Cruise Waiter Saves Lives as Glass Shatters Over Pool
There are vacations where nothing goes wrong — and then there's this. On June 8, aboard Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas, a calm afternoon by the pool nearly turned into a nightmare. But thanks to a quick-thinking waiter named Nitin Kumar, it didn't.
A Crack, a Sprint, a Lifesaving Warning
The ship, en route from New Jersey to Florida, had just begun docking maneuvers at Port Canaveral when vibrations reportedly appeared to have caused a large exterior glass panel above the pool deck to crack and shatter. Video footage captured the terrifying moment when tempered glass crashed down onto lounge chairs below.
Luckily, those seats were empty — and there's one man to thank for that.
Nitin Kumar, a waiter in the Coastal Kitchen area, reportedly noticed the glass beginning to crack and wasted no time. He ran down to the pool deck and warned guests to move. Mere seconds later, the glass came down. "Fifteen seconds later this happened. Dude saved some lives for sure," one passenger wrote on Reddit, according to PEOPLE.
Passengers and Company Praise Kumar
The online praise was immediate and heartfelt. Cruisegoers flooded Facebook and Reddit with calls for Royal Caribbean to formally recognize Kumar's heroism. One user called him a "rockstar," while another said, he kept "something really bad from happening," as reported by Cruise Fever.
Even Royal Caribbean's official social media account chimed in writing, "Thanks to the fast thinking of one of the best Nitin, these seats were vacant when the safety glass gave way... great job!"
As for Kumar? He responded with gratitude saying, "Thank you so much everyone for appreciation, you all are my family, what I did I did for family, and I'm Friendly, Passionate and Committed and I'm Royal. What I did I learn from this company how to take care of my guest like family, so thank you so much," Cruise Fever reported.
What Caused the Glass to Shatter?
Though no official cause has been confirmed, passengers believe the break occurred during a 180-degree turn as the ship docked. Some noted significant vibrations at the time, speculating that these stresses triggered micro-cracks in the tempered glass.
Tempered glass is engineered to break into small, blunt fragments — much safer than sharp shards. Still, falling from a height, even those pieces can cause injury. The rapid response by crew and passengers' quick compliance made all the difference.
Fast Repairs and Smooth Sailing
Royal Caribbean's maintenance team responded quickly, and the panel was reportedly replaced within hours. The ship continued on its scheduled route, now en route to Nassau in the Bahamas before returning to New Jersey on June 13.
The incident served as a reminder of why crew vigilance matters. Accidents can happen even in the most luxurious of settings, but people like Nitin Kumar ensure that a split-second decision can turn a potential crisis into just another story to share when you get home.
About the Symphony of the Seas
Symphony of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class vessels, boasting a passenger capacity of up to 6,680 people. With features like surf simulators, zip lines, and seven distinct "neighborhoods," it’s designed for non-stop fun — and, thanks to people like Kumar, safe experiences, too.
References: Cruise Ship Waiter Saves Passengers from Shards of Glass Raining Down from Shattered Window | Cruise Ship Waiter Notices Cracked Window, Moves Passengers Seconds Before it Shatters
