Key Aspects:
- Royal Caribbean guests are concerned that the pool decks are too slippery, leading to falls and potential injuries.
- One guest suggested putting a sand and lacquer mixture down to make the pool areas less slippery, but this solution could actually damage the surface of the deck.
- Royal Caribbean does use synthetic decking materials that are designed to be slip-resistant and fire-resistant, as is required by Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
The top priority of every cruise line is to keep their passengers and crew members safe and happy.
However, one key slip hazard exists on virtually every cruise ship: The pool deck.
Some Royal Caribbean guests have noticed that they see other passengers slipping and sliding on every sailing, and are questioning why more can’t be done to mitigate this.
“Some clear lacquer and light sand mix would give at least some grit to the pool deck, which turns into a damn ice rink with a drop of water on it. I see multiple people fall every trip,” a current guest of an unspecified ship suggested on Reddit.
“Just happened right in front of me, once again. I get the fact that they want it smooth enough to walk on with bare feet and not shred people’s feet, but it seems like there could be a happy medium,” they wrote.
The guest’s proposed solution would (in theory) have a similar effect as putting sand down in snowy and icy conditions during the winter, which helps to provide traction.
However, this likely is not a good option as the abrasive nature of sand especially can scratch and wear down the surface of the pool deck or potentially clog drains.
That said, the cruiser was not alone in their observation. Others piped up to say they had fallen or witnessed other guests slipping as well.
“Especially the parts that aren’t level! Like, a little ramp turns straight into a slip’n’slide,” one person replied.
“I don’t know the answer but I agree. The pool deck is way too slick, especially in flip flops,” another agreed.
As one of the clumsiest people on the planet, I always recommend packing some grippy sandals that help with traction and stability.
I’ve also seen plenty of cruisers invest in water shoes with grippy bottoms, but those are not allowed in the pools or hot tubs to prevent contamination from dirt glass, or germs the shoes may be carrying.
Royal Caribbean Takes Precautions
That said, Royal Caribbean isn’t just letting its guests slip and slide willy-nilly.
Through a partnership with Bolidt Decking, Royal Caribbean primarily uses synthetic decking materials that are designed to be slip-resistant and fire-safe.
Believe it or not, decking materials actually have to meet certain durability, maintenance, and fire safety standards set by Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
Kids Pool on Oasis of the Seas (Photo Credit: Solarisys)
The crew members onboard also take precautions to keep guests safe, such as mopping up particularly slippery spots and putting out wet floor signs.
They also enforce rules like “no running” and “no horseplay” on the Lido deck and in other areas onboard where more energetic cruisers could injure themselves or other guests.
Read Also: 10 Worst Cruise Fails You Can Prepare For
But despite the safety efforts made by the cruise line, it’s not possible to prevent all slips – and not just on the Lido deck.
Some guests have also complained recently that slippery floors sent them flailing in the Central park neighborhood of the Oasis-class and Icon-class ships.
For those that haven’t been lucky enough to embark on one of these vessels, the Central Park neighborhood has a mix of tiled and wood-like surfaces that are meant to mimic a real outdoor park on land.
“Central Park was so slippery! I was really surprised,” one former cruiser said.
“Yes! I slipped really bad leaving Park Cafe once and my bagel went flying, I was inconsolable,” another shared.
Even on other cruise lines, fall risks are a source of contention. Earlier this year, a Carnival guest made waves on social media for expressing concerns that their cabin’s shower would be too slippery.
No matter what cruise line you sail with next, the best advice I can give is to choose shoes with traction, take your time, and watch your step.
Appeared first on: Cruisehive.com
