New Jersey Passenger Sues Royal Caribbean After Tripping on Balloons and Sticky Tape During Party on Symphony of the Seas
Nancy Rosenberg, a resident of New Jersey, 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-24828-FAM, alleges that Rosenberg was injured after tripping on party decorations—including balloons and sticky adhesive tape—laid across a threshold on Deck 5 of the Symphony of the Seas during a disembarkation celebration hosted by the cruise line.
Cruise Passenger Injured During Disembarkation Day Party on Symphony of the Seas Due to Balloons on Walkway
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on October 20, 2024, as Rosenberg attended an onboard party organized by Royal Caribbean. The celebration took place on Deck 5, a commonly trafficked interior area. As part of the event, Royal Caribbean crew allegedly covered the floor with numerous balloons and secured them in place using an extremely sticky adhesive tape that was applied across a pedestrian threshold.
While navigating this area, Rosenberg’s shoe allegedly caught on the adhesive, causing her to trip and fall. She claims the combination of loose balloons and tape created a concealed hazard that was neither marked nor cordoned off. The fall caused her to suffer serious bodily injuries that required medical treatment and allegedly resulted in long-term impairment.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Creating Tripping Hazard With Party Decorations in High-Traffic Area
The lawsuit alleges Royal Caribbean had both actual and constructive knowledge of the dangerous conditions because its own employees placed the balloons and tape on the walkway and failed to take adequate precautions to warn or protect passengers. The complaint argues that the area where the decorations were placed was highly trafficked and routinely used by passengers and crew members.
Rosenberg claims the cruise line should have known that balloons scattered across the floor—especially when secured with sticky tape in walking paths—posed a foreseeable tripping hazard. The complaint alleges that no warning signs, cones, or verbal alerts were used to inform guests of the risk, and that the condition was not obvious to passengers unfamiliar with the setup.
Lawsuit Alleges Failure to Maintain Safe Conditions and Failure to Warn About Hidden Walkway Obstruction
The lawsuit brings three causes of action against Royal Caribbean: negligent failure to maintain, negligent failure to warn, and vicarious liability under the doctrine of respondeat superior for the actions of the crew.
Rosenberg alleges the cruise line failed to exercise reasonable care in maintaining safe conditions on its vessel by allowing crew members to decorate walkways in a manner that created tripping hazards. She further claims that Royal Caribbean failed to inspect the area, post appropriate warnings, or provide verbal guidance to passengers encountering the obstructed walkway.
Additionally, the complaint asserts that the crewmember responsible for setting up the decorations was acting within the scope of employment, making Royal Caribbean vicariously liable for the crew’s alleged negligence.
Passenger Seeks Damages for Physical Injuries, Pain, and Loss of Enjoyment Due to Carnival’s Negligence
As a result of the fall, Rosenberg claims to have suffered physical injuries, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses, and loss of earning capacity. She alleges the injuries are permanent and continuing in nature and seeks full compensatory damages along with the costs of litigation.
Contact a Cruise Ship Tripping Hazard Attorney If You Were Injured on a Vessel Due to Unsafe Decorations or Obstructions
Passengers injured due to unsafe or improperly placed decorations, balloons, or other tripping hazards aboard cruise ships may be entitled to compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines are responsible for maintaining safe walkways and warning passengers of any non-obvious dangers. If you or a loved one has been injured in a similar incident involving onboard celebrations or decorations, our maritime injury attorneys are ready to help.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a Florida cruise ship 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.
