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If you’re cruising with Royal Caribbean soon and have your eyes set on splashing down the waterslides, there’s some news you’ll want to know.
Starting in November 2025, the cruise line began shutting down waterslides across multiple ships, not due to the usual wear and tear, but for safety upgrades.
Specifically, the popular slides are getting a complete overhaul, as cracking acrylic panels are being replaced with more durable fiberglass sections.
So, if you’ve got a cruise coming up, here’s what you need to know about the closures, the reasons behind them, and what this means for your vacation.
Why Are the Waterslides Closing?
It’s all about safety. The cruise line has been facing issues with the acrylic tube panels on their waterslides, which have started to crack on several ships.
Captain James from Navigator of the Seas didn’t mince words when explaining it to passengers: “It’s those acrylic tube parts that are cracking on us, so we just said, ‘You know what? Enough’s enough.’”
But the cracks didn’t just appear on one ship — they were found across the fleet. Back in August 2025, a cracked acrylic panel on the Frightening Bolt slide on Icon of the Seas caused a passenger injury.
That incident led to legal action against the cruise line and prompted Royal Caribbean to take a closer look at all its waterslides.
What they found wasn’t good — the acrylic sections were cracking on multiple ships, and because these parts are custom-made, they couldn’t simply replace them with stock parts.
The only solution? A complete rebuild with reinforced fiberglass, making the slides safer and more durable.
Which Ships Are Affected?
As of November 2025, several ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet are affected by this change.
Here’s a quick rundown of which slides are closed:
- Navigator of the Seas: The Blaster and Riptide waterslides
- Independence of the Seas: Perfect Storm Cyclone and Typhoon slides
- Harmony of the Seas: Supercell slide
The repair schedules vary, so if you’re booked on one of these ships, here’s what you can expect:
- Navigator of the Seas: Expected to be fixed by December 22, 2025 (just in time for the holiday cruises!)
- Independence of the Seas: Repairs will take longer, with slides expected to reopen in February 2026.
- Harmony of the Seas: No confirmed date yet, but repairs will likely take several months.
The Communication Breakdown
Here’s where it gets a little frustrating for passengers: Royal Caribbean hasn’t issued a fleet-wide announcement about these closures, meaning many guests don’t find out about the slides being out of service until they’ve already boarded the ship.
This has led to disappointment, especially for families who planned their cruise around those waterslides.
One frustrated cruiser posted on social media, “We just booked for the end of March. Why are they not sharing that??”
For families who specifically booked a cruise because of the water attractions, not knowing about the closures until the last minute is definitely a letdown.
What This Means for Your Cruise
So, what should you do if you’ve got a Royal Caribbean cruise on the horizon?
It’s pretty simple: check your ship’s status before you sail, especially if those waterslides are a big part of your vacation plans.
If they’re a key feature of your cruise, knowing ahead of time whether they’ll be operational or not can help you manage your expectations.
If you find out that the slides are closed, it might be worth considering another ship or adjusting your booking if that’s a dealbreaker for you.
Royal Caribbean is doing the right thing by replacing those panels and focusing on safety, but it would have been nice if they communicated the changes earlier to avoid any surprises.
The Silver Lining: Safer, More Durable Waterslides Ahead
Here’s the bright side: once the fiberglass replacements are in place, those waterslides will be safer and more durable than ever before.
Yes, the closures are inconvenient now, but they’ll help ensure a safer ride for guests in the future. After all, safety first, right?
Once the repairs are done, families can expect the slides to be stronger and more reliable, giving cruisers even more fun memories to make on their future Royal Caribbean trips.
Final Thoughts: Stay Patient and Informed
While no one likes to hear that a favorite cruise feature is temporarily unavailable, it’s important to recognize the reasons behind the change.
Royal Caribbean is committed to ensuring the safety of its passengers, and these upgrades are part of that commitment.
But better communication would definitely make the process smoother for everyone.
If you’ve got a cruise coming up, check the status of the waterslides before you go, so you’re not left disappointed.
And remember, once those fiberglass replacements are installed, you’ll be able to enjoy safer, more reliable slides for years to come!
