Ohio Passenger Sues Royal Caribbean After Slip and Fall on Wet Pool Deck Aboard Rhapsody of the Seas

Michael Deoerio, a resident and citizen of Ohio, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., doing business as Royal Caribbean Group, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-27560-KMW on October 26, 2026, alleges that Deoerio sustained severe and permanent bodily injuries after slipping and falling on a wet and hazardous exterior pool deck while sailing aboard the Rhapsody of the Seas on November 17, 2025. Because the cruise line includes a mandatory forum-selection clause in its passenger ticket contracts, the action was brought in federal court in Miami, Florida, where Royal Caribbean maintains its principal place of business.

Cruise Passenger Injured Walking Near Whirlpool and Towel Station on Rhapsody of the Seas Deck 9 Pool Area

According to the factual allegations set forth in the complaint, the incident occurred around noon while Deoerio was lawfully aboard the Rhapsody of the Seas as a paying passenger. Deoerio had just exited a whirlpool hot tub on the open, mid-ship exterior portion of Deck 9 and was walking across the main pool area toward a towel station. While traversing the teak or synthetic-teak flooring near the vessel windows, he encountered an accumulation of liquid and slipped, falling heavily onto the deck surface.

Following the fall, Deoerio observed that the exterior walking surface was covered in a large puddle of water. Based on statements made by Royal Caribbean crew members in the aftermath of the accident, the walkway had become wet and slippery because ship workers were actively washing nearby windows just prior to the fall. The complaint further notes that the volume and hazardous nature of the liquid accumulation were likely worsened by regular foot traffic from passengers moving between the swimming pool, the hot tubs, and the towel station. This predictable passenger flow frequently causes water to mix with soap, cleaning solutions, and sunscreen over extended periods. Deoerio asserts that these dangerous conditions were neither open nor obvious to someone exercising ordinary observation, particularly because the clear liquid blended into the visual appearance of the deck material and gave no indication of the flooring’s exceptionally low slip resistance when wet. Furthermore, the area lacked caution cones, warning signs, physical barriers, or crew supervision to alert passengers to the hidden hazard.

Royal Caribbean Accused of Ignoring Prior Pool Deck Slip and Fall Lawsuits Across Vision Class Fleet

A central theme of the lawsuit is that Royal Caribbean had both actual and constructive notice of the recurring slip hazards associated with the teak and synthetic-teak flooring used across its fleet. The complaint highlights that the cruise line maintains internal databases tracking passenger injury reports, logs slip-and-fall complaints, and conducts safety meetings and vessel inspections designed to identify shipboard hazards. Beyond internal records, Deoerio’s legal counsel points to a series of prior federal lawsuits involving substantially similar slip-and-fall accidents on Deck 9 pool decks aboard Rhapsody of the Seas sister ships within Royal Caribbean’s Vision-class fleet, which share common architectural layouts and identical or nearly identical decking materials.

Specifically, the complaint references Waldron v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., involving a June 2025 incident where a passenger slipped on the main pool deck of the Enchantment of the Seas while walking toward the towel station. It also cites Franklin v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., stemming from an August 2025 fall on Deck 9 of the Enchantment of the Seas shortly after a passenger exited a hot tub in an area where cleaning crew members had been working. Additional cited litigation includes Sebestyen v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., concerning an April 2025 pool deck fall aboard the Vision of the Seas, and Hensley v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., involving a June 2022 slip and fall on Deck 9 of the Grandeur of the Seas. Plaintiff argues that these documented legal actions prove Royal Caribbean was well aware that its Vision-class pool decks lacked a sufficient coefficient of friction when exposed to water and cleaning agents, yet the company failed to take corrective measures.

Lawsuit Alleges Negligent Deck Design, Improper Flooring Materials, and Violations of Maritime Safety Standards

In addition to operational oversights, the complaint challenges the underlying design and material selection of the Rhapsody of the Seas exterior walkways. Having continuously operated the vessel since its delivery in 1997, Royal Caribbean allegedly retained ultimate control over custom ship specifications, flooring approvals, and surface finishes. Deoerio contends that the cruise line prioritized the aesthetic appearance of the teak and synthetic-teak decking over passenger safety, selecting materials and sealants known to become dangerously slick in an environment routinely exposed to weather, pool water, and window-washing runoff. The lawsuit states that Royal Caribbean could have installed marine-grade rubberized composites, abrasive strips, permanent anti-slip mats, or recessed drainage systems to mitigate standing water, but elected not to do so.

The complaint also grounds its liability claims in international and domestic maritime safety regulations. Plaintiff alleges that the exterior walkways on Deck 9 serve as designated emergency escape routes under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, commonly known as SOLAS, as well as guidelines promulgated by the International Maritime Organization. Under these mandatory regulations, cruise operators are required to keep escape routes clear, clean, and in a safe condition. The filing further references safety benchmarks established by ASTM International, the American National Standards Institute, and Title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations, asserting that Royal Caribbean failed to adhere to industry standards governing walkway slip resistance and wet-area maintenance.

Plaintiff Seeks Compensation for Permanent Physical Injuries, Medical Bills, and Lost Cruise Vacation Value

Deoerio brings three formal counts of negligence against Royal Caribbean: negligent maintenance, negligent failure to warn, and negligent design, construction, and selection of materials. Under the negligent maintenance and failure to warn counts, the complaint faults the cruise line for allowing water and cleaning solutions to pool on the deck without squeegeeing or drying the surface, failing to conduct timely inspections, failing to cordon off the area during window-washing operations, and failing to issue verbal or written warnings to passengers in the vicinity.

As a direct and proximate result of the fall, Deoerio claims he suffered severe injuries to his body and extremities, resulting in physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, disability, physical handicap, and the aggravation of pre-existing conditions. Because these impairments are alleged to be permanent or continuing in nature, he is seeking both past and future economic and non-economic damages, including ongoing medical and hospital expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, and reimbursement for the lost value of his cruise vacation and associated travel costs. The plaintiff has demanded a trial by jury on all triable issues under general maritime law.

Contact a Cruise Ship Pool Deck Slip and Fall Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt Aboard a Vessel

Cruise passengers who suffer serious injuries due to wet, poorly maintained, or improperly designed pool decks, walkways, and hot tub areas may be entitled to financial compensation under federal maritime law. Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean owe paying guests a legal duty of reasonable care under the circumstances, which includes selecting slip-resistant decking materials, properly managing crew cleaning operations, and posting clear warnings when wet conditions arise on exterior decks.

If you or a loved one was injured in a cruise ship slip and fall accident aboard the Rhapsody of the Seas or another vessel, speaking with an experienced maritime personal injury lawyer can help protect your legal rights. Contact us online today to schedule a consultation with a dedicated Florida cruise ship injury 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.