Massachusetts Woman Sues Royal Caribbean After Ice Machine Lid Falls on Her at CocoCay Snack Shack
Wenwen Li, a Massachusetts resident, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida. The complaint, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-25330, arises from an alleged injury that occurred on December 14, 2024, at Royal Caribbean’s private island destination, CocoCay. According to the lawsuit, Li was struck on the head by the lid of an ice machine while she was near the South Beach Snack Shack during her cruise aboard the Wonder of the Seas.
Cruise Passenger Injured by Ice Machine Equipment While Visiting CocoCay’s South Beach Snack Shack
Li alleges that while visiting CocoCay as part of her Royal Caribbean cruise, she was standing in a public guest area near the South Beach Snack Shack when the lid of a commercial ice machine fell and hit her directly on the head. The complaint claims that the equipment was mounted or placed in such a way that it posed a risk to guests, and that Royal Caribbean failed to secure it properly. The sudden impact allegedly caused Li to suffer serious physical injuries that required medical attention and led to long-term effects.
The lawsuit further states that the ice machine was part of the food and beverage setup operated by Royal Caribbean on the island and that guests had no way of knowing or avoiding the hazard presented by the unsecured or defective lid.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Failing to Maintain Safe Equipment and Guest Areas at Its Private Island
The lawsuit accuses Royal Caribbean of negligence for failing to secure, maintain, and inspect equipment in a high-traffic guest area. Li alleges that the cruise line had a duty to ensure that all food service equipment on CocoCay—including items used at the South Beach Snack Shack—was safely installed and regularly inspected. She claims that Royal Caribbean failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the accident and did not warn guests of any potential hazard, even though the risk was foreseeable and avoidable through routine safety checks.
The complaint asserts that Royal Caribbean exercises full control over operations at CocoCay, including ownership and management of the snack shack, and is therefore directly responsible for the safety of all guests using its facilities.
Plaintiff Seeks Compensation for Injuries, Medical Expenses, and Loss of Enjoyment Due to Incident at CocoCay
Li is seeking damages for bodily injury, pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost enjoyment of life, and medical expenses resulting from the incident. Her lawsuit states that her injuries are either permanent or continuing in nature and have had a negative impact on her physical and emotional well-being.
She demands a jury trial and seeks damages in excess of $75,000. The complaint invokes federal maritime jurisdiction and states that Royal Caribbean’s negligence directly caused the incident and resulting harm.
Injured at CocoCay or Another Cruise Line Private Island? Speak with a Maritime Injury Lawyer Today
Cruise lines have a duty to maintain safe conditions not only aboard their vessels but also at private island destinations like CocoCay. Passengers injured by falling objects, poorly maintained equipment, or other hazards while visiting cruise line-controlled shore facilities may be entitled to compensation under maritime law.
If you or someone you love was injured at CocoCay or during a cruise-sponsored excursion, our experienced maritime attorneys can help you evaluate your legal rights.
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.
