Royal Caribbean is facing a lawsuit seeking more than $75,000 after a passenger claimed she was injured when she tripped over a mobility scooter during a cruise last year.
Florida resident Colleen Parson has filed a civil complaint against Royal Caribbean Cruises, alleging negligence after traveling on the Jewel of the Seas, which departed from the US on June 22, 2024.
According to the complaint, obtained by People, Parson said another guest had left an electric mobility scooter in a walkway on the ship.
“Another passenger in the crowded casino bumped into [Parson] as she walked by, causing [her] to trip over the large mobility scooter which was parked near the crowded gaming tables,” the complaint stated.
She reportedly suffered what the filing describes as a serious injury, including a fractured left wrist.
The complaint further says Parson is still dealing with the effects of the incident and that she needed surgery described as an open reduction internal fixation procedure, a type of operation used to stabilize broken bones with hardware such as plates or screws.
Royal Caribbean has denied much of what Parson alleges, People reported, and argues she was responsible for what happened.
An attorney representing the cruise liner claimed the passenger’s “own negligence was the sole proximate cause of her injuries and damages, and as such any damages are barred as a matter of law.”
“The allegedly dangerous condition was open and obvious and should have been observed by [Parson] through the ordinary use of her sense,” the attorney on behalf of Royal Caribbean added.
That “open and obvious” argument is a common defense in passenger-injury cases involving cruise lines, which are generally sued under federal maritime law rather than ordinary state premises-liability rules.
Royal Caribbean’s Mobility Disabilities policy also addresses the storage and placement of scooters on board.
“Assistive devices including mobility scooters must be stored and recharged in your stateroom so fire doors, corridors and elevator lobbies are kept clear for emergency evacuation.
“When parked throughout the ship, they must be parked out of the way to allow safe and easy access by other guests and crew members.”
The policy is part of the company’s wider accessibility guidance, which says mobility scooters are permitted onboard but should be kept inside guest staterooms when not in use so public walkways remain clear.
Parson alleges the company failed to properly maintain the casino area and did not provide adequate warning. She is also asking for the matter to be heard by a jury.
Her claim seeks damages above $75,000 stemming from the cruise, which took place nearly a year ago.
The lawsuit centers on the Jewel of the Seas, a Radiance-class Royal Caribbean ship that entered service in 2004 and remains part of the line’s active fleet.
Court filings show that both sides must submit a joint scheduling report before the case can move forward. A later federal court order in a separate Royal Caribbean injury case, entered on November 11, 2025, illustrates how such scheduling deadlines can be reset as litigation develops, though Parson’s case will turn on its own docket and timetable.