Key Aspects:
- A former guest of Adventure of the Seas fell headfirst while using the FlowRider Surf Simulator.
- The guest fractured his neck, and claims that he was misdiagnosed by the onboard medical team.
- He is now suing Royal Caribbean on grounds of negligence.
Royal Caribbean is back in the hot seat after a former passenger was injured while using the FlowRider Surf Simulator while sailing onboard Adventure of the Seas on February 3, 2025.
The guest, Jason Keller, fell head first while using the attraction. In the fall, he sustained a fractured neck, as well as additional injuries.
He filed a lawsuit on February 9, 2026, against Royal Caribbean on accusations that the cruise line was negligent and failed to properly address dangerous issues with the surf simulator.
This latest legal action comes just months after the cruise line was sued by the passenger who was injured when the Frightening Bolt waterslide shattered onboard Icon of the Seas in August of 2025.
Royal Caribbean was also slapped with two wrongful death suits toward the end of 2025.
What Happened?
Per the claim, Keller“violently fell, headfirst, and thereby fractured his neck and sustained other injuries,” while attempting to surf.
The lawsuit then goes on to explain that the former guest “suffered multiple strokes as a result of his broken neck and suffers from left side weakness.”
Royal Caribbean did provide immediate medical care onboard, but Keller alleges that the doctors misdiagnosed his neck injury as less severe than it really was. Without proper treatment, the injury worsened.
As a result of the injury, the Pennsylvania resident says that he has endured physical and mental suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses, and lost income, for which he is now seeking compensation.
Was the Attraction Extra Dangerous?
According to Royal Caribbean’s website, the FlowRider Surf Simulator is a 40-foot-long attraction that lets guests try their hand at boogie boarding and surfing while 30,000 gallons of water rush at them.
The attraction is found across the fleet as a fixture of the Icon-class, Voyager-class, Quantum-class, Freedom-class, and Oasis-class. Select ships – Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Symphony of the Seas – even have two FlowRiders.
But according to Keller’s claim, the version of this attraction onboard the 3,807-guest Adventure of the Seas is extra dangerous because the attraction was shortened to better fit the ship. The details of the case that have been released publicly do not list the alleged length of the ride onboard the 138,193-gross ton ship.
Additionally, the lawsuit states that the FlowRider brand has begun using “pillow padding” in the recovery zones to try to prevent injuries, but that Royal Caribbean has not yet adopted this update.
Assumption of Risk
As a potential defense for the cruise line, there is an assumption of risk when guests choose to participate in these thrilling experiences.
“Riding on the FlowRider® is an extreme sport and high-risk recreational activity,” Royal Caribbean cautions on its website.
“Sheet wave surfing on the FlowRider may result in physical or mental injury, including but not limited to serious injury to the head, neck, back, hips, arms, and legs, as well as the possibility of illness, disease, paralysis or death.”
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Additionally, passengers are required to fill out a waiver prior to enjoying the FlowRider that shows they understand the risks of participating.
Crew members also reinforce height guidelines for safest use, which means only guests between 52 inches and 58 inches tall may participate in the attraction. Neither Royal Caribbean, nor Keller’s attorney, Luis Alexander Perez, have publicly commented on the lawsuit as of the time of publication.
Cruise Guest Sues Royal Caribbean Over Serious FlowRider Surf Simulator Injury
