Cruise passenger sues Royal Caribbean after tripping over mobility scooter
The Royal Caribbean cruise ship Jewel of the Seas lies off South Queensferry, as the UK cruising season gets into full swing, on June 13, 2024 in South Queensferry, Scotland. (Photo by Ken Jack/Getty Images)
A Florida woman has filed a lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, saying the cruise line’s negligence led to injuries she suffered after tripping over a mobility scooter in a crowded casino aboard one of the company’s ships.
According to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Colleen Parsons claims she was injured on June 22, 2025, while aboard the Jewel of the Seas.
Details from the lawsuit
What we know:
Parsons said she was walking through the ship’s casino when another passenger bumped into her, causing her to trip over a large electric mobility scooter that was parked in a walkway near the gaming tables.
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Big picture view:
Parsons says Royal Caribbean did not exercise reasonable care by allowing mobility scooters to be operated and parked in a confined area that was already crowded with passengers, according to the complaint. She says the cruise line did not properly monitor scooter use, train employees on scooter placement, establish designated parking areas and prevent overcrowding in the casino area.
Dig deeper:
The complaint also claims Royal Caribbean new mobility scooters could pose a safety risk to passengers. Her attorneys cite a separate lawsuit in which another passenger was struck by a mobility scooter aboard a Royal Caribbean vessel.
According to the filing, Parsons said she suffered a comminuted intra-articular fracture of her left wrist that required surgery. She’s also seeking damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and other damages, in total of $75,000.
Royal Caribbean response
Royal Caribbean lists their mobility disability policy on their website, saying in part, "When parked throughout the ship, they must be parked out of the way to allow safe and easy access by other guests and crewmembers."
In an answer filed in court, Royal Caribbean denied all the allegations for the most part, saying Parson’s own negligence was the cause of her injuries. They have asked the court to rule in their favor.
The Source: This story was written with information provided by documents filed in the United States District Court Southern District of Florida. This story was reported from Orlando.