Ohio Woman Sues MSC Cruises After Tripping on Unmarked High Threshold in Cabin on MSC Seashore
Maria Zayas, a 72-year-old resident of Ohio, has filed a personal injury lawsuit against MSC Cruises, S.A., alleging that she was seriously injured after tripping on an unusually high threshold while returning from the balcony of her cabin aboard the MSC Seashore. The complaint, filed on August 31, 2025, in the Southern District of Florida under Case No. 1:25-cv-23925-RAR, seeks damages exceeding $75,000 for negligence and failure to warn under general maritime law.
Passenger Fractures Arm and Collarbone After Tripping on Cabin Balcony Threshold During Caribbean Cruise
According to the lawsuit, the incident occurred shortly after Zayas boarded the MSC Seashore with her husband on December 29, 2024, for a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise departing from Port Canaveral, Florida. After settling into Cabin 9165, Zayas walked onto the balcony to enjoy the view. Upon turning to return inside, her foot caught on an elevated threshold between the balcony and the cabin, causing her to fall hard to the floor.
Zayas claims the threshold was higher than standard or expected and that no warning signage or visual cues were present to alert passengers of the hazard. She alleges she did not notice the step when initially walking out and only avoided falling at that time by chance. Upon returning, the unexpected height difference caused her to trip and suffer multiple injuries.
MSC Accused of Failing to Warn Passengers About Elevated Balcony Step and Creating Hazardous Condition
The lawsuit alleges that MSC breached its duty of care by failing to provide adequate warnings about the raised threshold, which it knew—or should have known—posed a tripping hazard, particularly to elderly passengers or those unfamiliar with cruise ship architecture. The complaint notes that raised thresholds are among the most common causes of passenger trip-and-fall accidents aboard cruise ships and that the defendant failed to take reasonable steps to mitigate the risk.
Zayas asserts that MSC failed to install visible caution signs or paint contrasting color strips to make the elevation difference noticeable, despite this being standard practice in the cruise industry where floor-level changes are common.
Serious Injuries Allegedly Caused by Fall Required Surgery and Extended Recovery
As a result of the fall, Zayas suffered multiple fractures to her arm requiring surgical repair, as well as a fractured collarbone. She also claims to have endured physical pain, emotional distress, impaired mobility, and a reduced quality of life since the incident. The complaint states that these injuries are either permanent or continuing in nature.
Additionally, Zayas alleges that she lost her luggage and personal items when she was emergency evacuated from the ship for medical care, and that MSC has refused to return her belongings despite repeated requests.
Lawsuit Seeks Damages for Pain, Disability, Medical Expenses, and Loss of Enjoyment of Life
The lawsuit brings one count of negligent failure to warn, claiming that MSC had actual or constructive knowledge of the elevated threshold hazard and failed to alert passengers. Zayas seeks damages for:
- Bodily injury
- Pain and suffering
- Disability and physical impairment
- Medical costs and nursing care
- Emotional anguish and loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of personal property
The case underscores a broader pattern of cruise ship litigation in which hidden architectural hazards, such as raised thresholds or uneven flooring, cause injury to unsuspecting passengers.
Hurt by a Hidden Tripping Hazard Aboard a Cruise Ship? Know Your Legal Rights
Trip-and-fall accidents caused by unmarked steps, raised thresholds, or sudden elevation changes are a common source of passenger injury aboard cruise vessels. Under maritime law, cruise lines have a duty to warn of hidden or non-obvious hazards, especially when those dangers are known to the operator.
If you were injured aboard a cruise ship due to a dangerous condition in your cabin or elsewhere on the vessel, contact an experienced maritime injury attorney to explore your legal rights.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship trip-and-fall lawyer.
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.
