passenger who fell from cruise ship

Search underway for passenger who fell overboard from Taylor Swift-themed cruise

It was not immediately clear if the operation was successful or how long it could take., by nbc6 • published october 23, 2024 • updated on october 23, 2024 at 12:29 pm.

A passenger aboard a Royal Caribbean ship went overboard during a Taylor Swift-themed cruise, prompting search and rescue efforts, a company spokesperson confirmed Wednesday.

It happened aboard the Allure of the Seas, which departed from Miami and was en route to an island in the Bahamas, according to online vessel trackers.

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The ship was about 17 miles from Nassau when the woman fell around 9:40 p.m. Tuesday.

“Our crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort and is working with local authorities. We are also providing support and assistance to the guest's family during this difficult time," a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said.

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The U.S. Coast Guard was assisting the Royal Bahamas Defense Force in the search. It was not immediately clear if the operation was successful or how long it could take.

A few hundred Swifties left Monday from Miami on Allure of the Seas as part of a fan-led cruise group fittingly named "In my cruise era."

It's not clear if the woman who went overboard was a part of the group.

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Search for man who fell off Carnival cruise ship near Florida is suspended

The Coast Guard on Wednesday night suspended the search for a cruise ship passenger who is believed to have fallen into the sea east of Florida on Monday morning, officials said.

Ronnie Peale, 35, was identified as the passenger who fell about 4 a.m. as the Carnival Magic cruise ship was around 180 miles east of Jacksonville.

“The decision to suspend the active search efforts pending further development is never one we take lightly. We offer our most sincere condolences to Mr. Peale’s family and friends," Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Hooper said in a statement .

The Coast Guard said it was notified around 6:30 p.m. Monday that a passenger had fallen. The search involved HC-130 Hercules airplanes, a HC-144 plane and a cutter, which is a ship.

More than 5,171 square miles were searched, the Coast Guard said.

The Carnival Magic is around 1,000 feet long and has a capacity of almost 3,700 passengers, in addition to around 1,300 crew members, according to the cruise company. It had been scheduled to arrive Tuesday in Norfolk, Virginia.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.

Cruise ship passenger who went overboard was 'dead set' on surviving during 20-hour wait for rescue

U.S. Coast Guard rescued James Michael Grimes after almost 20 hours battling rip currents and shark-infested waters, he says.

James Michael Grimes is speaking out for the first time in an exclusive interview with ABC News after going overboard on a Carnival cruise ship after being missing for almost 20 hours.

The 28-year-old man said he was determined to make it out of the Gulf of Mexico alive, calling it the experience of a lifetime.

Grimes said he treaded water for nearly 20 hours after falling overboard on Thanksgiving Eve -- battling jelly fish, rip currents and shark-infested waters before being airlifted by the U.S. Coast Guard on Nov. 24. shortly after 8 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard told ABC News.

Grimes had only been aboard the Carnival Valor for a day before his sister reported him missing. The two were last seen together at a restaurant where Grimes had won an air guitar contest before going to the bathroom.

That is the last thing he remembers. Grimes said he believes the fall overboard knocked him unconscious.

"The next thing I know... I regained consciousness. I was in the water with no boat in sight," he said.

Alone in solid darkness, and the light from the stars and the moon, Grimes decided in that moment he would make it out of the water.

"I felt like I was given a chance right then... you're alive for a reason... that [ fall ] could've killed me, but I felt like from that moment on, I was trying to stay positive. And, you know when you're here, you're still alive for a reason. So, all you got to do now is swim and survive. I was hoping... they will start looking for me... they will find me eventually," Grimes said.

Grimes was aboard the five-day cruise with 18 of his family members for Thanksgiving. When he didn't return to his cabin that night, his sister reported him missing.

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 after the rescue was made.

"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.

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

"We greatly appreciate the efforts of all, most especially the U.S. Coast Guard and the mariner who spotted the guest in the water," the Coast Guard said in a statement Thursday to ABC News. "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. Guests should never ever climb up on the rails. The only way to go overboard is to purposefully climb up and over the safety barriers."

Carnival Valor had said in a statement to ABC News that it conducted a search-and-rescue operation after Grimes went missing.

"Carnival Valor retraced its route to support the search and rescue, but the ship has now been released by the U.S. Coast Guard, and will continue on its way to Cozumel. Carnival's Care Team is providing support to the family members of the missing guest who were sailing with him and remain on board," the statement at the time said.

Against all odds, Grimes said he kept a positive attitude and "just kept swimming."

In addition to his attitude, he said it was his will to see his family again that kept him afloat.

"I wanted to see my family and I was dead set on making it out of there. I was never accepting that this is it, this is going to be the end of my life. I'm 28 years old. I'm too young. This is not going to be it," Grimes said.

"I always thought there's a greater purpose for my life. Now, I know for sure I'm meant to do something on this Earth. And, you know, I don't know. It was just the Lord was out there helping me, giving me strength and helping me stay afloat," he added.

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Carnival cruise passenger who went overboard was 'dead set' on surviving

LA FAYETTE, ALABAMA -- James Michael Grimes is speaking out for the first time in an exclusive interview with ABC News after going overboard on a Carnival cruise ship after being missing for almost 20 hours.

The 28-year-old man said he was determined to make it out of the Gulf of Mexico alive, calling it the experience of a lifetime.

Grimes said he treaded water for nearly 20 hours after falling overboard on Thanksgiving Eve -- battling jelly fish, rip currents and shark-infested waters before being airlifted by the U.S. Coast Guard on Nov. 24. shortly after 8 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard told ABC News.

Grimes had only been aboard the Carnival Valor for a day before his sister reported him missing. The two were last seen together at a restaurant where Grimes had won an air guitar contest before going to the bathroom.

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MORE: Coast Guard rescues man who went overboard on Carnival cruise ship

That is the last thing he remembers. Grimes said he believes the fall overboard knocked him unconscious.

"The next thing I know... I regained consciousness. I was in the water with no boat in sight," he said.

Alone in solid darkness, and the light from the stars and the moon, Grimes decided in that moment he would make it out of the water.

"I felt like I was given a chance right then... you're alive for a reason... that [fall] could've killed me, but I felt like from that moment on, I was trying to stay positive. And, you know when you're here, you're still alive for a reason. So, all you got to do now is swim and survive. I was hoping... they will start looking for me... they will find me eventually," Grimes said.

MORE: Royal Caribbean to offer Starlink internet on all its ships

Grimes was aboard the five-day cruise with 18 of his family members for Thanksgiving. When he didn't return to his cabin that night, his sister reported him missing.

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 after the rescue was made.

"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.

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

"We greatly appreciate the efforts of all, most especially the U.S. Coast Guard and the mariner who spotted the guest in the water," the Coast Guard said in a statement Thursday to ABC News. "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. Guests should never ever climb up on the rails. The only way to go overboard is to purposefully climb up and over the safety barriers."

Carnival Valor had said in a statement to ABC News that it conducted a search-and-rescue operation after Grimes went missing.

"Carnival Valor retraced its route to support the search and rescue, but the ship has now been released by the U.S. Coast Guard, and will continue on its way to Cozumel. Carnival's Care Team is providing support to the family members of the missing guest who were sailing with him and remain on board," the statement at the time said.

Against all odds, Grimes said he kept a positive attitude and "just kept swimming."

In addition to his attitude, he said it was his will to see his family again that kept him afloat.

"I wanted to see my family and I was dead set on making it out of there. I was never accepting that this is it, this is going to be the end of my life. I'm 28 years old. I'm too young. This is not going to be it," Grimes said.

"I always thought there's a greater purpose for my life. Now, I know for sure I'm meant to do something on this Earth. And, you know, I don't know. It was just the Lord was out there helping me, giving me strength and helping me stay afloat," he added.

ABC News' Victoria J. Arancio contributed to this report.

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Woman dies after falling overboard from cruise ship off Channel Islands

A French coastguard spokesman said its helicopter found the woman and hoisted her from the water. Despite this, a medical team later pronounced her dead.

Sunday 13 October 2024 00:13, UK

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A woman has died after going overboard from a cruise ship off the Channel Islands.

The French coastguard said it received a distress message shortly after midnight on Saturday.

A French navy helicopter, an RNLI lifeboat and a Channel Islands air search plane were involved in the rescue mission.

A French coastguard spokesman said its helicopter found the woman, and hoisted them from the water but a medical team later pronounced her dead.

The Channel Islands Air Search said in a post on Facebook that the MSC Virtuosa was north of Les Casquets - northwest of Alderney - at the time.

The volunteer organisation said it was stood down after the person was lifted from the water.

The Virtuosa cruise ship is currently berthed at Southampton docks, having arrived at 8.04am from Cartagena Port in Spain.

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The ship's owner MSC Cruises said: "A guest on board MSC Virtuosa went overboard on 12 October, while the ship was sailing to Southampton.

"The body was later recovered with the involvement of the authorities.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time. Out of respect for their privacy, we will not be providing further details."

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This halloween, be safe when trick-or-treating by watching for cars, a rip current statement in effect for coastal broward and coastal miami dade regions, us coast guard searches for passenger who fell overboard on cruise ship, royal caribbean ship left miami one day earlier.

Veronica Crespo , Digital Journalist

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – The US Coast guard is searching for a missing Royal Caribbean cruise ship passenger.

The USCG confirmed that the 66-year-old woman went overboard on Tuesday night from the Allure of the Seas, about 20 miles north of Nassau, Bahamas.

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The Taylor Swift themed cruise left Miami on Monday for the Bahamas.

An airplane and helicopter crew from Air Station Miami was called to assist the Royal Bahamas defense force in the search for the missing woman.

Royal Caribbean released the following statement about the passenger:

“Our crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort and is working with local authorities. We are also providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time. To respect the privacy of our guest’s family, we have no additional details to share.” Royal Caribbean

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Veronica Crespo writes for Local10.com and also oversees the Español section of the website. Born and raised in Miami, she graduated from the University of Miami, where she studied broadcast journalism and Spanish.

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A passenger fell off the world’s biggest cruise ship and died

On the first leg of a seven-night voyage from florida, a man fell from a deck of icon of the seas and was pronounced dead after a two-hour rescue mission.

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A man died after falling from the deck on the world’s largest cruise ship , Icon of the Seas last week. The massive vessel had just started a seven-night cruise from Miami, Florida, when the man fell from one of its 20 decks , sparking a two-hour rescue mission.

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The 1,200-foot long Icon of the Seas set sail from Florida on May 25 bound for its first stop at Honduras, reports the Royal Caribbean Blog . However, just a day after departing U.S. soil, the ship was forced into a dramatic rescue mission after an unnamed passenger fell from one of its decks.

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The passenger reportedly plummeted into the Gulf of Mexico, sparking a two-hour rescue mission that involved crews from the ship as well as U.S. Coastguard officers. Rescue boats from the Royal Caribbean-operated cruise liner were quickly deployed to recover the man. As Royal Caribbean Blog reports:

The incident allegedly took place in the morning on Sunday, prompting an immediate rescue mission from the vessel. According to guests onboard Icon of the Seas, a small rescue boat was launched from Icon of the Seas to search for the overboard guest. Guests online stated that Icon of the Seas halted its course for approximately two hours to complete the search and rescue mission. Crew members took swift action while the ship maintained its location for the duration of the rescue mission.

However, while crews were able to recover the man after he fell from the ship and bring him back onboard alive, he reportedly succumbed to his injuries and died as a result of the fall. In a statement shared with Jalopnik, the U.S. Coastguard said:

The Coast Guard assisted in the search for a man who fell overboard the cruise ship Icon of the Seas. The cruise ship deployed one of their rescue boats, located the man and brought him back aboard. He was pronounced deceased. Beyond assisting in the search, the U.S. Coast Guard did not have much involvement in this incident.

Jalopnik has reached out to Royal Caribbean, which operates Icon of the Seas , for a statement about the death onboard its ship.

Royal Caribbean launched Icon of the Seas earlier this year, with the 7,600-passenger ship undertaking its maiden voyage in January. The ship, which is roughly 1,200 feet long and requires a crew of almost 3,000, features a water park onboard, an ice rink onboard and the largest swimming pool aboard any cruise ship.

A version of this article originally appeared on Jalopnik .

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‘They found her!’: Witness describes rescue of woman who fell overboard on Royal Caribbean ship

Passenger found alive after going overboard.

A passenger who went overboard while on a cruise ship was safely rescued.It happened on Sunday aboard Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas, and people on board say the entire rescue took about 45 minutes.

ORLANDO, Fla. - A passenger who went overboard while on a cruise ship was safely rescued.

It happened on Sunday aboard Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas , and people on board say the entire rescue took about 45 minutes. Numerous cruisers watched from their balcony, and some are shocked the mission was a rescue and not a body recovery.

Passengers were outside on their balconies with binoculars trying to find the person in the water. 

"We did have reports of a person overboard," said the ship’s captain over an announcement in a video sent to FOX 35 News.

The cruise turned into a crisis for passengers enjoying a vacation on the water.

"After we saw the life rafts or the life preservers and the smoke – I was like, someone just died," said Matthew Kuhn who’s on the cruise with his family.

He watched the ordeal unfold from his balcony after checking on his family to make sure his kids were safe.

"I think it was amazing to see everyone was on their balcony. Everyone was trying to help, and the crew was very receptive to everyone," he added.

Boats searched the seas and ended up finding the missing person still alive who the U.S. Coast Guard identified as a 42-year-old U.S. citizen. The Coast Guard shared a statement on the rescue with FOX 35.

"Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan received a report from the Cruise Ship Mariner of the Seas at approximately 5:44 p.m. Sunday that the ship’s crew had rescued a female passenger, 42, U.S. citizen, who had gone overboard.," the statement read. "The cruise ship was transiting approximately 27 nautical miles south of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic when the incident occurred and was en route to Willemstad, Curaçao."

The passenger was recovered alive and reported to be in good health, after reportedly falling into the water from the tenth deck of the ship, the Coast Guard said. 

A passenger was rescued after falling off Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas. [Credit: Matthew Kuhn]

"No medical evacuation of the passenger was requested by the cruise ship. The passenger was being kept on the cruise ship’s medical facility and later transferred to the Hospital in Willemstad, Curacao for evaluation. The Coast Guard is investigating the circumstances that led to the passenger going overboard."

Since the person had already been recovered by the cruise ship, no Coast Guard assets were utilized. 

"To go from, ‘She’s probably not going to be found,’ – and… it’s a body recovery, versus 'Holy crap, they found her, and she’s alive!," Kuhn added.

Royal Caribbean tells FOX 35 in a statement,  "The ship and crew immediately reported the incident to local authorities and began searching for the guest. Thankfully, the guest was successfully recovered and was brought on board. Our care team is now offering assistance and support to them and their traveling party."

Data from a Cruise Lines International Association report on operational incidents from 2009 to 2019 shows only 28% of people who go overboard are safely rescued, the cruise line added.

The whole mood, even the cruise director, was – you could tell it was very somber for a brief time," he said. "When they found her, it was like – people were relieved. There was just a sense of, ‘OKAY, cool. No one died on our cruise.’"

When the boats lifted her back to safety, passengers on board started cheering, and the cruise continued its journey to its next destination. The ship is set to return to Port Canaveral on July 1.

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Passenger aboard Royal Caribbean cruise with Taylor Swift fans falls overboard

The Coast Guard is assisting in the search of a 66-year-old woman who fell overboard from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship late Tuesday, officials said.

The incident occurred around 9:40 p.m. approximately 17 miles north of the Bahamas’ capital Nassau, an agency spokesperson told the Daily News.

The Coast Guard has since entertained an HC-144 airplane crew and a MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter crew, both from Air Station Miami, to help with the search-and-rescue efforts, which is being led by the Royal Bahamas Defense Force.

The passenger fell off the Allure of the Seas, described by Royal Caribbean as “the most awarded ship in the world,” according to the Coast Guard.

The massive vessel, which was once the world’s largest passenger cruise ship, features 18 decks, a carousel, a zip line, and dozens of restaurants spread among 18 “neighborhoods.”

According to the Royal Caribbean Blog, a fan site not affiliated with Royal Caribbean International, 199 of the ship’s nearly 2,800 staterooms were reserved for 400 Taylor Swift fans who had embarked on a 4-night cruise marking the Florida leg of the singer’s record-smashing Eras Tour.

It’s not immediately clear if the passenger was part of the “In My Cruise Era” sailing.

Representatives for Royal Caribbean and cruise organizers didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday morning.

Officials were searching for the passenger as of 10 a.m., the US Coast Guard spokesperson told The News.

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Search called off for British passenger who fell from Royal Caribbean cruise ship

‘we are losing hope that this search will end successfully’, said croatian sea captain, article bookmarked.

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Urgent search efforts for a British passenger who reportedly fell overboard from a cruise ship near Croatia have been called off after four days.

Royal Caribbean ’s Explorer of the Seas was believed to be six days into a seven-day voyage around Greece and Croatia when the passenger disappeared during the early hours of Friday morning.

Croatian authorities confirmed on 9 August that a “young citizen of the United Kingdom”, reported to be a man, went missing from the cruise that had departed Saturday 3 August and has not been seen since.

The president of the Association of Croatian Sea Captains, Sanjin Dumanic, said on Monday: “Since the man has been in the sea for over 40 hours, we are already losing hope.

“We would all like him to be found, but 40 hours is a very long time, and we are losing hope that this search will end successfully”.

Nicole Bullock, a passenger onboard the Explorer , wrote on Twitter/X : “Woken up on the cruise ship around 3:40am to the emergency message “Oscar Oscar Oscar off the port side.” Man overboard.

“Been watching the rescue efforts off my balcony all day, hoping for a positive outcome.”

According to Bullock, a port dock in Zadar was cancelled as the Croatian Coast Guard assisted in the search.

Search and rescue efforts by The National Center for Coordination of Search and Rescue at Sea in Rijeka (MRCC) continued in the Adriatic Sea near the Vis archipelago and remote island of Jabuka over the weekend.

Planes, boats and drones were used to search for the missing Brit, with hopes that warmer summer waters would help his survival chances.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said they were aware of reports of a person overboard and are in touch with the cruise company.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: “Our staff stand ready to support British nationals overseas 24/7.”

The Independent has contacted Royal Caribbean for comment.

In May, a passenger died after jumping overboard from Royal Caribbean’s largest cruise ship after it set sail from Florida.

The male passenger reportedly jumped from the 20-deck high Icon of the Seas after it left a Florida port to embark on a seven-day cruise around the Caribbean , first stopping in Honduras.

Shortly after, the man was “pronounced deceased” by the Coast Guard.

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Breaking news, passenger describes ‘dystopian’ scene on world’s biggest cruise ship after man ‘jumped’ overboard.

A passenger described the “dystopian” scene on the world’s largest cruise ship after a man went overboard Sunday and died — including the premature celebration that broke out when passengers heard he was pulled from the water.

Zachary Normandin, 31, told The Post that some 300 passengers eating dinner on Royal Caribbean’s new Icon of the Seas cheered when the captain informed the ship that the missing traveler was found.

“Everyone in the dining room clapped and we’re like ‘yeah,’” the Connecticut resident said. “We assumed that the guy was fine.”

But it emerged that the passenger — who has not been identified — was dead, and the 1,200-foot cruise ship continued on its voyage.

Normandin said he heard from several other passengers that the man jumped from the ship, though the Coast Guard only said he fell overboard.

The result was an almost surreal atmosphere as most travelers continued to party as if nothing had happened.

“I don’t think everyone knows about the guy dying. I think it’s kind of purposely silenced,” Normandin said, adding he doesn’t think Royal Caribbean wants to scare anyone.

The Icon of the Seas, which can carry up to 7,000 passengers and 2,000 crew members, was on the first day of a seven-day voyage around the Gulf of Mexico when the tragedy occurred. It’s not due back in Miami until June 1.

It has made two ports of call, including in Honduras and Costa Maya, Mexico.

The Coast Guard told The Post Monday night the cruise ship deployed rescue boats, located the man and brought him back on board.

“He was pronounced deceased,” the Coast Guard said.

Normandin, a married father of one, said the Icon of the Seas’ captain initially revealed a man had gone over the side of the ship and the vessel was forced to turn around in hopes of finding the missing traveler.

“I thought we were going straight back to Miami, I thought that was it. But no, everything just kept on going,” said Normandin, who posted part of the rescue mission on social media over the weekend.

Normandin said he’s surprised how many passengers went about their business during the search and in the aftermath even as news spread that the passenger had died.

“I think people were just trying not to think about it, maybe, I don’t know,” he said.

“It just seemed like more people would have been like ‘Oh my gosh, what’s going on,’ but no, people were just going about their day. It’s just kind of dystopian.”

Week-long voyages on the mega-ship generally cost around $1,500 to $2,000.

Royal Caribbean hasn’t said much about the incident, citing the need to give the grieving family privacy.

“Prayers to the family, I just hope they get through this,” Normandin said. “I just wish I knew who they were so I could reach out to them and hug them or something.”

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Terrifying view from cruise ship pounded by waves so big a passenger died

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A passenger was so badly hurt they died when their cruise ship hit a powerful storm , which left over 100 other guests injured , a new report says.

Thrashed by 30ft waves, the Saga ship marketed only to those aged 50 and above veered from side to side all night until the weather conditions subsided and it could return to port in the UK.

Video taken from the deck of the ship shows the scale of what the crew had to contend with, as waves hollowed out the sea from beneath and then rolled back up again. 

The ship had departed the UK for a two-week holiday last year, but the trip had to be cut short due to the challenging weather conditions, described in an interim government report into the ‘very serious marine casualty’.

The Spirit of Discovery was hit with force 11 winds in the Bay of Biscay west of France on November 4 2023, a report into the incident has revealed. 

It tells how eight guests were taken to hospital when the ship arrived at Portsmouth, and one was so badly injured they died. 

Sorry, this video isn't available any more.

An interim report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB)  said there were 943 passengers and 503 crew on board when the ship, which had sailed from Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, faced force 11 winds and a sea state rated 8 for very high.

The ship had been on its way to Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, but had to cancel the visit as weather worsened.

One passenger said some of those on board ‘feared for their lives.’

‘People were writing texts to their loved ones in case we capsized,’ passenger Richard told  BBC News at the time of the incident.

‘The tone of voice in our captain… he was physically scared. We had crew crying. We had many passengers in awful states of fear.

‘To say “minor injuries” is an insult to the many horrific broken bones, pelvises, lacerations, stitches etc. that were caused [to] a very old passenger clientele.’

Another passenger said they were in their cabin when the captain’s voice over the speaker system told them to ‘remain seated or lie down’.

Jan Bendall, 75 said the ship was stationary for about 15 hours whilst ‘caught in the middle of the storm’, during which she and her husband were ‘holding on for dear life’.

‘It was quite frightening,’ she said. ‘I’m not somebody who frightens easily… it was quite dramatic.’

After leaving the Canary Islands, the ship was heading instead towards La Coruna in the north of mainland Spain, but this port was closed because of the conditions.

The ship’s crew took the decision to continue on and return to England when the propulsion safety system was activated in the poor weather causing it to veer suddenly to the left, bringing the vessel to a sudden halt.

The MAIB report states: ‘At about 12.30 on 4 November 2023, the passenger vessel Spirit of Discovery lost propulsion in heavy weather while crossing the Bay of Biscay.

‘This led to the vessel moving violently while the crew restarted the vessel’s propulsion.

‘The propulsion issues, storm force conditions and vessel motions continued until the following morning when Spirit of Discovery was able to continue its passage.

‘During this period over 100 passengers were injured. Eight of the seriously injured passengers were taken directly to hospital on arrival at Portsmouth, England, one of whom later died from their injuries.’

It continues: ‘The MAIB’s investigation has considered all aspects of the accident to determine the causes and circumstances of Spirit of Discovery’s loss of propulsion in heavy weather and the on-board response, including analysis of the vessel’s intended passage, preparations for operating in heavy weather, the on-board response to passenger injuries and damage, and the medical treatment of injured passengers.’

The interim report states that the investigation is nearly complete and a full report will then be issued for consultation with the parties involved.

Saga Cruises said in a statement following the incident: ‘Spirit of Discovery was sadly caught in the challenging weather conditions this weekend, as she started her return to the UK.

‘The ship remained safe at all times but, due to the impact of the storm, some guests sustained injuries.

‘All were treated immediately by onboard medical staff.

‘While the weather is clearly beyond our control, we want to offer our sincere apologies to all those affected who are now safely back, having sailed home in calmer seas.’

A spokeswoman for Saga said all guests on the trip had been offered a full refund and added: ‘Our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with the family of our guest who died following the storm in the Bay of Biscay last year.

‘We are continuing to work with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, supporting their investigation.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

MORE : Woman falls overboard from Taylor Swift-themed cruise

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Passenger died after cruise ship hit by force 11 winds in storm – report

A passenger on board the Spirit of Discovery died of his injuries after the cruise ship was hit by force 11 winds in the Bay of Biscay , a report of the incident has revealed.

More than 100 guests were injured in the storm on November 4 2023, with eight being taken to hospital when the ship arrived at Portsmouth in Hampshire.

An interim report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said one of the passengers treated in hospital later died from their injuries.

Prior to the incident, the Spirit of Discovery, operated by Saga Cruises, had to cancel a visit to Las Palmas as the weather worsened and was instead heading towards La Corona when that port was closed because of the conditions.

The ship’s crew took the decision to return to the UK when the ship’s propulsion safety system was activated in the poor weather causing it to veer suddenly to the left, bringing the vessel to a sudden halt.

The MAIB report states that there were 943 passengers and 503 crew on board when the ship, which had sailed from Puerto del Rosario in Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands faced force 11 winds and a sea state rated 8 for very high.

It says: “At about 1230 on 4 November 2023, the passenger vessel Spirit of Discovery lost propulsion in heavy weather while crossing the Bay of Biscay.

“This led to the vessel moving violently while the crew restarted the vessel’s propulsion.

“The propulsion issues, storm force conditions and vessel motions continued until the following morning when Spirit of Discovery was able to continue its passage.

“During this period over 100 passengers were injured. Eight of the seriously injured passengers were taken directly to hospital on arrival at Portsmouth, England, one of whom later died from their injuries.”

It continues: “The MAIB’s investigation has considered all aspects of the accident to determine the causes and circumstances of Spirit of Discovery’s loss of propulsion in heavy weather and the on-board response, including analysis of the vessel’s intended passage, preparations for operating in heavy weather, the on-board response to passenger injuries and damage, and the medical treatment of injured passengers.”

The interim report states that the investigation is nearly complete and a full report will then be issued for consultation with the parties involved.

Saga Cruises said in a statement following the incident: “Spirit of Discovery was sadly caught in the challenging weather conditions this weekend, as she started her return to the UK.

“The ship remained safe at all times but, due to the impact of the storm, some guests sustained injuries.

“All were treated immediately by onboard medical staff.

“While the weather is clearly beyond our control, we want to offer our sincere apologies to all those affected who are now safely back, having sailed home in calmer seas.”

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Rescue Efforts Intensify For 66-Year-Old Woman Who Fell Overboard From Cruise Ship In Bahamas

A search is currently underway for a 66-year-old woman who fell overboard from the Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas , a cruise ship themed around Taylor Swift .

The tragic incident occurred last night (Tuesday, October 22) while the ship was traveling through the Bahamas, 17 miles north of Nassau.

A task force composed of the U.S. Coast Guard and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force is working to locate the missing passenger. So far, an HC-144 airplane and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter have been dispatched from Miami to assist with the search.

Rescue efforts are still underway at the time of this writing, and there is no further information on the status of the missing woman.

A 66-year-old woman fell overboard Tuesday night from a Taylor Swift-themed cruise. Rescue efforts continue as her body has yet to be found

Image credits: Taylor Swift

As the search continues, Royal Caribbean is focusing its efforts on providing support and assistance to the missing woman’s family. 

“A search and rescue operation was immediately launched as soon as the woman was reported overboard,” a spokesperson said. “We won’t share any more details to respect the family’s privacy.”

The cruise , titled “In My Cruise Era,” was organized by fans of the singer and created by travel agents Jessica Malerman, Shelby Reyes, and Nicole Rivera from Marvelous Mouse Travels.

The event, which departed from Miami last Monday (October 21) with several hundred “Swifties” aboard, is not officially affiliated with Taylor Swift but is themed around the pop star and her Eras Tour .

The four-day trip was planned to include stops in Nassau and CocoCay. Cruise tracking data from CruiseMapper confirms that the ship docked in Nassau on Tuesday before heading to CocoCay on Wednesday.

An alleged passenger on the Allure of the Seas went on Reddit to share their story, stating that they heard an alarm go off at around 10 pm

Image credits: Aldara Zarraoa/Getty

“We are currently on the ship. The initial overhead page they played for the whole cruise said ‘Oscar Oscar, man overboard’ or something along those lines,” the user wrote. 

“Ship was turned around, and the search boats were deployed; no other updates other than that.”

The user then explained that the ship made an immediate 180-degree turn, and the entire process took 45 minutes to an hour to complete.

According to the passenger, the ship returned and remained stationary until 2:45 am. The Redditor was unable to give further updates before logging off, with their last message sent 10 hours ago.

The Allure of the Seas is a massive, award-winning cruise with a capacity of more than 6,000 passengers

Image credits: Matthew Barra/Pexels

Fans reportedly paid $1,573 for double-occupancy rooms and were treated to Taylor Swift-themed swag bags. The event was also set to include bonding activities such as karaoke, friendship bracelet swaps, trivia games about the pop star, and more.

The Allure of the Seas is a large vessel capable of accommodating 6,826 passengers across 2,748 rooms. It was built in Finland and made its debut trip more than ten years ago on December 5, 2010. 

The luxurious ship offers numerous attractions, such as surf simulations, zip lines, water parks, kids’ areas, and themed areas designed around the Seven Wonders of the World. It has won several awards, including Best Large Cruise Ship and Best Ship for Entertainment, both in 2017.

The survival rate for passengers who go overboard is low, with only one in four victims rescued alive

Image credits: Samson Bush/Pexels

The number of passengers who go overboard is relatively low, with only 212 incidents occurring between 2009 and 2019, according to reports by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). This translates to about 19 accidents per year.

The survival rate, however, is much more worrying, with data from the same organization indicating that only 48 people were successfully rescued alive during that timeframe—a 28% survival rate.

“The injuries sustained can vary in severity depending on factors such as the height from which the individual falls, the angle of impact, and the conditions of the water,” explained Steve Kherkher , a practicing injury lawyer with 30 years of experience. 

“Once in the water, the individual faces numerous hazards, including strong currents, rough seas, and hypothermia, especially in colder regions or during nighttime incidents.”

For Kherkher, Royal Caribbean could be sued by the victim’s family if negligence , unsafe conditions, or equipment failure contributed to the accident. “A maritime injury lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation to determine who may be held accountable for the victim’s injuries and losses,” he added.

Netizens shared their theories about the incident, with some believing it to be an accident and others suggesting that the woman deliberately jumped

Image credits: Tahir Osman/Pexels

“Prayers to the family, but please stop saying they fell overboard. They either jumped, were pushed, or were doing something careless. You can’t just walk along and fall overboard on a ship,” one reader wrote.

“Falling off is nearly impossible. But if someone wants to ‘get off,’ then doing so is pretty easy. It’s as clear as that, I’m afraid,” another stated on Reddit .

“It’s not nearly impossible; it is completely impossible to fall off the ship accidentally. There is no area that any sized human can slip, fall, and then tumble off the ship into the sea,” replied one user, reinforcing the previous point.

“She’s probably dead. Pretty much like finding a needle in a haystack, especially at night.”

“No one ‘falls’ overboard,” one user wrote, with others joining in to lament the incident

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Cruise Passenger Died, More Than 100 Injured After Ship Was Hit by Winds Over 65 MPH, According to Report

A report has revealed strong winds hit the Spirit of Discovery ship on Nov. 4, 2023, leading to one passenger's death

Gabrielle Rockson is a staff writer-reporter for PEOPLE. She joined PEOPLE in 2023 and covers entertainment and human interest stories. She's interviewed David Beckham, Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet and many others. Her previous work can be found in OK! Magazine, MyLondon, GRM Daily, and more.

Moritz Frankenberg/picture alliance via Getty 

Extreme weather has been blamed for leading to the death of a passenger on a cruise ship in 2023.

According to The Independent , an interim report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has revealed that strong force 11 winds hit the Spirit of Discovery ship on Nov. 4, 2023, causing over 100 people to be injured and one person to die.

The ship, which was reportedly hit by winds over 64 mph and 25 foot waves, had to cancel its travels to Las Palmas due to bad weather and go towards A Coruña instead.

Following this, the crew made the decision to return to the U.K. due to the weather conditions activating the ship’s propulsion safety system, resulting in the vessel veering left before stopping.

According to the BBC , the MAIB report stated that when the ship arrived at Portsmouth, eight passengers had to be taken to the hospital, with one later dying from their injuries.

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There were a total of 943 passengers and 503 crew on board when the Spirit of Discovery, which is operated by Saga Cruises, sailed from Puerto del Rosario in Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands.

“At about 12:30 on 4 November 2023, the passenger vessel Spirit of Discovery lost propulsion in heavy weather while crossing the Bay of Biscay,” the report read, according to The Independent. “This led to the vessel moving violently while the crew restarted the vessel’s propulsion.”

Horacio Villalobos/Corbis/Corbis via Getty

The report added, “The propulsion issues, storm force conditions and vessel motions continued until the following morning when Spirit of Discovery was able to continue its passage.”

“The MAIB’s investigation has considered all aspects of the accident to determine the causes and circumstances of Spirit of Discovery ’s loss of propulsion in heavy weather and the on-board response, including analysis of the vessel’s intended passage, preparations for operating in heavy weather, the on-board response to passenger injuries and damage, and the medical treatment of injured passengers,” the statement continued.

In a statement to PEOPLE, a spokesperson for Saga Cruises said, “ Our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with the family of our guest who died following the storm in the Bay of Biscay last year."

"We are continuing to work with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, supporting their investigation," they added.

PEOPLE has contacted the MAIB for further comment.

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Passenger died in hospital and 100 injured after Saga ship lost power in storm, report finds

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One passenger died in hospital from injuries sustained and 100 were injured when a Saga Cruises ship lost power during a storm in the Bay of Biscay, an official   report has found.

Spirit of Discovery was carrying 943 passengers and 503 crew when it was hit by force 11 winds and heavy seas while on course from Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands to Portsmouth.

The ship lost propulsion in heavy weather while crossing the Bay of Biscay at about 12.30 on November 4 last year.  

This led to the vessel moving violently while the crew restarted the vessel’s propulsion, according to an interim report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB).

“The propulsion issues, storm force conditions and vessel motions continued until the following morning when Spirit of Discovery was able to continue its passage.  

“During this period over 100 passengers were injured. Eight of the seriously injured passengers were taken directly to hospital on arrival at Portsmouth, one of whom later died from their injuries.”

The MAIB said its investigation has considered all aspects of the accident to determine the causes and circumstances of Spirit of Discovery’s loss of propulsion in heavy weather and the on board response.

This included analysis of the vessel’s intended passage, preparations for operating in heavy weather, the on board response to passenger injuries and damage and the medical treatment of injured passengers.

The report added: “The MAIB investigation is nearing completion, and a draft of the report is being prepared and will be distributed to stakeholders for a 30-day consultation period in due course.”

A Saga Cruises spokesperson said at the time: “Spirit of Discovery was sadly caught in the challenging weather conditions this weekend, as she started her return to the UK.

“The ship remained safe at all times, but due to the impact of the storm some guests sustained injuries. All were treated immediately by onboard medical staff.

“While the weather is clearly beyond our control, we want to offer our sincere apologies to all those affected who are now safely on their way home in calmer seas.”

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