Texas Resident Sues Royal Caribbean Cruises After Slip and Fall on Wet Dining Room Floor Aboard Radiance of the Seas
Kathryn Phillips, a resident of Texas, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., doing business as Royal Caribbean Group, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed in the Miami Division under Case No. 1:26-cv-24732-DPG, alleges that Phillips suffered serious and permanent injuries after slipping on a hazardous transitory substance inside the ship’s buffet dining area on September 17, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured Dining Aboard Radiance of the Seas Due to Wet Buffet Floor and Lack of Warning Signs
According to the complaint, the incident occurred while Phillips was walking in the Windjammer Café, a highly trafficked dining venue located on Deck 11 of the vessel. While navigating the public dining area, she suddenly encountered a foreign, wet, and transitory substance that rendered the floor surface unreasonably slick and hazardous. The cruise passenger asserts that the dangerous condition was not open or obvious, leaving her with no way of knowing the slick substance was present. Despite internal safety rules and safety management system policies designed to minimize the risk of passenger falls, Royal Caribbean allegedly failed to place caution signs, warning cones, or anti-slip mats around the hazardous area, leaving diners without a safe path through the venue.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Having Prior Knowledge of Slippery Dining Surfaces and Failing to Properly Monitor Hazards
The lawsuit alleges that Royal Caribbean had both actual and constructive knowledge of the unsafe condition but failed to execute proper cleaning or monitoring procedures. Plaintiff’s legal team notes that the wet substance appeared dirty, indicating it had been on the floor long enough that shipboard staff should have discovered and removed it. Furthermore, crew members were standing within close distance, actively monitoring the area for hazards per corporate policy, and closed-circuit video cameras were installed to oversee the space. The complaint argues that if Royal Caribbean had properly utilized its staff and surveillance, the danger would have been mitigated. To establish a pattern of fleet-wide notice regarding these specific dining room hazards, the complaint points to multiple prior slip and fall lawsuits filed against Royal Caribbean in the Southern District of Florida, including cases involving the Radiance of the Seas, its sister ship Brilliance of the Seas, and the Mariner of the Seas.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Maintenance of Dining Area Surfaces and Low Slip Resistance in High-Traffic Zones
In addition to failing to warn passengers, the complaint contends that Royal Caribbean breached its legal duties by failing to properly inspect and maintain the public flooring. The plaintiff argues that the cruise line did not maintain an adequate coefficient of friction or slip-resistant material on the floor surface, which is particularly vital in a heavy-traffic dining room where liquid spills are foreseeable. The lawsuit asserts that Royal Caribbean directly participated in the design and selection of these exterior and public flooring materials but failed to comply with established safety codes and standards, leaving the surface dangerous even when not contaminated by foreign substances.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Physical Injuries, Medical Treatment Costs, and Lost Value of Vacation
Phillips brings counts of negligence against the cruise line, including negligent failure to maintain, negligent failure to warn, and general negligence. The lawsuit states that as a direct result of the slip and fall, Phillips sustained severe and permanent injuries to her body and extremities. She is seeking damages for physical pain, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, physical disability, disfigurement, the aggravation of pre-existing conditions, medical expenses, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity. Additionally, because the severe injuries cut her travels short, she seeks compensation for the lost value of her cruise vacation, transportation costs, and related travel expenses.
Contact a Cruise Line Boarding and Dining Accident Lawyer if You Suffered an Injury Aboard a Major Vessel
Cruise passengers who suffer severe injuries due to slippery flooring, lack of caution signs, or poorly maintained public spaces may be entitled to financial compensation under federal maritime law. Major cruise lines have a strict obligation to maintain all public spaces, dining halls, and walkways in a reasonably safe condition for the passengers they invite onboard. If you or a loved one experienced a similar slip and fall accident due to shipboard negligence, contact our team of experienced maritime injury attorneys today to review your legal rights and explore your options for recovery.
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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.
