A passenger injured while sailing on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit seeking damages of more than $75,000.
Jaimie Lewis, of California, was a fare-paying guest vacationing aboard Harmony of the Seas when she slipped on a walkway in Central Park and fell backward onto the hard deck in November 2024, as reported by Holzberg Legal.
The outdoor neighborhood was wet due to the rain, with Lewis asserting that passengers could not reasonably perceive how slippery it was. The lawsuit, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, further alleges that Royal Caribbean breached its duty of reasonable care by failing to maintain the Central Park deck in a safe condition for guests.
According to the complaint, there were no visible wet-floor warning signs or anti-slip applications on the floor, despite the ship's crew being aware of the hazard. As such, the lack of signage, warning cones, or verbal warnings left Lewis unaware of the danger, which directly led to her accident.
Lewis's legal team, Gerson & Schwartz, P.A, claims that she sustained severe physical and emotional damage, including a concussion, neck injuries, and a puncture wound.
Her lawsuit seeks compensation for past and future medical expenses, physical impairment, disability, and the aggravation of pre-existing conditions, along with damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish (i.e., shame and humiliation), and the loss of capacity to enjoy life — all of which exceed $75,000.
Lewis asserts that her injuries are permanent and continuing in nature. Moreover, she was not the first guest to allegedly slip and fall on a wet Central Park walkway to file a lawsuit.
(Credit: Jeanne Grubbs / Facebook)
Between 2020 and 2024, there were over ten specific cases involving guests who suffered similar accidents. For example, on November 8, 2024, another passenger fell on a slippery Central Park walkway on Allure of the Seas (Hill v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Case No. 1:25-cv25669).
Similarly, on May 23, 2023, a guest on Oasis of the Seas slipped and fell on a wet Central Park walkway (Shipe v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Case No. 1:24-cv-20645).
Earlier, on January 2, 2020, a passenger identified only by the initials A.S. experienced a similar fall on a wet and slippery walkway aboard Symphony of the Seas (Selwood v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Case No. 1:20-cv-24513).
Lewis's legal team argues that these prior incidents demonstrate a pattern of hazardous conditions that have not been adequately addressed by Royal Caribbean on its Oasis Class vessels.
Most recently, the court issued an update stating that Lewis must file proof of service on the defendant by April 22, 2026. The order further states that failure to do so will result in dismissal of the case without notice. The directive was signed by Judge David S. Leibowitz on March 23, 2026.
Lewis hopes to hold Royal Caribbean accountable for the alleged negligence that disrupted her vacation on the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship and impacted her long-term health.
Which Royal Caribbean Ships Have Central Park?
The Central Park neighborhood debuted on Oasis of the Seas. Since then, the outdoor neighborhood has become a defining feature of Oasis and Icon Class ships.
Following its debut on Oasis of the Seas, the Central Park concept has been incorporated into all Oasis Class ships, including Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and Utopia of the Seas.
Icon Class ships — Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and the upcoming Legend of the Seas — feature an evolved Central Park design. For example, the open-air neighborhood is home to the Izumi specialty restaurant, along with innovative infinite verandahs that seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor living spaces.
Read more: Icon of the Seas Central Park: What to expect
Aboard Oasis Class ships, the Central Park area is located on Deck 8 and offers passengers an array of retail and dining options, ranging from Chops Grille to Park Café, Hublot, the beloved Trellis Bar, 150 Central Park, and more.
Because Central Park is not fully enclosed, its walkways are exposed to the elements, including rain, humidity, and condensation, which can occasionally make surfaces slick under certain weather conditions.
However, Royal Caribbean generally takes precautions to mitigate risks, including placing visible wet-floor warning signs throughout the outdoor neighborhood.
Harmony of the Seas Royal Caribbean Facts
Harmony of the Seas is an Oasis Class ship that set sail in May 2016. She measures 226,963 gross tons and is 1,188 feet long, according to the cruise line.
At double occupancy, the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship can accommodate 5,479 guests, in addition to the 2,200 international crew members who help the vessel run smoothly.
Highlights include the AquaTheater, zip line, FlowRider surf simulators, mini-golf course, Perfect Storm water slides, ice skating rink, Rising Tide Bar, escape room, adult-only Solarium, and more.
Harmony of the Seas is set to undergo a major refurbishment in April and May 2026. As part of the ship's Royal Amplification, she will receive brand-new cabins, an expanded casino, Pesky Parrot Bar, Playmaker's Sports Bar & Arcade, Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse, Caribbean-inspired pool deck, an upgraded Crown Lounge, and more.
Following the dry dock, Harmony of the Seas will spend the summer of 2026 in Europe, offering bucket-list cruises to destinations like Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Seville (Cádiz), Spain; and more.
She will return to Florida in August 2026. Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, will be Harmony's homeport through at least April 2028.
