New Jersey Woman Sues Celebrity Cruises After Tripping Over Unmarked Threshold in Cabin Bathroom Aboard Eclipse
Karleen Canfield, a resident of New Jersey, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Celebrity Cruises, Inc. in the Southern District of Florida. The case, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-22964, arises from a June 8, 2024, incident aboard the Celebrity Eclipse during a roundtrip cruise from Bayonne, New Jersey, to Bermuda.
Cruise Passenger Suffers Shoulder Injury After Tripping on Cabin Bathroom Threshold While En Route to Bermuda
According to the complaint, Canfield was a fare-paying passenger aboard the Celebrity Eclipse when she tripped and fell over a raised bathroom threshold in her stateroom while the vessel was at sea. The doorway to the bathroom featured an elevated step that allegedly blended in with the surrounding flooring and was partially obscured by carpeting and the closed door. As a result of the fall, Canfield suffered serious injuries to her right arm and shoulder, requiring surgery and ongoing medical treatment. She alleges that the injury is permanent and will require further care.
Celebrity Accused of Inadequate Warning About Known Tripping Hazard in Stateroom Bathroom Design
The lawsuit asserts that Celebrity was aware of the hazard posed by the raised threshold and had placed a small “Watch Your Step” sign on the bathroom door. However, the sign was allegedly silver and poorly visible against the wall, partially blocked by a temperature control unit, and not sufficient to alert passengers of the risk. Canfield contends that the warning was not conspicuous enough to effectively communicate the danger to guests, especially given the design and placement of the threshold. The complaint claims Celebrity failed in its duty to take reasonable care under the circumstances by not marking or modifying the threshold more clearly to prevent foreseeable tripping accidents.
Cruise Line Allegedly Breached Duty of Care by Failing to Warn Passengers of Concealed Raised Threshold in Cabin
Canfield claims the threshold’s color, shape, and carpeting made it difficult to distinguish from the surrounding flooring, particularly when the bathroom door was closed. The raised area only became visible once the door was opened—by which time a passenger entering the room might already be stepping forward. The complaint argues that the threshold posed a concealed danger that was not open or obvious to a reasonable passenger and that Celebrity should have taken steps to either redesign the area or issue an effective, visible warning.
Plaintiff Seeks Compensation for Medical Expenses, Disability, and Loss of Enjoyment of Life Following Celebrity’s Alleged Negligence
Canfield brings a single count of negligent failure to warn, alleging that Celebrity’s breach of duty was the direct and proximate cause of her injuries. She seeks damages for pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of capacity to enjoy life, and the costs associated with medical treatment. The complaint emphasizes that proper warnings or safer design choices could have prevented the incident.
Contact a Cruise Cabin Trip and Fall Attorney If You Were Injured by an Unsafe Cabin or Bathroom Design
Falls in cruise ship cabins caused by unmarked thresholds, uneven surfaces, or poor lighting can result in serious, long-term injuries. Cruise lines have a legal obligation to design passenger staterooms that are safe and to issue adequate warnings about known hazards. If you or someone you care about has been injured in a similar stateroom accident, our maritime injury attorneys are here to help you explore your legal rights.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship cabin fall lawyer.
