Passengers sailing aboard Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas were met with an unusual sight this week after one of the glass panels inside the ship’s AquaDome suddenly shattered during a Caribbean voyage.
The damaged section was spotted by guests onboard the 248,663-gross-ton vessel on 26th May 2026, with photos of the shattered panel quickly circulating on social media. The affected glass remained in place within its frame and there have been no reports of injuries or immediate danger to passengers.
Star of the Seas only entered service in August 2025, making the incident particularly notable given the ship is less than a year old. The vessel is the second ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class series and currently sails 7-night Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral.
The AquaDome, located on the forward top deck, is one of the ship’s signature spaces. By day, it serves as a relaxing neighbourhood with ocean views, while at night it transforms into a major entertainment venue featuring performances, lighting effects, and immersive shows beneath its towering glass structure.
Several factors can potentially lead to spontaneous glass breakage at sea, including manufacturing defects, rapid temperature changes, strong weather conditions, bird strikes, or stress caused by movement and vibrations during sailing.
Although the Caribbean experiences consistently hot temperatures during late spring and summer, experts generally point to sudden temperature fluctuations rather than prolonged heat exposure as a more likely cause of tempered glass failure.
Crew members are expected to secure the surrounding area until the damaged panel can be replaced.
Not The First Glass Incident On Star Of The Seas
This is not the first time Star of the Seas has experienced issues involving shattered glass.
Ahead of the ship’s maiden voyage in August 2025, a glass safety barrier panel on Deck 15 unexpectedly shattered during a preview sailing. The affected section, which formed part of the overboard protection barrier, was quickly blocked off using temporary barriers and coverings while repairs were carried out.
No injuries were reported during that incident either, though guests nearby were reportedly startled by the sudden breakage.
The ship also entered service with one of its headline attractions temporarily unavailable. The Frightening Bolt waterslide inside the Category 6 Waterpark remained closed as a precaution following a separate accident aboard sister ship Icon of the Seas.
Just days before Star of the Seas officially debuted, an acrylic panel on Icon of the Seas’ version of the slide shattered while a guest was riding it. Both attractions are nearly identical, prompting Royal Caribbean to suspend operation of the slides while inspections and safety checks were completed.
Recent String Of Glass Incidents Across Royal Caribbean Fleet
What’s even stranger is that Royal Caribbean has experienced several glass-related incidents across multiple ships, all within the past year.
In September 2025, a glass panel shattered inside the Windjammer Marketplace aboard Utopia of the Seas. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Symphony of the Seas also dealt with three separate glass incidents during 2025, affecting the Coastal Kitchen restaurant, the Solarium, and an area near the sports deck zip line.
One of the more concerning moments occurred inside Coastal Kitchen, where crew members reportedly acted quickly to move guests away from the area before glass fell nearby.
While glass breakage incidents remain relatively uncommon in the cruise industry overall, Royal Caribbean has seen a noticeable cluster of similar events involving windows, barriers, and attraction panels over the past year.
The cruise line has consistently stated that safety remains its highest priority, with affected areas secured immediately and repairs carried out following each incident.
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