Royal Caribbean Passengers Shocked by Another Major Accident

Recent Incidents Raise Concerns About Glass Safety on Royal Caribbean Cruises

Just a few weeks after a Royal Caribbean dining server became a "Hero of the Seas" for saving passengers from harm during a freak onboard accident, another seemingly related incident has some cruisers growing concerned. While the first incident seemed random at the time, a second case now has passengers wondering whether the first accident might actually have been prevented.

The first incident nearly led to multiple passengers being injured, had it not been for the quick actions of Royal Caribbean’s Nitin Kumar, who anticipated the accident just seconds before it occurred and moved passengers to safety. Kumar received Royal Caribbean's Royal Way Hero Award for his courageous actions that ensured that no one was hurt when a glass panel shattered above the pool deck as Symphony of the Seas docked in Port Canaveral, Florida, on June 8.

Although it seemed unusual at the time, instances of glass shattering on board cruise ships now appear to be a growing problem for Royal Caribbean megaships, especially for Symphony of the Seas.

Passenger Notices More Shattered Glass on Royal Caribbean Ship

While Symphony of the Seas was docked in Port Canaveral, Florida, on June 29, a passenger (jptoz on Reddit) noticed a similar shattered glass panel in the ship’s glass-enclosed Solarium. This time, however, the glass appeared to be laminated, preventing it from sending pieces of broken glass to the deck below. The passenger shared photos of the shattered glass panel in the Royal Caribbean community on Reddit.

In the thread, other passengers noted that they’ve seen similar shattered panels on other Royal Caribbean megaships. One user, CloudSurferA220, commented: “I’ve seen quite a few of these in various places on Oasis Class ships. Wonder if they’re flexing slightly differently than the engineers predicted.”

Unlike the tempered glass panel that rained down small pieces of glass onto the pool deck, these laminated panels avoid a safety issue by holding glass fragments together within a plastic interlayer, if shattered.

Should Cruise Passengers Worry About Glass Shattering on a Cruise Ship?

Royal Caribbean’s recent incident with shattered tempered glass — which doesn’t retain the glass fragments, but breaks into smaller, less dangerous pieces than regular glass does — has led some cruisers to worry about more glass accidents on cruise ships.

“This makes me not want to walk on the glass walkways on the MSC ships or use the cantilevered hot tubs on [Royal Caribbean] Oasis class ships,” AnonUserAccount wrote in the Reddit thread.

Of course, the type of glass used for cruise ship walkways is a much thicker type designed to support the weight of people walking on it, as other cruisers pointed out in the discussion. Some also wondered whether temperature changes between Symphony of the Seas’ home port of Cape Liberty, N.J., and ports of call in Florida and The Bahamas could be playing a part in the ship’s recent shattering incidents.

Safety Measures and Ongoing Investigations

But regardless of the cause, cruisers can be sure that Royal Caribbean is on top of it. Cruise lines have a strong commitment to safety and will always investigate onboard incidents and make repairs as needed to ensure the safety of their passengers and crew members.

Passengers are encouraged to stay informed about any updates regarding the maintenance and safety protocols of their chosen cruise line. While incidents like these are rare, they serve as reminders of the importance of vigilance and proactive measures in maintaining a safe environment on board.

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