Glass Trouble Strikes Symphony of the Seas Again as Panel Breaks Near Zip Line
For the third time in just over two months, Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas has experienced another glass break — this time on the sports deck near the ship’s popular zip line.
The latest incident happened on Deck 16 during the ship’s current 7-night roundtrip cruise from New York to the Bahamas, which departed August 10, 2025.
The tempered glass panel cracked but stayed in place, preventing debris from falling to the busy Boardwalk area 10 decks below.
Photos shared on Reddit show the damaged section roped off with lounge chairs while crew worked on repairs. “Royal is really not having a good time with glass lately,” one passenger joked. Another quipped, “Looks more like someone waiting for someone on the zip line hit the panel… unless the person on the zip line is about 8–10ft tall.”
Some guests speculated the damage may have been caused by a stray golf ball from the nearby mini-golf course or even a piece of furniture. One commenter in the glass industry suggested a simpler explanation: poorly tempered panes can “just pop, no questions asked.”
Recent Pattern of Breakages
This is the third glass-related issue onboard Symphony of the Seas since early June:
- June 29: A glass canopy panel shattered over the adults-only Solarium while the ship was preparing to dock in Port Canaveral. The panel was positioned above deck chairs on Deck 15 and a bathroom entrance on Deck 14. Passengers reported hearing a loud pop but didn’t see shards on the deck.
- June 8: A window in the exclusive Coastal Kitchen restaurant broke apart, sending shards onto the pool deck below. Thanks to the quick warning from crew member Nitin Kumar, no guests were injured.
In each case, the glass behaved as designed — breaking into small, relatively harmless pieces — and crew members quickly secured the area and began replacements.
Possible Causes and Maintenance History
Royal Caribbean has not confirmed the cause of any of these breakages. However, maritime experts note that years of exposure to vibration, temperature swings, salt air, and daily wear can weaken mounting brackets, degrade seals, and create stress fractures. Symphony of the Seas last underwent a 21-day dry dock in April 2023, which included technical upgrades and general maintenance.
Similar Problems Across the Fleet
Glass-related trouble hasn’t been limited to Symphony of the Seas. On August 7, 2025, a passenger was injured aboard Icon of the Seas when an acrylic panel on the Frightening Bolt waterslide — the tallest drop slide at sea, standing 46 feet high — broke mid-ride.
Midway through the slide, a section of the acrylic reportedly gave way, sending water gushing onto the deck below. The man riding the slide sustained cuts from his legs to his hands but did not fall from the attraction. Royal Caribbean’s medical team treated him immediately, though the full extent of his injuries has not been disclosed.
Following the incident, the Frightening Bolt was closed indefinitely on both Icon of the Seas and the new Star of the Seas pending investigation and repairs.
While glass failures on cruise ships are generally rare, the cluster of recent incidents has prompted questions from guests about potential underlying causes.
For now, Royal Caribbean has not connected the events — and both Symphony of the Seas and Icon of the Seas continue their itineraries as scheduled.
