Tennessee Man Sues Royal Caribbean After Drinking Caustic Chemical Mistaken for Water in Cruise Ship Cabin
Glen Hoes, a resident of Tennessee, 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-25458-RAR, stems from a disturbing incident aboard the Brilliance of the Seas on December 8, 2024, in which Hoes alleges he ingested a dangerous chemical cleaning agent that was left inside a reused water bottle on the bathroom counter of his cruise ship stateroom.
Cruise Passenger Ingests Cleaning Chemical Left in Water Bottle by Cabin Attendant Aboard Brilliance of the Seas
According to the complaint, Hoes was brushing his teeth in his stateroom bathroom when he noticed a bottle on the counter that appeared to contain water. Mistaking the bottle’s contents for drinking water, he used it to rinse his mouth. Upon contact, he immediately realized the liquid was not water, but a harsh cleaning solution. The substance—allegedly Oxivir 5-16 Concentrate, a commercial disinfectant—burned his mouth, throat, and stomach, leading to a diagnosis of caustic gastritis following a medical evaluation and endoscopy.
The cleaning agent had reportedly been left in the cabin by a Royal Caribbean stateroom attendant, who had used a water bottle to store or transport the chemical. The lawsuit alleges the bottle was unlabeled and left in a location accessible to passengers, creating a dangerous and foreseeable risk of ingestion.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Vicarious Liability for Crew’s Mishandling of Dangerous Chemical in Passenger Area
Hoes brings multiple claims against Royal Caribbean, including vicarious liability for the actions of its crew under the doctrine of respondeat superior. The complaint asserts that the crew member who placed the chemical in the cabin was acting within the scope of employment and that Royal Caribbean is responsible for the crew member’s negligent actions. Hoes claims the cruise line failed to ensure that caustic substances were stored safely and not placed where passengers might mistake them for consumable liquids.
In addition, Hoes alleges that the cruise line’s employees improperly transported and stored chemicals in reused water bottles—a practice that the lawsuit claims was both unsafe and known or should have been known to Royal Caribbean. The hotel director aboard the Brilliance of the Seas allegedly admitted to Hoes that the incident was the company’s fault and promised internal changes to prevent recurrence.
Lawsuit Alleges Failure to Warn About Crew Chemical Handling Practices in Passenger Cabins
The lawsuit also includes a count for negligent failure to warn, arguing that Royal Caribbean did not warn passengers that chemicals might be stored in containers resembling drinking water bottles or that crew might leave such containers in cabins. Hoes claims that he had no way of knowing the bottle contained a harmful substance and that the cruise line failed to adopt or enforce policies to protect passengers from such hazards.
The complaint contends that the cruise line either knew or should have known about the risk posed by the practice of using repurposed water bottles for chemical storage. It also suggests that similar incidents may have occurred previously and that Royal Caribbean failed to correct known safety violations involving its housekeeping procedures.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Chemical Burns, Lost Cruise Value, and Medical Expenses Due to Royal Caribbean’s Negligence
As a result of the ingestion of the chemical substance, Hoes alleges that he sustained serious and permanent injuries, including chemical burns to his digestive tract, physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, and lost earning capacity. The lawsuit claims he required extensive medical care and continues to suffer from long-term effects. Hoes is also seeking damages for the loss of the value of the cruise, transportation expenses, and the destruction of his vacation experience.
He brings claims of vicarious liability, negligent failure to warn, and general negligence, alleging that Royal Caribbean breached its non-delegable duty to provide a safe environment for passengers aboard its vessel.
Contact a Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer If You Were Harmed by Hazardous Cabin Conditions or Crew Negligence
If you or a loved one has been injured aboard a cruise ship due to unsafe cabin conditions, mishandled cleaning products, or the negligence of crew members, you may be entitled to compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines are responsible for maintaining a safe environment and may be liable for injuries caused by improper chemical storage or failure to warn of dangerous conditions.
Contact us now to speak with a Florida cruise 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.
