A 79-year-old cruise ship passenger has gone overboard from a Norwegian cruise ship.
Guests onboard the Norwegian Star shared that they were awoken by the secret "man overboard" code early on Tuesday, Aug. 12.
"We were woken this morning by a 'Code Oscar' announcement, which means someone has gone overboard," wrote one cruiser on Reddit.
"Several people in our sailing’s FB group saw lifeboats being lowered, and one saw the person being recovered. Rumor (unconfirmed) is that they didn’t survive. Given the temperature of the water up here, north of Newfoundland, I would be very surprised if they did."
Another traveler added that they heard about the incident a few hours later. "[A] few fellow poker players had felt the ship change course (slowing down, maybe turning) and had heard the rumors about a code Oscar," they wrote.
Satellite tracking data confirms that the 23-year-old ship did backtrack along its route, consistent with the reports of a cruiser going overboard online.
The data reveals the ship was sailing in the Strait of Belle Isle en route to Nuuk, Greenland. Norwegian Star is currently on a 14-night one-way cruise from New York to Iceland. The vessel has already called at Halifax, Sydney, and Corner Brook. Norwegian Star is scheduled to arrive in Reykjavík on Aug. 21.
Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed that a guest went overboard in a statement issued to Cruise Hive:
"We are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our guests, a 79-year-old male, was reported to have gone overboard while the ship was sailing to Greenland. The appropriate authorities have been contacted and an investigation is ongoing. In consideration for the family and their privacy, updates will be shared as appropriate. Our thoughts and prayers are with the guest’s loved ones during this difficult time."
According to Live Radar's Sea Temperature Monitoring, the ocean's temperature where the individual reportedly went overboard is around 56°F. Comparatively, the temperature in the Atlantic waters near Miami, Florida, is around 87°F.
Water as mild as 55°F can be extremely deadly. When suddenly immersed in cold water, humans experience cold shock, with symptoms like changes in breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Your body can't recover after the initial shock of the water. As such, being submerged in cold water can rapidly lead to loss of movement in the hands, as well as loss of coordination in the muscles in the arms and legs.
This is a developing story, and Cruise.Blog will update as more information becomes available.
What happens when someone goes overboard on a cruise ship?
Although it's not an everyday occurrence, it's not rare for passengers to go overboard on a cruise. When someone goes overboard, whether passenger or crew, the situation is treated as an emergency. The ship's crew immediately jumps into action to initiate search and rescue operations.
That said, you will never hear someone scream, "MAN OVERBOARD," on the ship's public address system. Instead, a secret emergency signal is broadcast to alert the crew members about the situation.
The specific terminology varies based on the cruise line. For example, it could be "Code Oscar," "Mr. Mob," or "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar." Using a code word helps maintain a sense of order and urgency among crew members while preventing panic among other guests.
Read more: What happens when someone goes overboard on a cruise ship?
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 traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
