New York Passenger Sues Royal Caribbean After Bunk Bed Ladder Falls in Cabin on Rhapsody of the Seas
Roy Garcia, a resident of New York, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-25672-RKA, alleges that Garcia sustained severe and permanent bodily injuries when an unsecured bunk bed ladder detached and fell backward while he was attempting to climb to the top bunk inside his stateroom aboard the Rhapsody of the Seas on September 12, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured by Unsecured Stateroom Bunk Bed Ladder on Rhapsody of the Seas
According to the complaint, Garcia was a paying passenger aboard the Rhapsody of the Seas for a weeklong sailing in September 2025. On the fifth day of the cruise, Garcia attempted to ascend the ladder leading to the top bunk in his interior cabin. As he climbed facing the steps, the ladder suddenly and violently shifted, falling backward four to five feet and causing Garcia to strike his back forcefully against a nearby armchair. The lawsuit asserts that the top hooks of the ladder were never properly secured to the frame of the bunk bed. A tight and crowded cabin layout, caused in part by a large chair positioned directly beneath the foot of the bunk and a lower bed placed beneath the side, left insufficient clearance for the ladder hooks to latch onto the bunk edges safely. Garcia contends that the dangerous condition was not open or obvious because the ladder had been placed in position by shipboard staff, creating a reasonable expectation that the setup was safe to use.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Having Actual and Constructive Notice of Unsafe Stateroom Cabin Hazards
The filing argues that Royal Caribbean had both actual and constructive notice of the hazardous cabin configuration and unsecured ladder well before the fall occurred. On the first day of the voyage, Garcia allegedly complained to his assigned stateroom steward about the bulky chair taking up substantial space in the cramped stateroom. The steward inspected the area but advised Garcia that the chair could not be removed and that nothing could be done to alter the cabin arrangement. The ladder remained in an unhooked, precarious state during daily housekeeping visits over the next several days without any corrective action taken by crew members. Furthermore, a blue warning sticker affixed to the bunk frame explicitly instructed attendants and guests to properly secure the ladder before use, demonstrating the cruise line’s direct awareness of the falling hazard. Following the incident, a shipboard security officer who investigated the scene alongside the steward allegedly admitted that the ladder should have been secured and acknowledged that the tight configuration made properly latching the ladder difficult or impossible.
Lawsuit Cites Prior Fleet Incident and Safety Regulations Involving Defective Bunk Bed Ladders
To establish notice under general maritime law, the complaint highlights earlier similar incidents aboard sister vessels within the Royal Caribbean fleet. Specifically, the plaintiff points to a prior federal lawsuit involving a passenger who suffered injuries when an unsecured bunk bed ladder tipped over aboard the Vision of the Seas, a vessel sharing substantially identical stateroom designs and bunk hardware. Garcia argues that this prior occurrence placed the cruise operator on clear notice that its stateroom ladders and tight cabin layouts presented a recurring risk of passenger injury. The complaint also asserts that Royal Caribbean failed to comply with international maritime safety standards under the Safety of Life at Sea convention, which mandates that escape routes and passenger quarters be maintained in a safe condition and clear of physical obstacles.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Bodily Injuries and Loss of Cruise Vacation Value
Garcia brings four counts of negligence against Royal Caribbean, encompassing direct claims for negligent maintenance, negligent failure to warn, and general negligence, as well as vicarious liability for the acts and omissions of the stateroom attendant. The complaint claims that the cruise line breached its legal duty of reasonable care by failing to ensure the ladder locking mechanisms functioned properly, failing to provide adequate clearance in the cabin, and failing to warn passengers of known structural hazards. As a direct result of the fall, Garcia alleges severe physical pain, mental anguish, permanent disability, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and significant medical expenses, alongside the complete loss of the benefit and value of his vacation.
Contact a Cruise Ship Cabin Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt by Unsafe Stateroom Conditions
Cruise line operators have a non-delegable duty under maritime law to maintain guest staterooms, bunks, ladders, and walkways in a reasonably safe condition for all travelers. When cruise lines fail to follow their own safety protocols, ignore passenger reports of unsafe furniture layouts, or provide unstable bunk ladders, severe injuries can occur. If you or a loved one suffered injuries due to unsafe conditions or defective equipment during a cruise vacation, reaching out to an experienced maritime attorney can help you protect your rights and pursue fair financial compensation.
Contact us now to speak with an experienced cruise ship injury lawyer about your potential claim.
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.
