Key Aspects:
- The man who was injured onboard Icon of the Seas while enjoying the Frightening Bolt waterslide is pursuing legal action.
- The passenger received lacerations when a hole appeared on “the tallest waterside at sea” during his ride, but the true extent of his injuries is unknown.
- The waterslide will remain closed onboard Icon of the Seas (and the brand new Star of the Seas) indefinitely until an investigation can be completed and repairs can be made.
One cruise guest who obviously did not have the vacation he was hoping for is gearing up to see Royal Caribbean in court.
Many in the cruise community suspected that the story was only just beginning when news spread of a man becoming injured when a waterslide broke open onboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas on August 7, 2025.
He has, unsurprisingly, obtained legal counsel and will be fighting for compensation.
The unidentified cruiser was riding the Frightening Bolt Waterslide, which is located within the Category 6 Waterpark, when an acrylic glass section broke off and let water come gushing through onto the loungers below.
While the man thankfully didn’t fall out of the slide, which features the biggest drop at sea at an adrenaline-inducing 46 feet tall, he did receive “skin laceration injuries from his legs to his hands,” that can be attributed to the surprise hole.
Royal Caribbean’s onboard medical team provided immediate care following the unfortunate incident, but the extent of the injuries remains unclear.
The man’s 7-night sailing disembarked in Miami, Florida, on August 9, and just two days later on August 11, an announcement was made that he has obtained legal counsel to sue the cruise line.
He will be represented by Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., a top law firm that specializes in maritime and cruise passenger injuries.
“Our firm has decades of experience handling cruise passenger injury cases, and unfortunately, incidents involving material or design failures aboard cruise ships are something we see far too often,” said Maritime Attorney Alex Perez.
“Cruise ships have a responsibility to ensure that the attractions they open and encourage passengers to use are safe. We are thankful for the trust this family has placed in us to represent them,” Perez continued.
Per the firm’s website, the attorneys who work here have won more than 3,000 cases within the cruise and maritime industries, and have won over $500 million on behalf of their clients.
At this time, it’s unclear what specific compensation the cruiser and his legal team will be looking for in this case.
The Investigation Continues
As Icon of the Seas is just over a year old after launching at the beginning of 2024, the Frightening Bolt waterslide is also quite young to be experiencing such a dangerous problem.
Until Royal Caribbean can determine the root cause and make repairs accordingly, the slide will remain closed with no known timeline for when it will reopen.
“The slide remained closed for the rest of the voyage while engineers assessed the damage,” the cruise line said in a statement.
The 5,610-guest ship is now in the middle of a new voyage, which is a 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing that embarked on August 9.
“The company has not provided a timeline for reopening and is investigating whether the failure was due to a manufacturing defect, installation issue, or an unexpected impact,” Royal Caribbean continued. “Other pools and water attractions on board remained open…”
The five other waterslides within the Category 6 Waterpark, where the Frightening Bolt is located, continue to thrill guests with no reported issues.
Read Also: Icon of the Seas Amenities and Everything You’ll Love Onboard
Guests who are currently onboard Icon of the Seas have noticed a tarp around the slide that is keeping guests out and shielding passersby from potential construction debris.
“Just thought it was a bit interesting, looks like they put some plastic around the broken Icon of the Seas slide for now, I guess until they can get it in for repair and to prevent any shards falling down off to it,” one cruiser shared.
Out of an abundance of caution, the identical Frightening Bolt waterslide onboard the new Star of the Seas has also been closed.
It’s not great timing, as the second Icon-class ship is currently being previewed by travel advisors and the media as it begins its career at sea.
Per Royal Caribbean’s Safety and Security page, safety is the cruise line’s top priority, which remains true in this situation.
The cruise line asserts that it often goes above and beyond the requirements put in place by Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the US Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA).
