New York Woman Sues Royal Caribbean Group After Slip and Fall on Wet Pool Deck While Vacationing Aboard Oasis of the Seas
Annecia Campbell-Karim, a resident of New York, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., doing business as Royal Caribbean Group, in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-24560-KMW, alleges that Campbell-Karim suffered serious and permanent injuries after slipping and falling on a wet and unreasonably slippery deck area aboard the Oasis of the Seas on July 8, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured Near Lime and Coconut Bar Due to Slick Pool Deck Surface and Lack of Warning Signs
According to the complaint, the incident occurred at approximately 1:00 p.m. while the vessel was navigating international waters. Campbell-Karim was enjoying the afternoon on the deck 15 pool deck with her minor daughter, seated near the Lime and Coconut bar. When she stood up to walk toward the nearest restroom, she suddenly slipped and fell on a section of the deck that was wet, slick, and hazardous. The lawsuit asserts that the dangerous condition of the flooring was not open or obvious to the passenger, and Royal Caribbean failed to position any warning or caution signs to alert travelers to the risk. The complaint states that the cruise line failed to follow international maritime safety guidelines and its own internal safety protocols regarding the active monitoring of passenger flooring spaces for dangerous pooling liquids.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Notice Disregard with Multiple Prior Pool Deck Slips Cited on Sister Vessels
The lawsuit alleges that Royal Caribbean had both actual and constructive knowledge of the unsafe flooring characteristics on its vessel pool decks. The plaintiff’s legal team underscores that the cruise line maintains strict policies such as Own the Spill, Clean As You Go, and See Something Say Something, which obligate all crew members to actively scout for and remedy slip hazards. Furthermore, the complaint highlights a series of prior maritime injury lawsuits filed in the Miami Division of the Southern District of Florida involving similar wet deck accidents on the same ship or its sister vessels. The filing references specific cases including Hicks v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. on the Oasis of the Seas, Chacon v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. on the Allure of the Seas, Nappi v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. on the Symphony of the Seas, Lynch v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. on the Allure of the Seas, and Batten v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. alongside Cafarelli v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. on the Harmony of the Seas. These instances are presented as proof that the cruise line was long aware that its chosen pool deck flooring materials become dangerously slick when wet but failed to institute proper remediation or warning measures.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Failure to Maintain Proper Traction and Inadequate Staff Training on Spill Management
In addition to failing to warn passengers, the lawsuit claims Royal Caribbean failed to properly maintain the walking surface in a clean, dry, and safe condition. The complaint argues that the cruise line did not apply adequate slip-resistant floor mats or high-traction materials in an outdoor zone highly susceptible to liquid accumulation from the nearby pools and beverage stations. Additionally, the plaintiff brings claims regarding a failure to supervise and a failure to train, asserting that shipboard management did not adequately train utility, maintenance, and beverage staff to identify floor contamination, cordon off dangerous zones, or reasonably monitor the deck surface using the shipboard closed-circuit television camera system to prevent foreseeable passenger accidents.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Fractured Hand, Medical Expenses, and Lost Vacation Value Following Cruise Ship Accident
Campbell-Karim brings six counts against Royal Caribbean Group: negligent failure to warn, negligent failure to maintain, failure to supervise and monitor, failure to train, and two counts of vicarious liability targeting the negligence of specific shipboard crew members under the doctrine of respondeat superior. The lawsuit asserts that as a direct consequence of the fall, Campbell-Karim suffered a fractured hand requiring ongoing medical intervention, along with severe physical pain, mental anguish, physical handicap, loss of enjoyment of life, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity. Because the incident completely disrupted her family vacation, she is seeking full compensation for all past and future medical treatments, lost wages, and the total lost value of her cruise fare and associated transport costs.
Contact a Cruise Ship Pool Deck Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt Boarding or Traveling on a Vessel
Cruise passengers who sustain serious injuries due to wet surfaces, uncleaned spills, or a lack of caution signs on a ship’s deck may be entitled to financial recovery under federal maritime law. Cruise operators have a binding legal duty to maintain all passenger-accessible spaces in a reasonably safe condition and warn guests of non-obvious slipping hazards. If you or a family member suffered a slip and fall injury while vacationing at sea, reach out to our dedicated maritime injury team today to explore your legal rights and discuss your options.
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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.
