New York Woman Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Slip and Fall on Dirty, Slippery Gangway While Disembarking Carnival Venezia in Bermuda
Debra Calloway, a New York resident, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-24050, alleges that Calloway suffered serious injuries after slipping on a grimy and uneven gangway while disembarking the Carnival Venezia in Bermuda on July 6, 2024.
Cruise Passenger Injured Disembarking Carnival Venezia Due to Missing Anti-Slip Strips and Slippery Walkway Surface
According to the complaint, Calloway was disembarking the vessel via a designated gangway that had been deployed at the Bermuda port. While descending the gangway, she encountered a slick and visibly dirty surface that allegedly lacked adequate anti-slip protection. The gangway’s right side, which Calloway used, was missing anti-skid strips that were present on the opposite side. She contends that there were no warning signs or safety barriers alerting passengers to the hazard, and that no crew members were posted to assist or caution those exiting the ship. Moments later, Calloway slipped and fell.
The plaintiff asserts that the gangway was not only unreasonably slippery but also poorly maintained, with grime buildup and design inconsistencies between the left and right walking paths. Photographs taken immediately after the incident are cited in the complaint to illustrate these dangerous conditions. Calloway alleges the fall was entirely preventable and the result of Carnival’s failure to ensure a safe disembarkation process.
Carnival Accused of Failing to Maintain Safe Gangway Conditions Despite History of Similar Passenger Incidents
The lawsuit alleges that Carnival had both actual and constructive knowledge of the unsafe condition of the gangway and failed to take corrective action. Calloway’s legal team references a series of prior gangway-related slip and fall lawsuits previously filed in the Southern District of Florida. These earlier incidents, according to the complaint, involved similar circumstances in which passengers slipped while boarding or exiting vessels due to improperly maintained or inadequately equipped gangways.
The repetition of these incidents is presented as evidence that Carnival was aware of the risk posed by gangways that lacked anti-slip surfacing or failed to meet safe design standards. Despite this pattern, Calloway alleges that Carnival did not modify its gangway equipment, train its crew to mitigate the hazard, or implement standardized safety precautions across its fleet. Instead, the cruise line allegedly continued to operate gangways that posed an unreasonable risk to disembarking passengers.
Complaint Alleges Dangerous Gangway Design, Lack of Anti-Slip Surfacing, and Carnival’s Breach of Its Non-Delegable Duty
Calloway contends that the gangway on the Carnival Venezia was designed and maintained in a way that failed to account for passenger safety. The absence of anti-slip materials on the side she was directed to use allegedly created a foreseeable risk of harm, especially in the presence of grime and dampness. The complaint further alleges that Carnival violated internal safety standards and failed to follow industry protocols that require cruise lines to inspect, maintain, and secure gangways used for passenger egress.
Under maritime law, cruise operators owe a heightened duty of care during the boarding and disembarkation process. The complaint cites legal precedent, including Vierling v. Celebrity Cruises, Inc., to emphasize that even slight negligence during egress may render a cruise line liable. By deploying a gangway that was not uniformly equipped with anti-slip features and by failing to warn passengers about the conditions, Calloway alleges that Carnival breached this duty.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Physical Injuries, Pain, and Economic Loss Resulting from Carnival’s Alleged Negligence
Calloway brings claims of negligent maintenance, failure to warn, and general negligence against Carnival. She asserts that the fall caused her to suffer physical injuries to her body and extremities, emotional distress, disfigurement, and loss of mobility. She also alleges that the injuries have resulted in substantial medical expenses and diminished earning capacity. In addition to physical harm, the complaint seeks recovery for the loss of value of her cruise vacation, asserting that her experience was significantly disrupted due to the incident.
The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $75,000 and demands a jury trial.
Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Accidents on Gangways May Qualify for Maritime Injury Compensation
Cruise lines such as Carnival have a legal obligation to ensure safe conditions for passengers boarding and disembarking their vessels. Gangways must be clean, properly equipped, and uniformly safe for all passengers, regardless of the weather or port location. When these responsibilities are not met, and passengers are injured as a result, maritime law provides a path for recovery.
If you or a loved one has been injured while disembarking from a cruise ship due to a slippery or defective gangway, you may be entitled to compensation.
Contact us now to speak with an experienced cruise ship slip and fall attorney.
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.
