MSC Cruises Sued by Passenger for Slip-and-Fall Injury on Deck 15 Aboard MSC Meraviglia
Zhu alleges she slipped on an unmarked and wet floor near the pool deck and buffet area on Deck 15. She asserts that MSC Cruises failed to:
- Maintain a dry, safe walking surface
- Warn passengers of known hazardous conditions
- Implement sufficient inspection or cleanup protocols
Lawsuit Alleges Negligent Maintenance and Failure to Warn of Wet, Slippery Conditions in High-Traffic Buffet Area
Case Name: Meidan Zhu v. MSC Cruises S.A.
Case Number: 1:25-cv-21761-WPD
Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
Filing Date: April 17, 2025
Plaintiff: Meidan Zhu, Pennsylvania resident and U.S. citizen
Defendant: MSC Cruises S.A., Swiss corporation with principal place of business in Geneva
Incident Date: May 28, 2024
Vessel: MSC Meraviglia
Location of Incident: Deck 15 near elevators and the Marketplace Buffet area
Legal Analysis & Implications
Premises Liability at Sea: A Duty of Reasonable Care
Under federal maritime law, cruise lines owe passengers a duty of “reasonable care under the circumstances.” That includes monitoring for transitory substances (e.g., water, soda, alcohol) and correcting unsafe conditions in areas known to be hazardous—such as those near pool decks or buffet entrances.
In this case, Zhu argues the subject area was regularly trafficked by both passengers and crew moving between the swimming pool, buffet, and elevators. According to the complaint:
- The liquid was present long enough to show footprints and track marks, supporting a theory of constructive notice
- MSC failed to squeegee, mop, or otherwise restrict access to the wet area
- No warning signs or barriers were erected to alert passengers
If proven, these allegations may satisfy the legal threshold for failure to maintain safe premises and failure to warn of latent hazards—two pillars of cruise ship liability.
Forum Clause and Jurisdictional Insight
The complaint was filed in the Southern District of Florida pursuant to MSC’s ticket contract, which includes a forum-selection clause mandating litigation in Miami federal court for U.S. voyages. The court has both diversity jurisdiction and admiralty jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1332 and 1333.
Trend & Policy Analysis
Buffet Area and Pool Deck Incidents Under Scrutiny
This case is part of a broader pattern of wet-surface litigation arising from high-traffic areas on cruise ships, particularly where food service and pool activity intersect.
In similar actions against other lines—including Carnival and Royal Caribbean—courts have looked closely at:
- The location’s propensity for spills
- Whether prior similar incidents were reported
- Frequency of crew inspections and cleanup routines
- Visibility of the substance to the passenger
As the cruise industry continues to grow, more plaintiffs are leveraging track marks, surveillance footage, and weather logs to show that cruise lines had time and opportunity to notice and fix hazardous conditions.
Contact Us Today
If you suffered an injury aboard a cruise ship due to unsafe walking surfaces or lack of warning signs, you may be entitled to compensation under federal maritime law. Cruise operators are responsible for keeping their decks, walkways, and public areas safe—especially in high-traffic zones.
To evaluate your legal rights, speak with a qualified maritime attorney. Don’t delay—many cruise contracts limit your time to file a claim.
