Texas Man Sues Royal Caribbean After Wheelchair Fall on Gangway Aboard Rhapsody of the Seas
Louis Polemeni, a Texas resident, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida. The complaint, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-25647-RAR, alleges that Polemeni suffered serious injuries after falling from a wheelchair while being assisted down a gangway during disembarkation from the Rhapsody of the Seas on November 3, 2024.
Cruise Passenger in Wheelchair Injured While Disembarking Rhapsody of the Seas via Faulty Gangway
According to the complaint, Polemeni required the use of a wheelchair due to mobility impairments and was being assisted off the Rhapsody of the Seas by a Royal Caribbean crewmember. While descending the gangway, the wheels of his wheelchair allegedly struck a gap, bump, or misleveled section of the walkway, causing the wheelchair to tip and throwing Polemeni violently to the ground. The lawsuit asserts that the gangway contained a concealed hazard that was not open or obvious to passengers, particularly for those being wheeled backward as Polemeni was at the time.
Polemeni suffered serious and ongoing injuries, including physical pain, disability, and emotional distress, and claims the fall resulted from Royal Caribbean’s failure to provide a safe disembarkation route.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Failing to Inspect and Maintain Gangway Used for Wheelchair Disembarkation
The complaint alleges that Royal Caribbean failed to properly inspect, maintain, and assemble the gangway used for disembarkation. Despite industry standards and internal protocols requiring regular inspection and hazard prevention, the cruise line allegedly permitted passengers to disembark via a defective gangway surface that posed an unreasonable risk to passengers using wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
Polemeni’s legal team points to similar past incidents to support the claim that Royal Caribbean had prior knowledge of dangerous conditions involving gangways across its fleet:
- Perreault v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.: A passenger fell after stepping into a gap between the gangway and dock while disembarking the Ovation of the Seas in Alaska (2023).
- Cosseboom v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.: A wheelchair user was injured on a steep, wet, and misaligned gangway aboard the Ovation of the Seas. Testimony confirmed multiple prior incidents involving mobility-impaired guests (2018).
- Youngman v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.: A passenger was ejected from a scooter due to a misleveled gangway on the Mariner of the Seas (2022).
These earlier lawsuits are presented as evidence that Royal Caribbean was aware of the risks presented by uneven or poorly maintained gangways and failed to take corrective action.
Cruise Line Also Sued for Failing to Warn About Gangway Hazards and Dangerous Slope
Polemeni also alleges that Royal Caribbean failed to provide any verbal or visual warning of the gangway’s condition. The complaint states that the crew offered no instruction, signage, or barrier to warn passengers—particularly those with mobility needs—of the uneven or defective gangway surface. The lawsuit emphasizes that the hazardous condition was not obvious to the plaintiff, who was facing backward in the wheelchair and was entirely reliant on the crew’s assistance during disembarkation.
Crew Negligence in Operating Wheelchair Cited as Cause of Injury
In addition to claims of negligence related to the gangway itself, the lawsuit accuses the Royal Caribbean crewmember operating Polemeni’s wheelchair of failing to exercise reasonable care. The crew allegedly failed to maintain control of the wheelchair, neglected to observe the gangway’s defects, and did not divert the plaintiff to a safer route. The complaint cites a lack of training or supervision as a contributing factor to the crew’s failure to provide safe assistance during the disembarkation process.
The lawsuit brings five counts of negligence against Royal Caribbean, including both direct and vicarious liability claims:
- Negligent inspection and maintenance of gangway
- Negligent failure to warn
- Vicarious liability for crewmember negligence in inspection and warning
- Negligent provision of wheelchair assistance
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Pain, Permanent Injury, and Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Polemeni alleges that the fall resulted in significant and permanent injuries to his body and extremities, requiring medical care and impacting his physical and emotional well-being. The lawsuit seeks compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, and the diminished quality of life caused by the incident. He also seeks recovery for the lost value of the cruise and related travel costs.
Contact a Cruise Gangway Injury Lawyer If You Were Hurt During Boarding or Disembarkation
Passengers injured while boarding or exiting cruise ships via unsafe gangways, especially those relying on wheelchairs or scooters, may be entitled to compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines have a duty to ensure that gangways are safe, stable, and properly supervised during passenger transfers. If you or a loved one suffered a similar injury due to an unstable or misleveled gangway, contact our experienced cruise ship injury attorneys today to learn about your legal options.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise disembarkation 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.
