, she encountered an unreasonably slippery and hazardous flooring surface that caused her to slip and slide down multiple steps, sustaining severe personal injuries. The lawsuit asserts that the dangerous condition was not open or obvious, leaving the plaintiff with no way of knowing the hazard existed and no opportunity to prevent the fall. The complaint points out that the staircase lacked adequate tread to provide proper traction and that no warning signs, cones, or alternative safety measures were utilized to alert passengers to the high risk of slipping. Despite internal company rules, policies, and procedures designed to minimize passenger injuries, Norwegian Cruise Line allegedly failed to provide a reasonably safe walking environment on the open deck.
Norwegian Cruise Line Accused of Failing to Monitor, Clean, and Inspect Hazardous Deck Conditions
The legal filing alleges that Norwegian Cruise Line had both actual and constructive knowledge of the dangerous stairway conditions before the accident occurred. The staircase was located in an exterior area highly exposed to weather elements like rain, and sat directly adjacent to a pool, a hot tub, a restaurant, and a bar where crew members actively prepared and served food and drinks. The complaint argues that ship staff should have routinely observed and corrected the wet surface, especially since video cameras were installed to monitor the specific area. To establish a pattern of notice, the plaintiff’s legal team references several prior slip and fall lawsuits filed against the cruise line in the Southern District of Florida involving similar circumstances. Cited cases include McHone v. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd. aboard the Norwegian Encore, Baucom v. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd. aboard the Norwegian Escape, Sooklall v. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd. aboard the Norwegian Epic, and Kasmar v. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd. aboard the Norwegian Joy. These prior actions are cited to demonstrate that the cruise line was fully aware that its exterior staircases frequently became slick and hazardous but consistently failed to implement necessary maintenance, inspections, or warning procedures to protect passengers across its fleet.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Staircase Design, Unsafe Flooring Materials, and Inadequate Traction on Norwegian Jewel
In addition to maintenance and monitoring failures, Bouffard alleges that the exterior staircase on Deck 13 was defectively designed. The complaint claims that Norwegian Cruise Line directly participated in and approved the design and material selection for the vessel’s public exterior spaces, establishing internal slip-resistance standards that were ultimately ignored or bypassed. The lawsuit highlights that the cruise line failed to install adequate drainage systems to catch liquid accumulation, omitted coverings over the stairs to shelter the flooring from ambient weather conditions, and selected surface materials that lacked an acceptable coefficient of friction when exposed to water or liquid splashes. Furthermore, the vessel’s design allegedly lacked sufficient handrails, proper tread depth, and contrasting colors or patterns on the steps and landings to clearly guide passengers through changes in elevation, creating a deceptive physical hazard.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Physical Injuries, Medical Bills, and Ruined Vacation Costs
Bouffard brings four distinct counts of negligence against the cruise line: negligent failure to warn, negligent failure to maintain, negligent design, and general negligence. The complaint outlines that Norwegian Cruise Line breached its non-delegable duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances to ensure passenger safety. As a direct result of the fall down the staircase, Bouffard allegedly sustained severe and permanent injuries to her body and extremities. The lawsuit seeks compensation for physical pain, mental anguish, permanent physical disability, disfigurement, the aggravation of pre-existing conditions, lost wages, and a diminished future earning capacity. Additionally, she seeks recovery for all past and future medical care and treatment costs, alongside the total lost economic value of her vacation, cruise fare, and related transportation expenses.
Contact a Cruise Ship Staircase Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Injured on a Vessel Due to Negligent Conditions
Cruise ship passengers who experience severe slip and fall injuries on wet stairways, open decks, or poorly maintained public walkways may be entitled to financial compensation under general maritime law. Mega-cruise operators like Norwegian Cruise Line are bound by strict legal responsibilities to design, inspect, maintain, and supervise their vessels to protect travelers from predictable hazards. If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries in a similar slip and fall accident while traveling on a cruise vacation, reach out to our team of dedicated maritime personal injury attorneys today. We are committed to helping you navigate the complexities of maritime law and pursuing the justice you deserve.
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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.
