Daily Guff

A passenger aboard the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, was left injured after a waterslide panel shattered mid-ride, slicing into his skin and forcing the attraction’s immediate closure.

The ship, which departed from Miami on 2 August for a week-long voyage, was approaching the end of its journey when the incident occurred on Thursday, 7 August. The injured man was riding the Frightening Bolt — a 46ft tall drop slide with a trapdoor launch and 360° loop — when a section of acrylic glass broke away as he passed through.

Footage filmed by fellow passenger Jim Muldoon shows torrents of water gushing from the fractured slide as concerned voices shout: “Stop the slide! Stop the slide!” A jagged hole could be seen in the side of the structure after the ride was stopped.

Although some onlookers initially feared the man had fallen through the gap, Royal Caribbean confirmed no one had exited the slide itself. Instead, the rider suffered what witnesses described as “skin laceration injuries from his legs to his hands” caused by the sharp edge of the broken panel. The cruise line said its onboard medical team treated the “adult guest” immediately, and he is now in stable condition.

“The water slide is closed for the remainder of the sailing pending an investigation,” a spokesperson said, adding that the surrounding area on deck 15 was also temporarily off-limits to passengers.

The accident is the latest in a string of troubling incidents aboard the Icon of the Seas, which launched just over a year ago. In recent months, one passenger reportedly fell from an infinity pool, and a crew member tragically jumped overboard.

Waterslide failures at sea remain rare, but not unheard of. In one high-profile case three years ago, a woman on a Norwegian Cruise Line Breakaway-Plus ship became stuck in a looping slide and had to be rescued through a safety hatch.

Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is a floating megacity, boasting capacity for 7,600 guests, 2,350 crew, and over 2,800 cabins spread across 20 decks. Among its attractions is Category 6 — the largest waterpark at sea — home to six record-breaking slides, including the Frightening Bolt.

The cruise line promotes the ride as the tallest drop waterslide on any ship, describing it as an adrenaline-pumping experience for thrill-seekers. “Once your stomach lurches, it’s too late,” the company’s website warns.

As the investigation continues, questions will likely be raised over the slide’s safety inspections and maintenance protocols — particularly given the ship’s high-profile status and the unprecedented scale of its onboard attractions.

Royal Caribbean has yet to confirm when, or if, the Frightening Bolt will reopen to passengers.