On June 8, 2025, Symphony of the Seas crew member Nitin Kumar seen cracks in a restaurant’s glass wall, getting passengers within the lounge space under to maneuver with seconds to spare.
Following on from Cruise Hive’s report on June 9, Kumar’s actions helped stop visitors from getting damage as that they had simply sufficient time to get out of the best way of the glass earlier than it shattered.
As a method of recognizing Kumar’s fast pondering, Royal Caribbean has awarded him the Royal Manner Hero Award.
Signed and stamped by Captain Rob Hempstead, the framed certificates was given to the Coastal Kitchen waiter on June 10, 2025.
“In recognition of your exemplary show of security, honesty, and bravado within the office,” the award reads. “Your brave actions have made a big influence within the lives of our visitors and crew, showcasing a dedication to excellence and integrity.”
“Thanks to your outstanding contribution and for being a real hero in our shipboard neighborhood,” it continues.
The Hero Award acknowledges crew members who’ve gone above and past to maintain visitors and fellow crew members protected, due to this fact exemplifying the very best requirements put in place by Royal Caribbean.
For the reason that accident, passengers have carried out nothing however sing praises about Kumar’s actions, with many not being shocked concerning the award given the crew member’s pleasant and useful disposition.
“Great to listen to. On a earlier cruise, Nitin was our assistant waiter, and he was fabulous, not shocked that he rose to the event to help the passengers!” one cruiser stated.
“Congratulations, Nitin! I sailed with him final week; he’s an superior crew member. No shock that he stepped in and took cost!” one other added.
There isn’t a yet another deserving of the Hero Award on this state of affairs than Kumar, who was in the suitable place on the proper time to assist his visitors.
What Occurred Throughout this Unusual Incident?
Kumar’s heroic actions passed off whereas the 230,000 gross-ton Symphony of the Seas was docking in Port Canaveral, Florida, its very first cease on a 7-night voyage.
The ship was executing a flip earlier than docking when Kumar seen cracks starting to kind in a big glass window at Coastal Kitchen on deck 17, the place he works as a waiter.
After noticing the cracks, he sprinted to the pool deck and informed visitors within the lounge chairs under the glass to maneuver. It was reported that the glass then shattered about 15 seconds after this, giving passengers simply sufficient time to get to security.
Most visitors had been unaware of the state of affairs completely till the glass started breaking and loudly got here crashing all the way down to the deck under.
Learn Additionally: What Are the Completely different Oasis-Class Cruise Ships?
One passenger who was just some home windows away when the window started to interrupt recommended Kumar for attending to the pool deck as quick as he did, because it saved many from being injured.
The tempered glass shattered into small items that coated a part of the pool deck, and whereas it was not a quiet incident, no accidents had been reported.
Crew members had been fast to shut off the lounge space to visitors to permit them to start cleansing. The pool was additionally closed down and drained to make sure the entire glass was correctly eliminated.
Cleansing additionally occurred inside Coastal Kitchen, and its window was changed shortly.
Company onboard through the incident reported that the restaurant and pool deck had been cleaned and absolutely reopened just some hours later, and the cruise went on as scheduled.
Glass shattering on cruise ships is sort of uncommon, however these on Symphony of the Seas had been fortunate sufficient to be warned by Kumar, giving them sufficient time to maneuver.
Really, he’s the hero on this state of affairs — so, after all, receiving the Hero Award was solely becoming.
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