Texas Resident Sues Royal Caribbean After Tripping on Unmarked Shower Lip Aboard Enchantment of the Seas
Elva Frias, a resident of Texas, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-20080-RKA, alleges that Frias suffered serious and permanent injuries after tripping over a raised shower lip in her stateroom bathroom while the vessel was at sea on January 8, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Enchantment of the Seas Due to Unmarked Bathroom Tripping Hazard and Rough Seas
According to the complaint, the incident occurred while Frias was using the bathroom in her stateroom during a cruise departing from Tampa. As she was standing in the restroom, the ship experienced significant movement in the seaway. This movement, combined with what the lawsuit describes as an unmarked and raised shower lip, caused her right heel to catch, leading to a severe fall. The plaintiff alleges that the shower lip was particularly dangerous because it was partially the same color as the surrounding floor, making it difficult to distinguish the change in height. Additionally, the complaint notes that there were no handrails or grab bars available for Frias to hold onto or use to steady herself when the ship began to rock.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Failing to Warn Passengers of Dangerous Stateroom Conditions and Nautical Hazards
The lawsuit alleges that Royal Caribbean breached its duty of care by failing to warn passengers of the non-obvious tripping hazards located within stateroom bathrooms. Frias contends that the cruise line had an obligation to provide visual indicators, such as decals or contrasting colors, to alert guests to the height of the shower lip. Furthermore, the complaint asserts that the cruise line failed to warn passengers about the rough sea conditions encountered during the voyage. The plaintiff argues that Royal Caribbean should have used its ship-wide communication systems or posted signage to advise passengers that moving about the ship and using stateroom facilities would be more hazardous due to the vessel’s motion in the seaway.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Maintenance and Lack of Essential Safety Handrails in Passenger Bathrooms
In addition to the failure to warn, the lawsuit focuses on the physical configuration of the stateroom. Frias alleges that the bathroom was not reasonably fit for its intended use because it lacked basic safety features like grab bars that are necessary to arrest a fall during ordinary ship movement. The complaint argues that Royal Caribbean had actual or constructive knowledge of these conditions because the raised shower lip and the absence of handrails were permanent features of the ship’s design. The plaintiff claims the cruise line was negligent in failing to retrofit or modify these areas to ensure they were safe for passengers, especially considering that unexpected ship movement is a unique and foreseeable risk of maritime travel.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Hip Surgery and Permanent Disability Following Royal Caribbean Negligence
Frias brings two counts against Royal Caribbean: negligent failure to warn and general negligence. She claims that as a direct result of the fall, she sustained permanent and serious injuries to her right hip, as well as her right arm and shoulder. These injuries required surgery and are expected to necessitate ongoing medical treatment into the future. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages in excess of 75,000 dollars for pain and suffering, disability, mental anguish, medical expenses, and the lost value of her cruise vacation. The plaintiff asserts that had she been properly warned of the hazards or provided with adequate safety devices, the injury could have been avoided.
Contact a Cruise Ship Stateroom Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt in a Bathroom Fall at Sea
Cruise passengers who suffer injuries due to poorly designed staterooms, unmarked tripping hazards, or a lack of safety grab bars may be entitled to compensation under maritime law. Royal Caribbean and other major cruise lines are required to maintain their vessels in a reasonably safe condition and must account for the unique dangers posed by ship movement. If you or a loved one was injured in a slip and fall or trip and fall accident while on a cruise, contact our team of experienced maritime injury lawyers today to discuss your case and explore your legal options.
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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.
