Second Glass Panel Shatters On Cruise Ship In One Month

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Just before docking in Port Canaveral, Florida, on Sunday 29 June 2025, a glass panel on the roof of Symphony of the Seas’ Solarium unexpectedly shattered, startling nearby guests but thankfully causing no injuries.

Glass break on Symphony of the Seas
Image credit: jptoz on Reddit

Passengers on the 228,081-gross-ton ship heard a loud “pop” overhead as the tempered panel – part of the crystal canopy above the adults-only Solarium – fractured without warning.

The broken panel extended over both the deck 15 lounge chairs and a bathroom entrance on deck 14.

Guests on board took to social media to report the incident, with several noting how close they were to the breakage.

“I was close by, it was a loud pop!” wrote one cruiser, while another remarked: “Again!!! We were right under the last glass breakage on 6/8. Every time docking in Florida.”

Photos taken by passengers showed the panel shattered but largely intact, with no visible shards scattered across the decks below.

This is likely due to the use of tempered safety glass, which is designed to break into small, blunt fragments rather than sharp pieces when compromised.

Second Glass Breakage in Under a Month

This marks the second glass-related incident aboard Symphony of the Seas this month, with a similar situation having occurred on 8th June.

During that earlier incident – also while docking in Port Canaveral – a glass wall panel at the Coastal Kitchen restaurant on deck 17 shattered, sending fragments down to a lower deck.

A quick-thinking waiter, Nitin Kumar, reportedly noticed the glass starting to crack and rushed to clear the area just before the panel gave way.

Crew members promptly closed and drained the affected pool to remove debris, and the glass was replaced within 24 hours.

What’s Causing the Panels to Fail?

While Royal Caribbean has yet to release an official statement regarding either event, many guests and observers are speculating that ship vibrations during complex docking manoeuvres may be to blame.

Both incidents happened while the vessel was navigating into Port Canaveral – movements that often involve sharp turns and engine adjustments that can cause significant vibrations.

Though hot summer weather in Florida has also been floated as a possible factor, experts suggest that temperature alone is unlikely to cause tempered glass to fail.

Instead, a combination of structural stress and ship movement is a more probable explanation.

Despite the unusual nature of these two incidents, no injuries have occurred, and crew responses have been swift and efficient.

Clean-up teams secured both affected areas quickly, and the ship’s schedule remained uninterrupted.

Symphony of the Seas is currently homeporting out of Cape Liberty in New Jersey and is operating 7-night sailings to Florida and The Bahamas.

Royal Caribbean is likely to investigate the cause of the repeated breakages to prevent future incidents, particularly as some guests are beginning to express concern.

Nonetheless, cruisers booked aboard Symphony should feel reassured. Tempered glass is used across the industry for safety, and the line’s prompt response in both cases demonstrates that safety protocols are working as intended.

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