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For the third time in just over two months, Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas has suffered another glass issue — this time involving a cracked panel near the ship’s zip line on Deck 16.
The latest incident happened during a 7-night Bahamas cruise that departed from New York on August 10, 2025.
The Latest Incident
- The tempered glass panel cracked but stayed in place, meaning no debris fell to the busy Boardwalk area 10 decks below.
- Crew quickly secured the space, roping it off with lounge chairs until repairs could begin.
- Photos shared on Reddit sparked jokes from passengers, with one remarking that unless the zip line rider was “8–10 feet tall,” the damage was probably caused by something else.
Speculation among guests ranged from a stray golf ball from the mini-golf course to a piece of furniture hitting the pane.
One commenter in the glass industry suggested the break could have been spontaneous, since poorly tempered glass can “just pop” without warning.
Symphony’s Glass Troubles: A Timeline
This marks the third glass-related incident on Symphony of the Seas since early June 2025:
- June 29 – A glass canopy panel shattered over the adults-only Solarium while the ship was docking in Port Canaveral. No debris was reported on passenger decks.
- June 8 – A window broke in the exclusive Coastal Kitchen restaurant, scattering shards onto the pool deck below. A crew member’s quick warning prevented injuries.
- August 14 – Now, the cracked panel is near the zip line on Deck 16.
In each case, the glass behaved as designed — breaking into smaller, blunt pieces rather than dangerous shards — and the crew moved quickly to replace panels.
Why Does This Keep Happening?
Royal Caribbean has not given an official explanation. However, maritime experts point to common culprits:
- Years of exposure to vibration and temperature swings
- Salt air corrosion and humidity stress
- Weakening of mounting brackets and seals over time
It’s worth noting that Symphony of the Seas completed a 21-day dry dock in April 2023, which included maintenance and technical upgrades.
Still, even newer refits can’t fully eliminate wear on heavily used ship areas.
Not Just Symphony: Fleet-Wide Issues
The glass problems aren’t isolated to one ship. On August 7, 2025, a passenger was injured aboard Icon of the Seas when an acrylic panel on the Frightening Bolt waterslide broke mid-ride.
- The break sent water gushing onto the deck below.
- The rider sustained cuts to his legs and hands, though he did not fall from the attraction.
- Royal Caribbean immediately shut down the slide on Icon and also suspended its twin on the brand-new Star of the Seas.
These back-to-back incidents have led some guests to wonder whether the fleet’s materials are facing unexpected stress in real-world conditions.
Business as Usual — For Now
Despite the glass troubles, both Symphony of the Seas and Icon of the Seas continue sailing their itineraries without schedule changes.
Royal Caribbean has stressed that guest safety is the top priority and that all affected areas were quickly secured and repaired.
