Recently, a Royal Caribbean cruise passenger went overboard while sailing on Explorer of the Seas. Unfortunately, it wasn't a one-time occurrence. Though not insanely common, it's not rare for passengers to go overboard while on a cruise.
Even if you've never seen a cruise ship deploy its lifeboats to aid in the search and rescue mission, you've likely seen new headlines about people falling overboard.
When a passenger goes overboard, the situation is immediately treated as an emergency, and the cruise ship’s crew jumps into action.
Immediate response
As soon as the ship's team realizes that someone's gone overboard, a "man overboard" emergency signal will be broadcast. The specific terminology varies; however, the signal could be "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar" or "Mr. Mob."
Either way, the message alerts the crew to the sensitive situation and lets key members spring into action to activate search and rescue protocols. The coding isn't necessarily to hide what's going on from other guests; however, it helps maintain a sense of order and urgency among crew members, preventing panic among passengers.
Cruise ships are massive and can't come to an immediate halt, especially when cruising at 20 knots per hour. It takes time for the vessel to slow down and safely turn around to sail back to where the person fell overboard.
Plus, the crew may not learn about the incident immediately. Based on information like CCTV footage and passenger statements, they might have to make an educated guess about when and where the guest went overboard.
Search and rescue
Search and rescue operations are highly coordinated and can involve many resources. When a passenger goes overboard, cruise ships typically don't work alone. They immediately contact the local authorities, like the US Coast Guard, to assist in the search.
For instance, when an elderly passenger went overboard while the Ruby Princess was sailing into San Francisco, the Coast Guard initiated aerial searches. However, they eventually called the efforts off around 5:30pm that evening, as no sign of the passenger was found.
Nearby vessels typically aid in the search, too. For example, after a passenger went onboard while on Norwegian Epic in December, Holland America Line's Zuiderdam aided the search. Unfortunately, the body of Dan McGilvray, 51, of Broomfield, Colorado, was never found.
Typically, guests quickly pick up on what's happening, whether they see bright lights shining into the ocean at night or can tell that they're slowing down during the day. Rarely will the Captain make an announcement while the search and rescue efforts are underway; however, it's not uncommon for them to let guests know what's going on after the fact, especially if the situation impacts the itinerary.
While cruise lines and authorities try to recover all overboard passengers, the reality is that, depending on the location, weather conditions, and the timing of the incident, the chances of a successful rescue are quite low. For example, if a guest were to jump from Deck 15, the speed of force itself could be fatal.
Read more: Man went overboard from cruise ship but they never found him
Investigation
Following a man overboard incident, an investigation will be launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the event. Was foul play involved? Was it the result of negligence?
For example, one grandfather pleaded guilty to negligent homicide after his 18-month-old granddaughter fell off a cruise ship to her death from an open window on a Royal Caribbean ship.
The investigation is conducted by the cruise line in collaboration with maritime authorities to ensure safety protocols were followed and to identify any potential areas for improvement. Typically, crew members will review security footage and interview witnesses.
Read more: MSC crew member goes overboard on cruise ship
It's not easy to fall off a cruise ship
Usually, man overboard incidents happen because the person jumped or put themselves in an unsafe position like climbing on a balcony railing. The reality is that people don't just fall off the side of the cruise ship because there are tall railings around chest height to prevent this.
According to data from the Cruise Lines International Association, roughly 19 people go overboard each year. This is a small percentage of the 31.5 million people who embarked on a cruise vacation in 2023.
Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about going overboard. So long as you're following the rules, you will be fine! I've been on over 20 cruises and have never been close to falling off the ship. Don't let the fear of going overboard stop you from going on your dream cruise!
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
