man overboard on cruise ship 2022

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A Man Fell From a Cruise Ship. And Survived.

He treaded water for hours in the Gulf of Mexico, withstanding rain, winds and waves before he was rescued. Others have not been so lucky. What happens when a person goes overboard?

By Maria Cramer

The Carnival Valor had been at sea for only a day when calls came over the loudspeaker asking a certain passenger to please report to customer service.

The man, a 28-year-old American citizen, had been reported missing by his family that morning.

It was Thanksgiving, and the Valor, a 3,756-passenger cruise ship that had left New Orleans the day before, was heading toward Cozumel, Mexico.

Crew members soon began searching passengers’ cabins, said Shant’a Miller White, who was traveling with her husband and family. One employee entered her cousin’s cabin and said, “We just need to make sure everything is OK.”

“We didn’t know what was going on,” Ms. White, 48, recalled. Then, at dinner, came another announcement: The ship needed to change course to execute a search and rescue operation.

Ms. White pictured the unknown passenger alone in the water and felt sick to her stomach.

“Did they fall to the bottom? Did the sharks get them?” Ms. White recalled thinking. She began to pray.

The passenger, according to the Coast Guard, turned out to be James Grimes, 28, who had been traveling with his parents and siblings on the five-day cruise. His family had last seen him the night before, around 11 p.m.

But by 10:45 on Thanksgiving morning, when there was no sign of him, the family notified the crew, the Coast Guard said.

At 8:10 p.m., more than nine hours after his family reported him missing, a passing tanker spotted the man near the mouth of the Mississippi River and alerted the Coast Guard.

Rescuers found Mr. Grimes struggling in the water, waving frantically and trying to keep his head above the surface.

When the crew of the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter lifted him out, he was in shock, had mild hypothermia and was extremely dehydrated, said Lt. Seth Gross, who managed the search and rescue operation for the Coast Guard. But he was alive and in stable condition.

Mr. Grimes, whose family described him as an exceptional swimmer, had treaded in 65- to 70-degree water for hours, withstanding rain, 20-knot winds and three- to five-foot waves in the Gulf of Mexico, where bull sharks and blacktip sharks are common, Coast Guard officials said.

“This case is certainly extraordinary,” Lieutenant Gross said. “The survival instinct, the will to survive is just crazy.”

How often does this happen?

Falling from a ship into a vast sea may be a cruise passenger’s worst nightmare. While the chances of going overboard are exceedingly remote, according to statistics from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) , the outcome is usually tragic.

In 2019, 25 people fell overboard, and only nine of them were rescued, according to CLIA.

In February, a woman aboard the Carnival Valor jumped off the 10th deck of the ship while fleeing security officers who were trying to detain her after she had scuffled with them. Her body was never found.

In December 2016, a 22-year-old man fell off the 12th deck of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship after a night of heavy drinking. His parents sued the cruise line in federal court in Florida, but a jury decided in favor of Royal Caribbean.

Alcohol is a factor in at least 11 percent of falls from cruise ships, which often offer all-inclusive drink packages that encourage drinking onboard, said Ross Klein, a professor of social work at Memorial University of Newfoundland, who researches cruise safety.

“Cruises are viewed as idyllic, safe and secure, and of course those views are reinforced by advertising and public statements,” he said. But the public should be aware of the risks of going on a cruise, which include being pushed overboard, going overboard and being tempted to jump overboard, he said.

How do ships prevent people from going overboard?

By law, railings have to be 42 inches tall, Professor Klein said. There were efforts to make the railings taller by about another foot, he said, after Congress began considering legislation to tighten security on ships in 2005. But in 2010, when Congress passed the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act, the railing height requirements were set at the current standard, he said.

The railing height is designed to keep passengers safe along ship promenades, said Brian Salerno, the senior vice president for Maritime policy at CLIA.

“The vast majority of cases are either reckless behavior or some form of intentional act,” Mr. Salerno said. “People don’t just inadvertently fall over the side of a ship.”

Professor Klein said cruise ships could limit the risks of passengers falling overboard if they limited alcohol consumption, increased railing heights and installed technology that senses when a heavy object has fallen from the ship.

The 2010 law directed cruise ships to begin developing and installing such technology, Mr. Salerno said.

It took years to create a video-surveillance system that would be sensitive enough to detect a person falling overboard and alarm a ship’s crew but that wouldn’t be triggered by other objects, like a sea gull flying by, he said. Some ships have already begun installing such systems, Mr. Salerno said.

Bartenders on cruises are also trained to watch for excessive drinking, said Robert Kritzman, a partner at Clyde & Co., an international law firm in Miami, who advises cruise companies.

“The general policy is the same as anywhere else: Once somebody becomes excessively intoxicated, you stop serving,” he said.

Carnival Corp. said the “only way to go overboard is to purposefully climb up and over the safety barriers.”

“Cruise ships have safety barriers in all public areas that are regulated by U.S. Coast Guard standards that prevent a guest from falling off,” the company said in a statement that thanked the Coast Guard and the mariner who found Mr. Grimes. “Guests should never ever climb up on the rails.”

A spokesman did not respond to follow up questions about the incident or Carnival’s safety protocols.

What happens when the crew learns that a person has gone overboard?

Cruise ships have clear protocols for what to do when a person goes overboard, Mr. Kritzman said.

Once the crew members learn that a person has gone overboard, they immediately inform the Coast Guard, stop the ship and turn around to help find the missing passenger. Often, smaller, fast boats are deployed from the ship to search for the person, Mr. Kritzman said.

The circumstances around the recent fall from the Carnival Valor, including the precise time that Mr. Grimes went overboard, remain unknown. The Coast Guard said it was investigating the incident.

Lieutenant Gross said that after the Coast Guard learned about the missing passenger, it launched a 45-foot patrol boat, a helicopter and a tracker plane to search for him. The Coast Guard set up a search area of more than 7,000 square nautical miles, roughly the size of Massachusetts, he said, and immediately alerted any mariners around the Gulf of Mexico to look for the man.

The Crinis , a bulk carrier, spotted Mr. Grimes about 20 miles south of Southwest Pass, a channel at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Lt. Gross said he called the man’s mother and stepfather to tell them he had been found.

When he told them their son was stable and being treated at a hospital in New Orleans, he heard them cheer and cry.

Ms. White, who lives in Hampton, Va., and runs an anti-bullying organization , said she was flooded with relief when the ship announced that Mr. Grimes had been found alive.

“That was nothing but God that he survived,” she said.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places for a Changed World for 2022.

Maria Cramer is a reporter on the Travel desk. Please send her tips, questions and complaints about traveling, especially on cruises. More about Maria Cramer

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Coast Guard rescues man who went overboard on Carnival cruise ship

The guest was reported missing around noon Thursday.

A 28-year-old man who went overboard while on a Carnival cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard almost 20 hours after he was reported missing.

The guest, according to a representative with Carnival Cruise Line, was at a bar with his sister on the Carnival Valor and left to use the bathroom at around 11 p.m. Wednesday night. He never returned and his sister reported him missing the following day. The Coast Guard received the call at approximately 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

Carnival crew searched the ship Thursday but were unsuccessful, later deciding to retrace the ship's route to find the missing guest.

The U.S. Coast Guard assisted the Carnival crew with search and rescue and told ABC News they found the man in the water shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday. He was rescued approximately 20 hours since he was last seen.

The man was reported to be in stable condition, the U.S. Coast Guard said Friday.

MORE: CDC ends COVID-19 program for cruise ships

"The Jayhawk aircrew hoisted the man onto the helicopter and transferred him to awaiting emergency medical services at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport," a statement from the Coast Guard read.

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The ship was on its way to Cozumel, a Mexican island in the Caribbean, and was released by the Coast Guard to continue to its destination.

“We are beyond grateful that this case ended with a positive outcome," said Lt. Seth Gross, a Sector New Orleans search and rescue mission coordinator. "It took a total team effort from Coast Guard watchstanders, response crews, and our professional maritime partners operating in the Gulf of Mexico to locate the missing individual and get him to safety. If not for the alert crew aboard the motor vessel Crinis, this case could have had a much more difficult ending.”

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A cruise ship passenger was rescued by the Coast Guard after hours in Gulf waters

Giulia Heyward

A Carnival cruise ship docked in San Francisco, California. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

A Carnival cruise ship docked in San Francisco, California.

A cruise ship passenger had been missing for hours before he was rescued from sea waters by the U.S. Coast Guard off of Louisiana's southeast coast on Thursday evening.

The passenger, who officials identified as a 28-year old man, was found about 20 miles south of Southwest Pass, La., after he'd fallen overboard from a Carnival Valor cruise ship on Wednesday evening, the Coast Guard said in a press release.

However, cruise ship officials did not contact the Coast Guard New Orleans Sector to report the missing passenger until 2:30 p.m. local time on Thursday. Hours later, aircrew members of the Coast Guard rescued the passenger at 8:25 p.m. It was a crew aboard the bulk carrier vessel Crinis that had alerted Coast Guard members to the man's location after spotting a person in the water.

In footage released by the Coast Guard, the passenger is lifted from the dark waters and onto a helicopter operated by an aircrew. He was then transported to the New Orleans Lakefront Airport to receive emergency medical attention. The passenger was in stable condition as of Friday.

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"We are beyond grateful that this case ended with a positive outcome," said Lt. Seth Gross, a Sector New Orleans search and rescue mission coordinator.

Footage from the rescue of the cruise ship passenger last night. Can also be downloaded here: https://t.co/xk0pBnVr1E pic.twitter.com/GK1IXCKlgx — USCG Heartland (@USCGHeartland) November 25, 2022

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"It took a total team effort from Coast Guard watchstanders, response crews, and our professional maritime partners operating in the Gulf of Mexico to locate the missing individual and get him to safety," Gross said. "If not for the alert crew aboard the motor vessel Crinis, this case could have had a much more difficult ending."

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Cruise passenger who fell overboard rescued in ‘Thanksgiving miracle’

US coast guard located man about 20 miles south of Southwest Pass, Louisiana, after he fell overboard the Carnival Valor ship

In what some officials were hailing as a “Thanksgiving miracle” a passenger was rescued from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday evening after falling overboard from a cruise ship, the US coast guard (USCG) announced.

At 8.25pm on Thursday, the coast guard located a 28-year-old man in the sea about 20 miles south of Southwest Pass, Louisiana , after he apparently fell overboard the New Orleans-to-Mexico Carnival Valor cruise ship on Wednesday evening.

In a statement to CNN, Carnival officials said the man was reported missing on Thanksgiving Day after he walked away from his sister at an onboard bar the night before at 11pm – likely to use the bathroom.

He never returned, prompting his sister to alert staff members the next day. CNN reports that numerous announcements were made throughout the ship for the man to check in with guest service, but to no avail.

At around 2.30pm on Thursday, the cruise ship alerted the coast guard about the missing passenger.

“Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a call from the Carnival Valor at approximately 2.30pm Thursday, reporting a passenger aboard the cruise ship was missing. Watchstanders then coordinated the launch of several rescue crews to begin searching,” the coast guard said in a statement .

The rescue crews included a boat from Venice, Florida, a New Orleans-based helicopter, as well as airplanes from Clearwater, Florida and Mobile, Alabama, Lt Seth Gross, a USCG search and rescue coordinator told CNN.

The 200-plus-mile search was made complicated by the time difference between when the passenger was last seen and when the Coast Guard was alerted. “We knew that communication with the mariners in the Gulf of Mexico was going to be critical, Gross said.

Six hours later, crew members from the vessel Crinis discovered “a person in the water”, the USCG said.

The person turned out to be the missing passenger.

Aircrew from the coast guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter promptly “vectored into the area … hoisted the man on to the helicopter and transferred him to awaiting emergency medical services at the New Orleans Lakefront airport”, said the USCG.

“He was able to identify his name, confirmed that he was the individual that fell overboard,” Gross told CNN. “He was showing signs of hypothermia, shock, dehydration” but was reported to be in stable condition by the coast guard late Friday morning.

“The fact that he was able to keep himself afloat and above the surface of the water for such an extended period of time, it’s just something you can’t take for granted and certainly something that’ll stick with me forever,” Gross said, adding that the water temperature on Thursday night in the gulf was just slightly above 70F (21C).

Gross added: “The will to live is something you have to account for in every search and rescue case. This is one of the absolutely longest [times in the water] I’ve heard about and one of those Thanksgiving miracles.”

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Man dies after jumping overboard during a Carnival cruise, the 2nd such incident in less than a month

• A man died after jumping off a Carnival cruise ship two hours after it departed the Turks and Caicos Islands.
• The man was on the fourth day of a six-day cruise that departed Miami on Sunday.
• This is the second such incident in less than a month. 

A man has died after jumping off a Carnival cruise ship, the second such incident aboard a Carnival vessel in less than a month. 

A representative for Carnival Cruise Line told Insider that the guest had been seen jumping overboard from Deck 11 of the Carnival Horizon at around 7 p.m. EST on Wednesday. The incident occurred two hours after the ship departed the Turks and Caicos Islands.

"The ship's command immediately began search and rescue procedures, returned to the area near where the incident occurred, and notified the US Coast Guard," the Carnival representative said.

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A representative from the Coast Guard told Insider that a helicopter had been dispatched to help with the search and rescue mission. 

"A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew assisted the Turks and Caicos officials and cruise ship Carnival Horizon to locate a person in the water about 7 miles north of Drum Point, Turks and Caicos," the Coast Guard representative said.

"The Jayhawk helicopter crew hoisted the man and transferred him to officials in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos."

The coast guard and the ship's crew recovered the man's body before 10.30 p.m. EST. Carnival did not identify the man in its response to Insider.

According to the Carnival representative, the man's wife was traveling with him on the Carnival Horizon, which departed Miami on Sunday and was due to return on Saturday. 

"Carnival's Care team is providing assistance to his family. The ship has been cleared by the Coast Guard to resume its course," the representative said. 

Wednesday's death was the second such incident aboard a Carnival ship in less than a month.

On February 18, a search was suspended for a missing 32-year-old woman who reportedly jumped overboard from the Carnival Valor while off the Louisiana coast, per The Washington Post . Rescue crews covered more than 2,5000 square nautical miles during their 14-hour search for the passenger.

According to the  International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health , 58 passengers and 14 crew members died from falling overboard on cruise ships between 2001 and 2019. Over the same period, 55 passengers and five crew died after jumping off vessels in suspected suicides.

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Coast Guard saves overboard cruise passenger in ‘Thanksgiving miracle’

A 28-year-old man on a carnival cruise from new orleans spent a day floating in the gulf of mexico.

In a rescue United States Coast Guard officials are calling a “Thanksgiving miracle,” a helicopter crew saved a 28-year-old man Thursday night after he went overboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship and spent a day floating in the Gulf of Mexico.

Coast Guard officers in New Orleans received a call about a missing passenger from the Carnival Valor at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, according to a news release from the Coast Guard’s 8th District Public Affairs Office. A rescue swimmer on an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter secured him at 8:25 p.m. Thursday about 20 miles south of Southwest Pass. The man was last seen on the ship around 11 p.m. Wednesday, the Coast Guard said, meaning he could have been treading water through the night into Thanksgiving.

“This is an exceptionally rare case,” Ryan Graves, a petty officer in public affairs with the 8th District, told The Washington Post. “It is really nothing short of a Thanksgiving miracle to be able to pick somebody up after that long in the water without any sort of flotation device.”

Graves said the man was in stable condition when he was rescued and was able to provide his name to the team aboard the helicopter. The Coast Guard transported him to emergency medical services waiting at New Orleans Lakefront Airport.

In its search, the Coast Guard also deployed a 45-foot response boat from Venice, La., and a fixed-wing airplane from Mobile, Ala. Commercial sailors on a bulk carrier told the Coast Guard they observed a man in the water, helping the helicopter crew locate him.

“We are beyond grateful that this case ended with a positive outcome,” Seth Gross, a Sector New Orleans search and rescue mission coordinator, said in a news release. “It took a total team effort from Coast Guard watch standers, response crews, and our professional maritime partners operating in the Gulf of Mexico to locate the missing individual and get him to safety.”

“It is why we joined, really, is to do things like this,” Graves said. “On a holiday like this, it’s good to bring him back to his family.” Representatives for Carnival Cruise Line declined to provide details about what the passenger was doing before he went overboard but expressed their gratitude for the rescue.

“We greatly appreciate the efforts of all, most especially the U.S. Coast Guard and the mariner who spotted the guest in the water,” Matt Lupoli, a spokesman for Carnival Cruise Line, said in an email. Chris Chiames, the chief communications officer, said in an email that cruise ship safety barriers are regulated by Coast Guard standards to prevent falls. “Guests should never ever climb up on the rails,” Chiames said. “The only way to go overboard is to purposefully climb up and over the safety barriers.”

A previous version of this story incorrectly said the Coast Guard received a call about a missing passenger Wednesday afternoon. It was Thursday.

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Man Overboard: What Happens When Guests Go Overboard on a Cruise Ship

Doug Parker

• August 9, 2023

Man overboard is a term used to describe someone who has gone off the cruise ship and requires rescue.

And while it’s understandable for people who board a cruise ship to worry about going overboard, actual man overboard incidents are rare, considering how tens of millions of people sail each year without incident.

Man overboard incidents tend to get much heavy media coverage, leading those unfamiliar with the cruise industry to believe it happens frequently.

But what, exactly, does a “man overboard” incident entail ? How often does it happen? And when someone does wind up in the water, what happens next? This article will explore these questions based on research, expert interviews, and cruise line policies.

What is a Man Overboard Incident?

In simplest terms, a man overboard incident is exactly what it sounds like. Somehow, a person winds up going into the sea and needs rescuing. How they wound up going over the railing is less critical than the need to get them out of the water as quickly as possible.

How often do people fall off cruise ships? 

So, just how often do people go overboard? As it turns out, an expert in the field can answer that question.

Professor Ross Klein of Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, has been gathering information regarding man overboard incidents since 1995. As of 2023, he has tracked 387 situations in which passengers or crew members on board cruise ships or ferryboats went overboard. 

Meanwhile, the Cruise Lines International Association reported 212 man overboard incidents , specifically on cruise ships, between 2009 and 2019.

Doing the math, that averages out to around 19 incidents each year. On its face, that can sound quite shocking until you look at the big picture and realize that it’s 212 people out of the 224 million who took cruises during that time. The odds of hitting the Powerball Jackpot is one in 292 million.

Is it hard to fall off a cruise ship?

Generally speaking, going overboard is almost impossible unless you are doing something you probably shouldn’t. Sadly, it’s much easier to jump off a cruise ship , which is entirely different (although it still qualifies as a “man overboard” incident.).

Looking at the history of such incidents, most incidents fall into one of these categories:

• Alcohol or drug-related
• Reckless or irresponsible behavior
• Suicide attempts
• Rough sea conditions

Sadly, in many cases, we never truly know how or why the person went overboard. Most often, they are alone during the incident, which is why it can sometimes be hours before their absence is discovered and the severity of the situation is realized.

And as one might expect, these situations often have tragic, fatal endings. Not all man overboard incidents result in a person’s death. In July of 2023, a woman tumbled off Mariner of the Seas while attempting to take a selfie and was rescued shortly after. 

What happens during a man overboard on a cruise?

A man-overboard incident will immediately trigger a coordinated, systematic, and ship-wide emergency response designed first to ensure that a man overboard incident occurred, as false alarms can happen from time to time. That said, here’s a look at what happens during a man overboard incident.

1. Crew response 

Once the bridge team is aware of the situation, they will sound the internal alarm followed by the word Oscar three times on the PA system. The words “Oscar, Oscar, Oscar” will be heard throughout the ship, alerting the entire crew to what has occurred.

If the passenger can still be seen, the ship will stop and deploy lifeboats and rescue boats to retrieve them. 

A search-and-rescue mission will commence if the passenger is reported missing. Rather than stopping, the ship will return to where it is believed the person entered the water.

2. Search and rescue efforts

The ship’s command will notify the local Coast Guard and participate in the search and rescue mission.

The Coast Guard has several key responsibilities during a man overboard incident, including coordinating with the vessel to obtain all the necessary details about the situation once they receive a distress or emergency call. 

The Coast Guard’s search and rescue operation may involve deploying aircraft, cutters, and a specialized rescue team. If the victim is found, the Coast Guard will conduct a medical evaluation and arrange a transfer to a shoreside medical facility either via cutter or helicopter. 

Passengers who have gone overboard and located by the ship are brought on board for further evaluation and treatment before being transferred to the Coast Guard.

While every cruise ship has a highly detailed systematic approach for a man overboard emergency, there is no guarantee that the victim will be found. Unfortunately, only a few people are successfully rescued during a man overboard incident.

What can I do to prevent falling off a cruise ship?

What happens in the aftermath of a man overboard situation is the cruise ship’s and crew’s responsibility. But as passengers, there are things we can do to avoid putting ourselves in this dangerous situation.

• Always be aware of your surroundings, especially if you’re on the upper deck of the cruise ship .
• Do not stand or sit on the railings or other precarious perches; don’t put your head outside or lean through the open windows or over the balcony railing.
• Be mindful when moving about the ship during bad weather or when traversing rough seas.
• Never leave a child unattended or allow them to climb atop furnishings near railings or balconies.
• Always follow any instructions issued by crew members to the letter. 

Man-overboard technology and modern-day cruising

During discussions about cruise ship safety, one of the most common questions is whether vessels have systems to detect when someone goes overboard, and if not, why?

As it turns out, the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 required US ships to implement technology that could “be used for capturing images of passengers or detecting passengers who have fallen overboard, to the extent that such technology is available.” 

As you might guess, the “to the extent that such technology is available” has been something of a loophole, giving cruise lines the ability to avoid implementing these systems. Questions have also been raised about the reliability of the technology in question. 

Proper use of a man overboard (MOB) system can mean the difference between a successful rescue and a tragic outcome.

However, when you look at the cruise industry collectively, the technology is on very few cruise ship ships. Disney Cruise Line is the only cruise line on record saying its vessels have the system installed.

In spring 2023, man overboard detection company MARSS MOBtronic made significant progress after conducting 120 tests using their system and achieved a 100% success rate in detecting people who had fallen overboard.

Those systems come at a price. MARSS recently told USA Today that each installation starts at around $200,000.

“Most cruise lines will claim that MOB systems are not reliable and give false-positive results, and as such, the systems are not really ‘available,'” says Jim Walker, an attorney with Walker and O’Neill Maritime Lawyers. “Manufacturers will tell you that the systems are highly reliable — around 97 percent. I have seen such systems, and they are impressive in my view.”

He adds that “sailing without a system will always result in delayed search and rescue efforts. It’s truly akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.” 

If someone goes overboard in the middle of the night and it’s not noticed until the next day, the ship could be as far as 100 miles away by the time it’s reported.  

One thing cruise ships have in place is closed-circuit television monitors (or CCTV), which record activity around the ships. CCTV footage is generally used to compile important information about the individual in question, including where exactly the man overboard took place.

During an incident, the security team can also review the footage to determine the last place the guest used their onboard spending card, rewind the tape to that time, and follow the guest around the ship until they reach the moment they’re looking for.

But can CCTV footage be used in court?

Any time a person goes overboard, authorities open an active investigation. Some cases occasionally make it to the courtroom.

Often, litigation involves the family of the person who went overboard. A lot of the cases filed are where the guest was overserved alcohol. The outcome of these cases is in the hands of the jury.

Walker says that “the FBI has jurisdiction when there is a report of a suspicious death to request or subpoena CCTV footage when a person goes overboard,” adding that he is aware of several cases in which this has happened. And yes, he says, “cruise lines are required to respond to a subpoena from the FBI.”

He has not, however, “heard of the FBI or Coast Guard making a request for MOB data for no reason other than there are so few cruise ships which have installed such systems.” 

It’s doubtful that you will ever be in a man-overboard situation. Not only is it rare that you will find yourself going overboard but there’s little chance of you ever being on board a ship when such an incident happens. 

Being prepared and aware of your surroundings is always a good idea. Hopefully, the information we’ve provided will help you avoid putting yourself into a dangerous situation while also giving you an idea of what to do — and not to do — should you see someone going overboard. 

How long does it take to find someone who has gone overboard?

There is no definitive answer. Several factors come into play, including when the ship was notified of the situation, the time of day, water temperature, location, ocean conditions, and the amount of time that has gone by will all impact the outcome.

Why do people jump off cruise ships?

There are a variety of reasons that guests go overboard. Several factors can lead someone to consider it, such as alcohol, mental health problems, chronic pain, feelings of hopelessness or erratic or reckless behavior. If you know of anyone on a cruise who is expressing thoughts of ending their life, contact the ship immediately so that they can get help for that person.

What if I see someone jump off a cruise ship?

If you see someone jump off a cruise ship, immediately shout “Man Overboard” loudly enough for everyone to hear while visually tracking the person, throwing a life ring, and dialing 911 on the ship’s phone. Do not jump into the water to rescue the person. Even the strongest swimmer may not be prepared to deal with the harsh realities of the ocean.  

Can someone survive falling off a cruise ship?

Surviving a cruise ship fall will depend on several factors, like how quickly the overboard is reported/discovered, the response time of the crew members, the water’s temperature, the person’s ability to swim, their physical condition, and the weather. 

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The dad of Levion Parker , the 20-year-old Florida outdoorsman who drunkenly leaped to his death in front of his family on a Royal Caribbean cruise last week, is now questioning how his son was able to get so drunk despite being underage.

In an interview with his hometown newspaper, The Daily Sun , Francel Parker insisted that his son wasn’t suicidal and that they weren’t arguing before his fatal plunge—a statement that contradicts what others onboard told the New York Post they witnessed.

Instead, Francel told the paper his son’s spontaneous jump was done out of drunken ignorance—something he suggested should have been avoidable.

“We don’t drink,” he told the Sun . “I’d like to know how my son was served so much alcohol.”

Despite being over international waters at the time of the fatal plunge, roughly midway between Grand Inagua Island and Cuba, cruises that depart and return from U.S. ports are barred from serving alcohol to anyone under 21. Royal Caribbean has released a statement on the incident, but has not addressed witness statements that claimed Levion was drunk.

Parker added that he’s holding out hope his son, an outdoorsman who won a saltwater fishing tournament just last month, is still alive somewhere in the Caribbean—despite Thursday making it a full week since he disappeared into ocean, and two days since the U.S. Coast Guard called off its search.

“As soon as he went off the side, I prayed over him,” he said, adding that his son was a skilled diver. “I was confident the prayers I said over my son were heard. I stand on the word of God. I believe he is alive.”

The tragedy unfolded around 4 a.m. on April 4, on the 11th deck of the massive Liberty of the Seas cruise liner. Witnesses told the Post last week that Levion was hanging out in a hot tub with his brother when he was approached by his dad, who appeared angry that he’d been drinking.

After what he perceived as being an argument, the witness Bryan Sims told the Post he heard Levion tell his dad, “I’ll fix this right now.” Moments later, he jumped into the dark ocean below—an incident Sims described as being an “impulsive leap.”

Sims added that the ship was moving “pretty fast” and that Francel screamed for staff to alert the captain, which brought the ship to a complete stop within 20 minutes. The vessel launched rescue boats, but to no avail—Levion was nowhere to be found.

Francel told the Sun he flung six life rings off the ship hoping one would reach his son, who he said accompanied him on board along with his younger brother to take a break from his work on a commercial fishing boat.

Social media posts showed Levion graduated from North Port High School, in southwest Florida between Sarasota and Fort Myers, in 2022. He played football there, and regularly posted about fishing and hunting.

In in its lone statement on the incident, Royal Caribbean said last week it was “providing support and assistance” to Levion’s family.

“The ship’s crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort alongside the U.S. Coast Guard,” it said, adding, “For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share.”

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Former North Port football player presumed dead after jumping off cruise ship

S ARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - The search for a 20-year-old North Port man who went overboard on a Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship one week ago has ended.

On April 4, the U.S. Coast Guard posted that crews were searching for a 20-year-old man who went overboard 57 miles from Great Inagua.

The Broward County Sheriff’s Office leading the investigation did confirm the 20-year-old is North Port High School graduate, Levion Parker.

Parker played football at North Port High School and graduated in 2022.

Man overboard: Cruise ship overboards and how they happen

We've all heard sad news reports of people going overboard on cruises. If you're someone who hasn't cruised before or who isn't familiar with ships, it sounds scary. But is it true? Can you really fall off a cruise ship? What do the authorities do in a cruise ship overboard situation?

Here's everything you need to know about what happens in a "man overboard" situation on a cruise ship and how to make sure it doesn't happen to you.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Is falling off a cruise ship easy?

No. Cruise ships have railings — usually about chest height on the average person — on all open deck areas and cabin balconies. They are placed intentionally to ensure passenger safety.

The only way you risk a fall is if you're standing on furniture to peer over the side or climbing somewhere you're not supposed to. It's not possible for you to trip over a door frame or slip on a wet deck and fall off of a vessel.

Play by the rules and remain in control of your actions, and you don't have to worry about inadvertently falling overboard from a cruise ship.

Related: Are cruises safe? Here's what you need to know about cruise ship security and safety

How does someone go overboard from a cruise ship?

Accidental overboards can happen when cruisers have had too much to drink and climb on top of railings, enter restricted areas or attempt dangerous — and potentially fatal — stunts like climbing from balcony to balcony. One sad story involved a grandfather holding his baby granddaughter up to an open window to see the view and then losing his grip and dropping her.

It's impossible to discuss cruise-ship man-overboard incidents without mentioning that some of them are, in fact, intentional. Some cruisers purposefully jump off cruise ships to commit suicide. Passengers caught up in a physical fight or wishing to do harm could push someone off the ship, though it would take some effort.

Are man overboard situations common on cruise ships?

In many cases, stories of passengers "falling off" of cruise ships make it seem like it's a regular occurrence or that there's a grave risk you could be swept over the side while going about your daily vacation activities. In reality, one or two people go overboard each month out of roughly 2.5 million who cruise during the same time frame.

Between 2009 and 2019, there have been 212 man overboard incidents on cruise ships, according to a Report on Operational Incidents issued by the Cruise Lines International Association. That works out to roughly 19 overboards each year.

Cases of people falling off ships are also on the decline. "From 2009 to 2019, man overboard incidents have declined with an incidence of 0.00004 overboard reports per active lower berth (synonymous with a cabin's bed) in 2019," reports CLIA. "This is 64% of the figure recorded in 2009."

Related: 15 cruise ship rules you shouldn't break

What happens when someone falls off a cruise ship?

When it's determined that someone has gone over the side, the bridge — the ship's control center — will contact the coast guard, and a search will begin.

Officers will attempt to pinpoint when and where the incident happened, allowing the search to cover a particular radius where the individual is predicted to be. The search will be called off after either the passenger is found or the ship is cleared by the coast guard to continue its voyage.

If your ship is involved in a search for a missing passenger, it might have to skip a port call or delay its return home to account for the time spent retracing its route to look for the person overboard.

What should you do if you see a cruise ship overboard?

If you witness someone falling off a cruise ship, throw them a life buoy or other flotation device if you're near one. You can often find orange life rings attached to deck railings.

It's crucial to then alert a crew member that you witnessed a man overboard and have the crew alert the bridge. Note the time the overboard occurred. With this information, the bridge officers can identify the exact position of the ship at that time, so it can return to that location to search for the missing guest.

Related: 6 cruise mistakes that will ruin your vacation in an instant

Can you survive going overboard from a cruise ship?

Unfortunately, it's rare that a passenger is found alive. A Carnival cruiser who fell off a ship over Thanksgiving 2022 made headlines when he was rescued after spending close to 20 hours in the Gulf of Mexico. He was lucky because his positive outcome is not common.

Overboards are particularly grim when the ship is moving, as the vessel's speed and current mean that a person can be swept away quickly. If they aren't immediately seen, it can be a while before the captain realizes what has happened.

Chances of survival vary, depending on the circumstances of the fall. A passenger could be injured if they hit part of the ship as they fall. Should they survive the fall, water temperature also plays a significant role in how long a person can remain alive. You have a better chance of waiting out a rescue in the warm Caribbean sea than in chilly Alaskan waters.

Of the 212 overboard incidents mentioned earlier, 48 of those (roughly 28%) were rescued alive, CLIA reports. That amounts to four or five rescues each year.

Any time an overboard occurs, cruise lines offer assistance to friends, family or other travel companions traveling with the passenger in question.

Bottom line

If you stick to the areas where you're allowed to be as a passenger, you don't have to worry about falling overboard on a cruise.

Always pay attention to safety messages and signage that indicates which parts of the ship are meant for crew only, and drink alcohol responsibly.

Have more cruise questions? TPG has answers:

• More banned items: What not to pack for a cruise
• What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships?
• What are the largest cruise ships in the world?
• What is a gentleman host on a cruise?
• What is the Jones Act and how does it affect cruise ships?
• What is a lido deck on a cruise ship?
• What's a cruise cabin guarantee and will it save you money?
• What's the difference between a cruise concierge and a butler?

Watch CBS News

Man jumps from Carnival Cruise Line ship 55 miles off Florida coast

Updated on: April 18, 2022 / 9:02 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Update: The Coast Guard has suspended their search for the man who went overboard . 

The U.S. Coast Guard was searching for a man who jumped overboard from a cruise ship Saturday as it approached Florida.

The man jumped from the Carnival Cruise Line ship Mardi Gras just after midnight about 55 miles east of Port Canaveral, according to the Coast Guard and Carnival.

The Coast Guard responded with two cutters and an airplane to search for the 43-year-old man. The Mardi Gras and the cruise ship Elation also participated in the search, said Coast Guard spokesman David Micallef.

"The Carnival Care Team is supporting the guest's family. Mardi Gras," said Carnival spokesman Matt Lupoli. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the guest and his family."

Lupoli said the Coast Guard released the ship from the search efforts and it continued to Port Canaveral. It will continue sailing as scheduled.

CBS Miami reported the Mardi Gras is the largest ship ever built for the cruise line. The first cruise ship with an onboard roller coaster, the Mardi Gras is 1,130 feet long, has 21 decks, 2,641 staterooms, and features six themed zones and restaurants from Guy Fieri, Emeril Lagasse, Rudi Sodamin and Shaquille O'Neal.

Last month, a guest jumped overboard from the Carnival Horizon ship that had departed from Miami. That man's body was reportedly found .

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US Coast Guard searches for man who jumped from cruise ship

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a man who jumped overboard from a cruise ship early Saturday as it approached Florida.

The man jumped from the Carnival Cruise Lines ship Mardi Gras just after midnight about 55 miles (89 kilometers) east of Port Canaveral, according to the Coast Guard and Carnival.

The Coast Guard responded with two cutters and an airplane to search for the 43-year-old man. The Mardi Gras and the cruise ship Elation also participated in the search, said Coast Guard spokesman David Micallef.

“The Carnival Care Team is supporting the guest’s family. Mardi Gras,” said Carnival spokesman Matt Lupoli. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the guest and his family.”

Lupoli said the Coast Guard released the ship from the search efforts and it continued to Port Canaveral. It will continue sailing as scheduled.

The Associated Press

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Vacation horror as ‘drunk’ son, 20, jumps from royal caribbean cruise in front of family.

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A cruise turned into a nightmare for people aboard Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas when a young man jumped overboard shortly after 4 a.m. Thursday.

The 18-story ship was sailing between Cuba and the Bahamas’ Grand Inagua Island when the as-yet-unidentified man jumped off one of the decks.

According to onlookers, his father and brother watched helplessly as he leaped over the side.

Some passengers said it appeared to be an impulsive, spur-of-the-moment decision. 

“I had hung out with him and his brother in the hot tub until 3:30,” passenger Bryan Sims tells The Post. ” It was standing room only. He sat right beside me the whole time.”

“He was pretty drunk,” Sims continues.

“As we were walking from the hot tub back to the elevators, his dad and brother were walking towards us. His dad was fussing at him for being drunk, I guess.” “When we got to them, he said to his dad, ‘I’ll fix this right now.’ And he jumped out the window in front of us all.” 

“There was a lot of yelling, and the crew was alerted immediately,” another passenger,  Deborah Morrison, told The Post.

“His family was horrified. Just beside themselves. I can’t even begin to imagine what they’re going through.”

“It was insane,” says Sims. “It was just surreal.” 

In a statement to The Post, Royal Caribbean said its crew immediately sprang into action following the incident.

“The ship’s crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort alongside the US Coast Guard, who has taken over the search,” the statement reads.

“Our Care Team is providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time. For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share.”

News of the apparent suicide attempt quickly spread among the guests — and many of them tried to help in any way they could.

“The early morning was definitely somber as so many people came out of their cabins to stare at the sea, hoping to be able to aid in finding the person,” said Amy Phelps Fouse, a passenger on the ship.

“Royal Caribbean has been excellent at communicating updates throughout the day,” Fouse continued. “They have asked that people act with compassion in light of the tragic situation.”

Overboard incidents on cruise ships are rare.

According to the Washington Post , about 386 people were reported to have gone overboard on the major cruise lines between 2000 to 2020.

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The incidents, whether accidental or intentional, are often deadly.

In the past few years, most cruise lines have enacted onboard safety measures and surveillance systems to help reduce the risk of overboard deaths.

The Coast Guard confirmed to The Post it is still conducting a search and rescue operation in the waters off Cuba. The man has not yet been found.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to  SuicidePreventionLifeline.org .

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