Royal Caribbean Sued After Passenger Slipped on Pool Deck Aboard Wonder of the Seas
Jacquelyn McConnell, a Florida resident, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-25455-PCH, arises from a September 11, 2024 incident aboard the Wonder of the Seas, during which McConnell allegedly slipped and fell on an unreasonably slippery pool deck while exiting the pool.
Cruise Passenger Alleges Slippery Pool Deck Aboard Wonder of the Seas Caused Slip and Fall Injury
According to the complaint, McConnell was a fare-paying passenger on the Wonder of the Seas when she attempted to exit the ship’s swimming pool from the side—an action allegedly common among passengers. She claims the pool deck surface in that area was excessively slippery when wet, and Royal Caribbean had failed to take necessary steps to mitigate the risk of slipping. The complaint asserts that Royal Caribbean allowed too many passengers in the pool area at once, creating conditions that encouraged pool-goers to exit from non-designated areas without adequate grip or support.
McConnell maintains that she was exercising reasonable care for her own safety at the time of the incident, and that the slippery condition of the deck was neither open nor obvious. As a result of the fall, she allegedly sustained permanent and ongoing physical injuries, emotional distress, medical expenses, and a loss of enjoyment of her cruise vacation.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Failing to Maintain Safe Pool Deck and Ignoring Known Hazardous Conditions
The lawsuit claims Royal Caribbean either knew or should have known about the dangerously slick condition of the pool deck, particularly in areas where passengers frequently exited the pool without using ladders or steps. The plaintiff alleges the cruise line breached its duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions by failing to supervise and correct the hazardous surface. Furthermore, the complaint argues that cruise personnel failed to monitor the area or restrict access despite knowing the deck became dangerously slippery when wet.
McConnell’s legal team asserts that the defendant had both actual and constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition based on the nature of the hazard and the length of time it allegedly existed prior to the incident. The lawsuit also argues that a warning was not sufficient because the hazard was not readily observable by passengers, particularly when stepping out of a pool onto a deceptively slick surface.
Complaint Includes Negligent Design and Construction Claims Against Royal Caribbean for Pool Deck Surface
Beyond general negligence, McConnell’s complaint includes allegations of negligent design and construction. Royal Caribbean is accused of actively participating in the design, selection, and installation of the pool deck material aboard the Wonder of the Seas. The plaintiff asserts that the cruise line’s in-house engineers and design consultants failed to specify or install a surface that was appropriately slip-resistant under wet conditions.
She further alleges that the cruise line had the ability and responsibility to reject unsafe materials or design decisions during the shipbuilding process. Once the vessel entered service, Royal Caribbean allegedly failed to remedy the design flaw by resurfacing or modifying the pool deck with safer materials, despite being on notice of its dangers through prior incidents or observations.
Lawsuit Alleges Royal Caribbean Failed to Warn Passengers About Hazardous Pool Deck Conditions
The complaint also includes a count for negligent failure to warn. McConnell contends that Royal Caribbean failed to warn passengers—either through signage or verbal instruction—not to exit the pool from the sides, even though doing so would require stepping with wet feet onto a slick deck. The lawsuit asserts that Royal Caribbean was aware of the dangerous nature of the deck surface when wet and should have taken proactive steps to alert guests.
McConnell claims she was not informed of the hazard and had no reason to anticipate the risk, which allegedly led to her fall and subsequent injuries. Her legal team argues that, under maritime law, cruise lines have a duty to warn passengers of known dangers that are not open and obvious, especially in areas where the cruise line expects or allows regular passenger activity.
Florida Passenger Seeks Damages for Ongoing Injuries, Medical Costs, and Loss of Cruise Experience
McConnell’s lawsuit brings three primary counts against Royal Caribbean: general negligence, negligent design and construction, and negligent failure to warn. She claims her injuries are permanent and continuing, leading to ongoing medical treatment, physical limitations, and emotional harm. In addition to her personal injuries, she is seeking damages for the lost value of her cruise and related travel expenses.
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and demands damages in excess of $75,000, along with pre-judgment interest and legal costs.
Contact a Cruise Ship Pool Deck Injury Attorney if You Were Hurt on a Slippery Deck Aboard a Cruise Vessel
Cruise ship passengers who are injured due to wet and slippery pool deck conditions may have legal recourse under maritime law. Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean are legally obligated to maintain reasonably safe conditions on all passenger-accessible areas, including pool decks. If you or a loved one slipped and fell on a cruise ship’s wet deck surface, especially near the pool, our team of maritime injury attorneys can help you explore your options.
Contact us now to speak with an experienced cruise ship slip 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.
