Carissa McLean, a Missouri resident, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit on behalf of her five-year-old son, S.M., against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. The complaint, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-22291-CMA in the Southern District of Florida, alleges that the child sustained a fractured arm after falling off a couch in the Adventure Ocean play area aboard the Liberty of the Seas. The incident occurred on May 22, 2022, while the child was under the direct supervision of Royal Caribbean crew members.

Cruise Ship Child Injury Lawsuit Involves Fractured Arm in Adventure Ocean Play Facility

According to the complaint, S.M. was left in the Adventure Ocean youth program on Deck 12, a designated children’s play and activity area on the Royal Caribbean vessel Liberty of the Seas. The facility is specifically marketed for the use of young children during Caribbean cruises and is supervised by Royal Caribbean staff members. The plaintiff alleges that the crew allowed S.M. to jump on a couch within the play area, during which he fell and sustained a fractured left humerus, a serious and painful injury that required follow-up care and resulted in ongoing complications.

Allegations of Negligent Supervision and Unsafe Playroom Conditions on Cruise Ship

The complaint brings multiple counts of vicarious liability against Royal Caribbean, asserting that crew members failed to properly supervise children in the Adventure Ocean program, failed to prohibit jumping or climbing on the couch, and failed to inspect or secure the furniture to prevent injury.

The lawsuit further alleges that the cruise line failed to implement proper safety protocols for supervised children’s areas aboard cruise ships, and that the couch posed a foreseeable risk of falling injuries, particularly to young children. The child injury lawsuit also asserts that the risks were not visible or understandable to a five-year-old child, requiring age-appropriate warnings, verbal instruction, and supervision by trained cruise personnel.

Royal Caribbean Child Injury Complaint Seeks Damages for Ongoing Physical and Emotional Harm

As a result of the fall, S.M. allegedly suffered not only a fractured arm onboard a Royal Caribbean ship, but also emotional distress, disfigurement, and continued medical needs. The plaintiff is seeking damages for past and future medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, and other related harms.

The lawsuit emphasizes that the Liberty of the Seas playroom injury was preventable and occurred under the cruise line’s own supervision in an area specifically designed and marketed for young children.

Contact a Cruise Ship Child Injury Lawyer Today if Your Child Was Hurt in a Supervised Play Area

Cruise lines that operate youth programs and supervised play areas owe a heightened duty of care to protect children aboard their ships. If your child suffered an injury in a cruise ship’s children’s facility or Adventure Ocean program, legal remedies may be available under federal maritime law. To discuss your family’s rights after a child injury on a cruise, contact us today for a consultation.

Royal Caribbean Sued After Passenger Fractures Arm on Windy Running Track Aboard Icon of the Seas

Ada E. Baez Fiol has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. after fracturing her arm in a fall on the outdoor running track of the Icon of the Seas. The incident occurred on July 7, 2024, while the vessel was underway on a Caribbean itinerary. The complaint alleges that the running track was dangerously exposed to high winds and lacked adequate traction, creating an unreasonably hazardous condition. The case is filed in the Southern District of Florida under Case No. 1:25-cv-22305-JEM.

Cruise Passenger Falls on Windy Running Track and Suffers Severe Arm Fracture

The lawsuit states that Ms. Baez Fiol, a Puerto Rico resident, was walking on the ship’s upper-deck track when she encountered powerful winds and an unstable walking surface. Without warning, she lost her footing and fell violently, suffering a fractured left humerus. She was taken to the ship’s medical clinic, where staff reportedly provided only minimal care—a basic sling and morphine—and instructed her to wait until the ship returned to port for proper treatment.

According to the complaint, the track’s surface offered insufficient friction for safe use in windy conditions, and Royal Caribbean failed to warn passengers or restrict access to the area despite knowing the risks. The incident highlights concerns over deck safety on cruise ships in high winds and the cruise line’s obligation to monitor environmental hazards on board.

Allegations of Inadequate Medical Care Following Cruise Ship Fall Injury

The complaint also raises claims for negligent medical care aboard a cruise ship, asserting that the shipboard clinic failed to stabilize or evacuate the injured passenger in a timely manner. Despite her visible pain and deformity, Ms. Baez Fiol was told she would need to wait nearly a week to disembark for treatment unless she paid onboard charges upfront. Her daughter eventually arranged for them to disembark in Honduras, but only after delays, demands for passport verification, and objections from ship personnel.

After returning to Puerto Rico, Ms. Baez Fiol underwent surgery, including open reduction and internal fixation, as well as exploration of the radial nerve. She continues to suffer from physical limitations, pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life due to the injury and delayed care.

Cruise Ship Deck Fall Lawsuit Seeks Compensation for Fracture and Delayed Treatment

The lawsuit includes claims for negligent maintenance of cruise ship exercise areas, failure to warn of dangerous weather conditions on deck, and failure to provide adequate onboard medical care. The plaintiff seeks over $500,000 in damages, including medical expenses, onboard treatment fees, pain and suffering, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.

The complaint alleges that the cruise line ignored known risks associated with exposed outdoor walkways and failed to equip the ship’s medical team with proper tools and protocols to handle foreseeable injuries like falls on deck.

Contact a Cruise Ship Fall Injury Lawyer Today for a Free Consultation

Passengers injured due to slippery decks, high winds, or poor medical treatment aboard a cruise ship may be entitled to compensation under maritime law. If you or a loved one was hurt on a cruise, whether due to unsafe conditions or inadequate medical response, contact us today for a consultation to learn more about your rights.