Royal Caribbean Sixth Glass Shattering Incident in Just Four Months

A glass panel has shattered on Royal Caribbean’s newest Oasis-class ship, Utopia of the Seas, adding to a string of similar incidents across the fleet in recent months.

The image is split into two parts. On the left, a close-up shows a worker's hand reaching out from a scaffolding or maintenance platform next to a large glass window on a cruise ship. On the right, the full exterior of the Utopia of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, is shown sailing through the ocean under clear skies.

The break occurred in the Windjammer Marketplace on Deck 15. Photos shared by guests show the panel cracked throughout but still intact in its frame, meaning no debris fell onto the decks below.

Crew members quickly sealed off the area and will arrange for the damaged glass to be covered and replaced. No passengers were injured and the ship’s schedule remains unchanged.

The sailing involved has not been confirmed, though images appeared online on Friday, September 26. This points to the short three night itinerary from Port Canaveral, which visits Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Longer four night cruises also include a stop in Nassau.

Ongoing Series of Glass Issues

This is not the first time glass has unexpectedly broken on Royal Caribbean ships recently. Symphony of the Seas has seen three separate events since early June. One panel shattered in the Coastal Kitchen restaurant on June 8, sending fragments down toward the pool deck. Another canopy panel in the Solarium broke on June 29 while docking in Port Canaveral. Then, in early August, a panel near the miniature golf area on Deck 16 fractured, possibly after being struck by a golf ball.

On Icon of the Seas, the record-breaking Frightening Bolt waterslide made headlines on August 7 when one of its clear sections split apart during use. Water gushed down the side of the ship, and one guest sustained injuries before the ride was closed and repaired.

Star of the Seas has also been affected, with a panel breaking on Deck 15 on August 26, just days before its official debut. Guests nearby described hearing a sharp popping sound as the glass failed without any clear cause.

Side-by-side images of a colorful water slide aboard a cruise ship—on the left, water shoots vertically into the air from the slide's exit; on the right, a close-up shows a transparent section of the twisting tube slide suspended above the deck. — Royal Caribbean’s Bolt Waterslide incident

No Clear Link

Royal Caribbean has not commented on whether the cases are connected. Breakages can be caused by a variety of factors such as stress from weather conditions, flaws in the material, or simple accidents. Whatever the reasons, the cruise line has responded quickly in each instance by closing off affected areas and carrying out repairs.

Aside from the temporary closure of Icon of the Seas’ waterslide, the incidents have not altered itineraries or significantly impacted guest experiences. Still, with six separate cases in just four months, passengers are taking notice, and many will be waiting to see whether Royal Caribbean offers more clarity about what is happening.