Massachusetts Woman Sues Royal Caribbean After Slip and Fall on Wet Solarium Deck Aboard Wonder of the Seas
Laureen Kirkness, a resident of Massachusetts, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-25754-KMM, alleges that Kirkness suffered serious and permanent injuries after slipping and falling on a wet and slippery deck surface aboard the Wonder of the Seas on January 7, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured After Slipping on Wet Solarium Deck Floor Aboard Wonder of the Seas
According to the complaint, the incident occurred in the morning while Kirkness was walking through the Solarium deck area of the Wonder of the Seas to exit the space and get breakfast. The lawsuit alleges that she suddenly and unexpectedly slipped on a wet and hazardous liquid or water that had accumulated on the deck flooring. The condition was not apparent to her before the fall, and she had no reasonable opportunity to avoid the danger.
After falling, Kirkness allegedly remained on the ground unable to get up and observed a crew member approximately twenty five feet away dry mopping the same area. The complaint claims that despite active cleaning, no caution signs, wet floor warnings, or anti slip mats had been placed to alert passengers to the dangerous condition. Kirkness contends that the wet deck surface was not open or obvious and that Royal Caribbean failed to reasonably communicate the hazard to passengers using the area.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Failing to Warn Passengers of Known Solarium Deck Slip Hazards
The lawsuit alleges that Royal Caribbean knew or should have known that wet and slippery conditions frequently develop on Solarium deck floors and that such conditions pose a foreseeable risk of injury to passengers. The complaint references multiple prior slip and fall incidents involving wet Solarium decks aboard Royal Caribbean vessels, including incidents on the Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Symphony of the Seas dating back to 2022.
These prior incidents are cited as evidence that Royal Caribbean had actual or constructive notice of the recurring hazard. Despite this knowledge, the complaint alleges that the cruise line failed to take reasonable steps to warn passengers, such as placing wet floor signs, blocking off the affected area, diverting foot traffic, or providing adequate crew supervision while cleaning was underway.
Lawsuit Alleges Failure to Maintain Safe Flooring Conditions on Wonder of the Seas
In addition to failing to warn, Kirkness alleges that Royal Caribbean failed to properly maintain the Solarium deck flooring in a reasonably safe condition. The complaint asserts that the cruise line did not adequately inspect or monitor the deck surface to ensure it remained dry and safe for passenger use, particularly given the anticipated foot traffic in the Solarium area.
The lawsuit further claims that Royal Caribbean failed to implement or enforce adequate policies and procedures for addressing wet deck conditions, including timely drying of surfaces, use of anti slip materials, and temporary closure of hazardous areas. According to the complaint, these failures allowed the dangerous condition to persist long enough for passengers to be exposed to an unreasonable risk of harm.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Injuries and Loss of Cruise Enjoyment
Kirkness brings claims for general negligence, negligent failure to warn, and negligent failure to maintain under general maritime law. She alleges that Royal Caribbean breached its duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances and that this breach directly caused her injuries.
The lawsuit states that as a result of the fall, Kirkness suffered injuries to her body and extremities, physical pain, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and impairment of her ability to work. Her injuries are alleged to be permanent or continuing in nature. She also seeks damages for medical expenses, lost wages, future impairment, and the loss of the value and enjoyment of her cruise vacation and related travel expenses.
Contact a Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Lawyer for Solarium Deck Injury Claims
Slip and fall accidents on cruise ships frequently occur in high traffic areas such as Solarium decks, pool decks, and dining walkways where water and cleaning activities are common. Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean have a legal duty under maritime law to inspect these areas, correct hazardous conditions, and warn passengers when dangers are present. If you or a loved one were injured in a cruise ship slip and fall accident involving wet deck conditions or inadequate warnings, speaking with an experienced maritime injury attorney can help you understand your rights and potential legal remedies.
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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.
