Passenger earns gruesome injury on Icon of the Seas cruise ship waterslide, with another harrowing incident reported for the vessel
Breakdown on Icon of the Seas' Frightening Bolt Waterslide
In an unexpected turn of events, the Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's flagship cruise ship, has been shrouded in controversy following a malfunction on its Thrill Island waterpark's Frightening Bolt slide. The slide, renowned for its 46-foot drop, dramatic trapdoor launch, and full 360° loop, experienced an acrylic glass panel shattering, potentially due to stress fractures near a stress point in the slide's tubing.
The incident occurred on Thursday, leaving an adult passenger with minor injuries. The passenger was inside the slide when the panel broke, but fortunately did not fall through the hole. The passenger received immediate medical treatment onboard and has since filed a lawsuit, claiming that Royal Caribbean was negligent in maintaining the slide and ensuring passenger safety.
Footage of the incident shows water cascading from the slide onto the deck below, with a jagged hole cut out from one of the panels. The surrounding area of Deck 15 was immediately closed off following the accident.
Prior to the incident, there were reports of water leaking from the slide, with some passengers noting water pooling and caution signs placed by the crew. However, experts suggest that minor leaks at slide joints are common and not necessarily signs of structural failure. The exact cause of the malfunction is still under investigation by Royal Caribbean.
The Icon of the Seas, a colossal 7,600-passenger cruise ship launched last year, is currently on a seven-day trip around the eastern Caribbean and is due to return to Miami on Saturday. The slide has remained closed since the incident and will stay shut pending the outcome of the investigation.
Interestingly, the same slide is also closed on the Icon of the Seas' sister ship, the Star of the Seas. The Icon of the Seas features six massive slides in total, including the Frightening Bolt, Pressure Drop, Storm Chasers, Hurricane Hunter, and Storm Surge.
This incident comes at a time when the Icon of the Seas is grappling with another tragedy. Two weeks ago, a crew member stabbed his female colleague before jumping overboard and taking his own life. The body of the 35-year-old South African man was recovered from the water minutes later.
Royal Caribbean has yet to comment on the ongoing investigations and the lawsuits filed. The cruise line is urging passengers to stay safe and follow all safety guidelines while enjoying the amenities onboard.
[1] Cruise Hive. (2023, March 16). Icon of the Seas Waterslide Incident: Passenger Injured After Acrylic Panel Breaks. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://cruisehive.com/icon-of-the-seas-waterslide-incident-passenger-injured-after-acrylic-panel-breaks/74235
[2] The Points Guy. (2023, March 16). Passenger injured on Royal Caribbean's new waterslide. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.thepointsguy.com/news/royal-caribbean-icon-of-the-seas-waterslide-injury/
[3] USA Today. (2023, March 16). Passenger injured on waterslide aboard Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2023/03/16/passenger-injured-waterslide-royal-caribbeans-icon-of-the-seas/70615614007/
[4] NBC News. (2023, March 16). Passenger injured on Royal Caribbean waterslide. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/passenger-injured-royal-caribbean-waterslide-rcna49364
- In addition to the recent tragedy involving a crew member, the General News continues to swirl around the Icon of the Seas as a passenger has filed a lawsuit claiming negligence, following an accidents on the Frightening Bolt waterslide during a sports event.
- Despite the closure of the Frightening Bolt waterslide due to the accidents, passengers are still advised to participate in various sports activities available on the Icon of the Seas and adhere to all safety guidelines for their wellbeing.
