New Jersey Woman Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Slipping on Wet Staircase During Disembarkation from Carnival Pride
Nancy Bennett, a resident of New Jersey, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-24541, the lawsuit alleges that Bennett suffered serious and permanent injuries after slipping on a wet staircase aboard the Carnival Pride while attempting to disembark at the end of her cruise on August 4, 2024.
Carnival Passenger Injured During Disembarkation After Slipping on Slippery Interior Stairs with No Warning
According to the complaint, the incident occurred as Bennett was navigating an interior staircase between Decks 4 and 5 while preparing to leave the Carnival Pride at the conclusion of her 7-day cruise. The ship was in the process of disembarking passengers, and interior staircases were heavily trafficked.
As Bennett began descending the second leg of a switchback staircase, she stepped onto what is alleged to have been a wet and unreasonably slippery surface. She lost her footing, slipped, and fell—sustaining injuries to her body and extremities. The complaint asserts that no warning signs, cones, barriers, or crew members were present to alert her or others to the hazard. Furthermore, the slippery surface was not visible or obvious, and she had no way of anticipating the danger.
Carnival Accused of Failing to Monitor, Clean, or Warn About Known Wet Staircase Hazard During High-Traffic Disembarkation Period
Bennett alleges that Carnival knew or should have known about the dangerous condition due to several factors. The cruise line reportedly had surveillance cameras pointed at the staircase area and had stationed crew nearby per internal procedures. These crew members allegedly failed to notice or respond to the slipping hazard.
The complaint also points to Carnival’s own policies requiring crew to monitor for wet or hazardous conditions during disembarkation—a time known for heavy foot traffic and increased risk of injury. Bennett argues that the cruise line failed to clean the area, dry the steps, or block off access despite the known dangers. In addition, the vessel allegedly lacked anti-slip flooring, proper maintenance of non-skid surfaces, or visible signage to mitigate foreseeable risks in high-traffic areas.
Complaint Cites Similar Prior Slip and Fall Incidents on Carnival Ships Involving Slippery Staircases
To support the claim of prior notice, the lawsuit references multiple similar incidents in which Carnival passengers slipped on wet staircases aboard other vessels. These include Hall v. Carnival Corporation and earlier cases from 2019 and 2017 involving passengers aboard the Carnival Paradise and Carnival Sensation, both of whom reportedly fell under similar circumstances due to wet, slippery stairs.
Bennett’s attorneys argue that these prior incidents, along with Carnival’s alleged settlement confidentiality practices, show that the cruise line was aware of the dangers posed by inadequately maintained stair surfaces during disembarkation. Despite this, Carnival failed to correct known issues across its fleet, including the Carnival Pride.
Lawsuit Alleges General Negligence, Failure to Warn, and Inadequate Stair Maintenance Caused Passenger’s Injuries
The lawsuit brings three counts of negligence against Carnival: negligent failure to warn, negligent failure to maintain, and general negligence. Bennett claims that Carnival breached its duty to provide a safe environment by failing to dry wet steps, monitor hazardous areas, and implement slip-resistant materials. She also alleges the cruise line failed to enforce internal safety protocols regarding disembarkation procedures.
Bennett seeks damages for permanent injuries, including physical pain, emotional distress, medical expenses, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity. She also claims a loss of the benefit of her cruise experience and related travel costs, asserting that the incident irreparably disrupted her vacation.
Contact a Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Lawyer if You Were Injured on Wet Stairs or Walkways During Disembarkation
Cruise passengers injured while disembarking from a vessel—especially on wet or slippery staircases—may be entitled to compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines like Carnival have a legal duty to maintain safe walkways and properly warn of hidden hazards, particularly during high-traffic periods like disembarkation.
If you or someone you know suffered a fall on a cruise ship due to wet floors, staircases, or other unsafe conditions, our maritime injury attorneys are here to help.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship slip and fall 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.
