At full capacity, this Royal Caribbean cruise liner can accommodate up to 7,600 passengers, making it the largest ship in the world.
Despite starting its sailings in January 2024, the ship has already faced several concerning incidents, including a fatal accident.
When the enormous ship was approximately 300 miles from Port Miami in May 2024, a man tragically leaped more than 80 feet from it.
“The ship’s crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort alongside the US Coast Guard, who have taken over the search,” Royal Caribbean said in an interview with The New York Post at the time.
“During this trying time, the guest’s family is receiving support and help from our Care Team. We don’t have any more information to divulge to protect the privacy of the visitor and their family.
Another passenger reportedly suffered a “sliced open” injury after using a defective waterslide in a different and concerning incident.
On August 7, the man was riding the ship’s Frightening Bolt slide when a piece of the slide broke, leaving a jagged, sharp edge in its wake. The passenger’s legs and back were cut, according to The Telegraph.
Later, Royal Caribbean verified that the victim was a male adult.
“Our team provided medical care to an adult guest when acrylic glass broke off a water slide as the guest passed through the slide,” a cruise line spokesperson told Fox 59. The visitor is receiving medical attention for his wounds.
Icon of the Seas is currently on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise
The authorities will close the water slide for the duration of the sailing while they conduct an investigation.
Another Royal Caribbean spokesperson stressed in a follow-up statement to UNILAD: “Our top priority is the health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit. We employ stringent cleaning practices, many of which significantly surpass public health recommendations, to preserve an atmosphere that promotes the highest standards of health and safety aboard our ships.
Other passengers captured video footage of the damaged slide, clearly showing water leaking through a noticeable crack.
Photo Source: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Others shouted warnings up to the top of the ride, urging people not to go down it, and someone can be heard saying, “Oh my god,” in one video taken immediately after the accident.
They shouted, “Stop the slide!”
In their video, a different traveler clarified that the slide sits on the sixteenth deck of the ship. A large hole in the structure was visible up close.
A subsequent video showed ship employees covering the damaged waterslide with a tarp to prevent it from being used.
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