
A scary incident occurred aboard Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas when a big glass window instantly shattered over the pool deck. Fortuitously, one crew member’s fast actions seemingly prevented a extra critical consequence.
Nitin Kumar, a waiter on the Coastal Kitchen, is being praised as a hero for alerting company stress-free on the solar loungers beneath the window. Coastal Kitchen is the suites-exclusive restaurant situated on Deck 17 on Symphony of the Seas, with home windows overlooking the ship’s expansive pool deck.
When Kumar reportedly seen small cracks forming within the window, he raced all the way down to the pool deck to clear the world. Friends who watched the incident unfold say that inside 15 to twenty seconds, the massive window pane utterly shattered and shards of glass have been despatched flying throughout the pool deck.
Due to Kumar’s fast considering and brave motion, there have been no accidents from the incident.
Symphony of the Seas, an Oasis class vessel, is likely one of the largest cruise ships on the earth. The huge Royal Caribbean cruise ship was crusing a 7-night itinerary from Cape Liberty, New Jersey when the incident occurred on June 8, 2025. The itinerary consists of stops in Port Canaveral (Florida), Nassau (Bahamas), and Excellent Day at CocoCay (Bahamas).
In accordance with company onboard, Symphony of the Seas was positioning to dock at its first port of name, Port Canaveral, Florida, when the scary accident occurred. Friends onboard report the ship was vibrating closely proper earlier than the glass broke, which may have positioned pressure on the window. These on the pool deck reported listening to a loud crash when the window shattered.
In a touch upon Reddit, one visitor onboard shared, “They stated they do not know what occurred. Principle is that some micro cracks have been within the glass and after we have been turning 180 to dock, the vibrations induced it to interrupt.”
“Was undoubtedly a freak accident and reveals that you might want to ALWAYS take heed to crew members after they ask you to do one thing. It might save your life,” the commenter continued.
One other visitor on Reddit shared, “We have been in Coastal Kitchen 3 home windows over from the place it broke. We have been in the course of our 180 spin and the ship was vibrating fairly good. Most individuals appear to suppose that the vibrations/micro cracks within the tempered glass induced it. Fortunately, nobody was significantly injured, aside from one particular person chopping their foot.”
Vibrations are usually not unusual whereas cruise ships are docking at ports of name. Whereas a cruise ship is maneuvering with precision to place on the dock, there may be sturdy vibrations felt onboard. That is usually induced by means of thrusters and propulsion techniques, together with the ship’s engines altering pace or path.
As a result of the window on Symphony of the Seas was fabricated from tempered glass, the damaged items shattered into small, pebble-like fragments relatively than sharp shards. Tempered glass is designed this strategy to cut back the danger of significant harm. Cruise ships are constructed particularly with tempered glass for elevated security and energy, because it’s thought of a lot stronger than common glass.
Friends onboard Symphony of the Seas state lots of the ship’s officers have been on-scene instantly to safe the world. As well as, the glass was cleaned up rapidly and the window was already changed by the next day.
The freak accident has many company on-line praising Kumar as “Hero of The Seas” for his actions.
Within the aftermath of the incident, quite a few passengers aboard Symphony of the Seas are praising Kumar for performing rapidly and stopping company from potential accidents. With Kumar clearing the world and warning company to maneuver from their lounges on the pool deck, nobody was significantly injured within the accident.
For example, one visitor onboard posted on Reddit that they have been just a few home windows over when the glass shattered. “The waiter, Nitin, noticed it cracking and sprinted all the way down to the pool deck and instructed the individuals in deck chairs to maneuver. 15 seconds later this occurred. Dude saved some lives for certain,” the passenger wrote.
In the identical Reddit thread, one other visitor shared, “I’m onboard. It was a freak factor, however no one received damage. A waiter seen the cracks and moved everyone beneath about 20 seconds earlier than it fell. It’s tempered, so it wouldn’t have killed anyone, but it surely may have induced some reasonable accidents from that peak.”
“We have been in Coastal Kitchen when this shattered and for Nitin to have foresight to run to the pool to get everybody out of the way in which is exceptional. RCCL ought to give him an lodging for his actions,” shared one other cruiser.
One visitor additionally posted on Fb, “Due to the quick considering of top-of-the-line Nitin, these seats have been vacant when the security glass gave method. You might be really an asset to Royal Caribbean and a hero to the many individuals you faraway from hurt’s method.”
“HUGE kudos to Nitin for placing security first! I used to be in [Coastal Kitchen] when this occurred. I wrote a complimentary letter that included the Vice President of Security and Marine Operations. Nitin ensured security when it mattered most,” commented one other cruiser aboard Symphony of the Seas.
Within the replies part, Kumar responded to the accolades and reward, emphasizing his ardour and dedication to Royal Caribbean. He said, “Thanks a lot everybody for appreciation. You all are my household, what I did I did for household.”
“What I did, I be taught[ed] from this firm how you can care for my company like household, so thanks a lot. Take pleasure in your trip,” he continued.
Earlier cruisers are additionally praising Kumar’s dedication and repair. One prior cruiser shared, “We had that waiter in [Coastal Kitchen] in April on Symphony and that man is a rockstar. He was the perfect waiter we now have had in [Coastal Kitchen], and now I hope they acknowledge him for conserving one thing actually dangerous from taking place.”
One other earlier cruiser shared, “I hope you get a promotion and a big bonus. You’ve all the time been an amazing waiter, I’ve dined with you many instances earlier than.”
“Nitin IS fantastic. We have been so fortunate to have him take glorious care of us on Could 16 cruise. Not stunned in any respect that he took care of the whole lot when wanted,” shared one other earlier passenger.
Though not remarkable, it’s uncommon for cruise ship home windows to shatter.
(Viking Polaris with damaged balconies, shared on ABC Information by Beverly Spiker)
Fashionable cruise ships are constructed to face up to extreme climate and tough sea situations, similar to rogue waves and highly effective storms. When home windows shatter on cruise ships, it’s usually as a result of the ship is navigating stormy waters. Rogue waves are unusually giant waves that happen instantly and with out warning.
For example, the expedition cruise ship Viking Polaris was crusing in South America in December 2022 when it was struck by a rogue wave. The highly effective storm induced glass to shatter on the decrease decks, impacting a number of cabins and injuring a number of passengers.
Tragically, one 62-year-old American girl was killed by the glass particles that shattered in her cabin when the rogue wave struck. In accordance with reviews, the fatally-injured girl acquired blows from a glass window that collapsed in the course of the storm.
An analogous scenario occurred again in 2016 on Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas. The Imaginative and prescient class ship was hit by a rogue wave whereas the cruise ship was crusing close to Santorini, Greece. Within the early morning hours, the highly effective wave struck the ship and broke home windows in a number of passeneger cabins.
Some staterooms on decrease decks have been additionally partially flooded in the course of the incident. Fortunately, there have been no critical accidents reported by the cruise line and Rhapsody of the Seas.
Source link