No vacation is without risks, but falling off a cruise ship is a terrifying and rare event. This weekend, a child fell overboard from the Disney Dream cruise returning from the Bahamas, and her father jumped in to save her. Passengers heard the “man overboard” announcement and saw the crew act swiftly. Fortunately, both were rescued unharmed.
Disney Cruise Line praised their crew’s fast and expert response, noting how their safety systems worked perfectly to bring the two guests back on board within minutes. Over the past decade, cruise lines have recorded just over 200 overboard incidents, but only a small fraction of those people survived. Despite this, the chance of falling off a cruise ship is extremely low, so travelers can remain calm.
When someone falls into the water, the bridge crew issues a “Code Oscar” alert, mobilizing the entire ship for rescue. Witnesses must give detailed information about the incident, including where it happened and what the person was wearing. The ship’s position is recorded, and it carefully reverses course while rescue boats are sent out. Nearby ships are notified to help. Meanwhile, trained staff provide emotional care to the family, who can choose to disembark at the next port if they want. This thorough response maximizes the chance of saving lives.
