man overboard in cruise ships

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.

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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 suspends search for man who went overboard on cruise ship

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a 41-year-old man who went overboard on a cruise ship just before Christmas, it said Monday.

The Vision of the Seas was 127 miles east of Charleston, South Carolina, on Saturday night when the incident occurred, the Coast Guard posted on X.

Crew members said they immediately reported it to local authorities, which began a search and rescue mission, according to the ship's operator, Royal Caribbean Cruises.

Coast Guard crews searched more than 1,625 square miles over eight hours, according to the Coast Guard in Charleston.

"Out of privacy for the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share," said a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean.

Passengers were alerted just after 7 p.m. Saturday, when an announcement saying “Oscar, Oscar, Oscar, Starboard” was made over the ship’s loudspeakers, passenger Colin Schappi told NBC News affiliate WCBD in Charleston.

“All the staff made a face at each other,” said Schappi, who was at dinner onboard when the incident happened. “No one knew what was going on at first, then they did another announcement explaining what happened a few minutes later.”

The ship departed Baltimore on Friday and made its first stop in Orlando on Sunday, arriving in the Bimini Islands on Christmas Day, according to the cruise itinerary . Two more stops are planned in the Bahamas before it returns to Maryland.

The eight-day roundtrip was themed "Christmas," according to the cruise line's website.

Last month, a 28-year-old man jumped from a Carnival cruise ship bound for Jamaica. The Coast Guard searched over 5,600 miles, but he was never found.

Natalie Kainz is a news associate for NBC News.

Search suspended for man overboard on cruise ship hundreds of miles away from Hawaii

The Australian man had been missing since Tuesday night.

The U.S. Coast Guard said Thursday it has suspended its search for a cruise ship passenger from Australia who went overboard a few hundred miles off the coast of Hawaii.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:03 p.m. Tuesday night, when the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu received a report from the Quantum of the Seas cruise ship that a man had gone overboard about 500 miles south of Kailua Kona, Big Island, according to the Coast Guard.

MORE: FBI investigating 'suspicious death' of woman on Carnival cruise ship

The cruise ship's crew searched for approximately two hours, deploying six life rings, the Coast Guard said.

A Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point C-130 Hercules aircrew launched at 7 a.m. on Wednesday morning and arrived on the scene at approximately 9 a.m. but did not have any luck finding the missing man after completing five searches.

The search resumed Thursday morning, before the Coast Guard announced it has suspended the active search later that day.

"After reviewing all relevant information of the case and discussing with our Australian consulate counterparts as well as with the next of kin, the Coast Guard has made the difficult decision to suspend the active search for the passenger aboard the Quantum of the Seas," Kevin Cooper, a search and rescue mission coordinator for the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu, said in a statement.

MORE: Fisherman missing after going overboard while hooking 'huge' tuna on fishing trip

Quantum of the Seas departed from Brisbane, Australia, on April 12 and is scheduled to arrive in Honolulu on April 28.

Royal Caribbean -- who operates Quantum of the Seas -- also released a statement on Wednesday confirming the missing passenger.

MORE: 9-year-old boy missing after falling off pontoon boat, being hit by propeller

"While on its trans-pacific sailing, a guest onboard Quantum of the Seas went overboard," Royal Caribbean said. "The ship's crew immediately launched a search and rescue operation and is working closely with local authorities."

Authorities did not give any further details on how the man may have ended up going overboard.

ABC News' Clara McMichael contributed to this report.

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Coast Guard suspends search for man who jumped from cruise ship in front of stunned family

Royal Caribbean Liberty of the seas Cruise Ship FILE PHOTO: Falmouth, Jamaica - March 14 2019: Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas Cruise Ship sails near the coast of Falmouth Jamaica. On April 4, 2024, a 20-year-old jumped from the ship. (Debbie Ann Powell/Getty Images)

The United States Coast Guard has called off the search for a 20-year-old man who jumped overboard on a Royal Caribbean cruise as family members stood by, stunned.

>> Read more trending news

Officials said the ship was 57 miles from Great Inagua when the man jumped over the side of the ship, according to United Press International.

“The ship’s crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort alongside the U.S. Coast Guard, who has taken over the search,” a spokesman for Royal Caribbean said in a statement. The Liberty of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s ships.

“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.”

The Liberty of the Seas cruise ship is the 35th largest in the world, the Coast Guard said.

Witnesses said the man’s father and brother watched as he jumped, seemingly on a spur of the moment decision, over the side, according to The New York Post.

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

“He was pretty drunk,” Sims continued. “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.”

The cruise set sail from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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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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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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MSC Cruises says a passenger jumped from one of its ships while sailing from Europe to South America

• A 40-year-old man went overboard from an MSC Cruises ship on Wednesday.
• The company told Business Insider that the man intentionally jumped from the ship.
• Another cruise passenger fell from an MSC ship in November.

A 40-year-old man went overboard from an MSC Cruises ship on Wednesday, marking the second time since November that someone has fallen from one of the cruise liner's ships.

MSC Cruises confirmed to Business Insider on Saturday that the man went overboard, saying that their search and investigation "confirmed that the passenger intentionally jumped overboard." Upon the ship's arrival in Brazil's Port of Recife, the company said authorities investigated the incident but determined there were "no suspicious circumstances and there was no case to be pursued."

Related stories

Brazil's Federal Police did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

The MSC Armonia was making a transatlantic voyage between Spain and Brazil when the man jumped, according to the cruise line. The man was reported missing at about 9 a.m. on Wednesday, industry publication Cruise Hive reported . Per the outlet, the ship's security reviewed surveillance footage and found that the man went overboard at about 5 a.m.

The passenger, who was traveling with his partner, has not been identified, Cruise Hive reported.

Last month, a 30-year-old MSC crew member fell from a ship near Puerto Rico. The Coast Guard announced that they called off the search on November 16 .

Just two days before the MSC crew member disappeared, a 28-year-old Carnival cruise passenger fell from a ship near New Orleans. While the company said that the passenger, Tyler Barnett of Houma, Louisiana, jumped from the ship, his family said he slipped — and that they only learned of his disappearance from family members, not from Carnival itself.

Watch: The rise and fall of the cruise industry

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Florida man believes son is alive after jumping off cruise ship: report

Levion parker, 20, jumped from royal caribbean's liberty of the seas ship on april 4.

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The father of a 20-year-old Florida man who leaped from the 11th floor of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship 57 miles from shore last week believes his "master diver" son is still alive, according to a report. 

Francel Parker told the Daily Sun that his son, Levion Parker, works on a commercial fishing boat and said that he had multiple flotation devices thrown down to him on April 4.

"As soon as he went off the side, I prayed over him," the dad told the outlet. "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 U.S. Coast Guard called off their search in Cuban waters for the missing 20-year-old on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Public Affairs Team confirmed. The 18-level ship was just hours away from port in Fort Lauderdale after four days sailing between Cuba and the Bahamas’ Grand Inagua Island when Levion jumped around 4 a.m.

SOUTH CAROLINA MAN VANISHES FROM CRUISE AFTER GETTING OFF AT POPULAR PORT OF COZUMEL, MEXICO

Levion Parker leaped from the 11th floor of the Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas on April 4. His father believes that he is still alive. (levionparker/Instagram)

There were reports of an argument before Levion jumped, according to the Sun, but his father told the outlet that he had not been arguing with his son beforehand. Levion's father said his son had alcohol on the ship but that it was not a suicide, the Sun reported.

"We don't drink. I'd like to know how my son was served so much alcohol," the elder Parker told the outlet. 

The minimum age for drinking on a Royal Caribbean cruise departing from the U.S. or Caribbean is 21. The company could not immediately be reached for comment on how Parker was served. 

Levion Parker and his family were on the Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas cruise. (Reuters)

Another passenger on the Liberty of the Seas cruise told the New York Post that Parker's dad confronted the 20-year-old and his 18-year-old brother, Seth, after they'd gotten out of the ship's hot tub.

"His dad was fussing at him for being drunk, I guess," Bryan Sims told the outlet. "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." 

SEARCH FOR MISSING SOUTH CAROLINA CRUISE PASSENGER COMPLICATED BY JUNGLE TERRAIN AS FAMILY DEMANDS US HELP

Levion Parker's interests include deep sea fishing and hunting, his Instagram shows. (levionparker/Instagram)

Sims told the Post he had been chatting with the Parker brothers before Levion jumped overboard, remarking that the older brother was "pretty drunk." He said that Levion spoke of his jobs on yachts and fishing vessels.

Deborah Morrison, another passenger, told the Post that "there was a lot of yelling, and the crew was alerted immediately" after Levion jumped. 

"His family was horrified, just beside themselves," she told the outlet. "I can't even begin to imagine what they're going through." 

"The ship was moving pretty fast because it was during the night, and we were traveling a long distance," Sims recalled to the Post. "We were screaming and his dad was calling everyone to stop the ship… Lots of crew were up top and they started launching the smaller boats to search after we got turned around and back to the area I'm assuming."

Parker leaped from the 11th floor of Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas. (levionparker/Instagram)

CRUISE SHIP STRANDED IN SPANISH PORT RESUMES SAILING AFTER REMOVAL OF PASSENGERS WITH VISA PROBLEMS

Royal Caribbean told the Post in a statement that the ship's crew "immediately launched a search and rescue effort alongside the U.S. Coast Guard, who has taken over the search." 

The next morning was "somber," passenger Amy Phelps Fouse told the Post.

"So many people came out of their cabins to stare at the sea, hoping to be able to aid in finding the person," she said.

Parker's father owns an air conditioning business, and the family was on the cruise as guests of Florida-based air conditioning wholesaler Tropic Supply, the Daily Mail reported. Dozens of their contractors had been invited onto the cruise for the company's 50th anniversary. 

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About 386 people were reported to have gone overboard on major cruise lines between 2000 and 2020, according to The Washington Post. A study by Cruise Lines International Association found that only 28% of those who fell overboard between 2009 and 2019 survived. 

Christina Coulter is a U.S. and World reporter for Fox News Digital. Email story tips to [email protected] .

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• Cruise News

Man Overboard on Cruise Ship, Search Called Off

Doug Parker

• November 5, 2023

A 41-year-old man went missing after going overboard during the “Headbangers Boat” cruise this weekend on Norwegian Pearl.

Confirmed by Norwegian Cruise Line, the vessel was en route back to Miami from the Bahamas when the incident occurred.

The line issued a statement saying. “On the early morning of Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, Norwegian Pearl was notified that a 41-year-old male guest went overboard while the ship was sailing near the Bahamas on its way to Miami.”

177 miles southeast of Miami

Following the search pattern, the guest went overboard approximately 177 miles southeast east of Miami.

The weather in the area on early Friday morning was choppy, with wind gusts up to 30 knots. The ship searched for nine hours before being released by the US Coast Guard.

The statement went on to read, “The authorities have been notified, and the United States Coast Guard search and rescue operation is underway. The investigation is ongoing, and we will share updates as appropriate. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time.”

Cruise co-host speaks on event

One of the cruise co-hosts, Riki Rachtman, former host of MTV Hangbanger Ball TV show, spoke on the incident during a Facebook Live on Saturday morning.

“Everybody was devastated when we were woken up by the calls, and then they spent nine hours trying to find this person with the Coast Guard. And I get sentimental when I say this, but at about nine o’clock in the morning, they made the announcement that the search was called off. And when that happened, it was devastating, and it hurt everybody when you walked around the ship.”

12 cruise ship passengers overboard in 2023

This was the twelfth man overboard on a cruise ship in 2023, according to the CruiseJunkie website .

Last week, a guest went overboard on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas as it left Barcelona. That guest was found shortly after he went overboard .

This story will be updated when additional details are released.

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7 Things to Do ASAP if You Fall Overboard a Cruise Ship

H earing the words “Man Overboard!” on a cruise ship is every passenger’s worst nightmare. It’s a distressing scenario where the chances of being rescued can be slim. So, what should you do if you find yourself in this situation? How can you increase your chances of survival if you go overboard? Below we’ll discuss the steps you should take if you ever find yourself overboard on a cruise ship.

What To Do If You Go Overboard a Cruise Ship?

Don’t panic.

The number one thing to remember if you fall overboard on a cruise ship is don’t panic. Stay calm. Your goal is to stay afloat for as long as possible. Long enough for the rescue team to come save you. 

Find Something to Keep You Afloat

If you go overboard on a cruise ship, the first thing you do is find something to keep you afloat. Treading water is exhausting, and you won’t be able to do it for long. 

You need to conserve your energy by finding things that can help you stay afloat longer such as floating trash or debris. Remember, every little bit helps, so be on the lookout for anything that can conserve your energy and help you stay afloat until you can be rescued.

Remove Your Shoes But Keep the Laces

Your primary objective should be to stay afloat for as long as possible.  Shoes are heavy and will weigh you down. It’s going to make staying afloat harder if you have shoes on. You can get rid of your shoes, but before you do, remove the laces. You can use the laces to tie things. Keep your socks on! 

Use Your Clothes as Floatation Device

If you find yourself overboard on a cruise ship, you need to stay afloat for as long as possible while waiting for rescue. One simple way to do that is by using your clothes as floatation devices. You can turn your clothing into a floatation device by inflating it with air and tying the ends.

For example, to transform your pants into a floatation device, take them off and tie the ends of each leg opening. Then, wave your pants over your head to fill them with air and knot off the waist once they’re full. This method can help you stay afloat, increasing your chances of being rescued.

You can also make your T-shirt into a floatation device. This time, keep your T-shirt on while in the water. Simply knot the bottom of the T-shirt and securely tie it around your waist. Then, blow air into the neck hole until it’s inflated. After that, tie a knot or hold on to the neck hole to keep the air inside. You will need to inflate your T-shirt occasionally to maintain its buoyancy, but it will assist you in staying afloat.

If you are wearing a sweater, you can also use it as a floatation device. Simply fill your sweater with air and tie up the ends. Similarly, if you are wearing a dress or tank top, you can inflate them to create a makeshift flotation device by tying off the ends after filling them with air. 

The best is to practice turning your clothes into floatation devices. If you have a pool, go in with t-shirt and pants and try to turn your clothing into floatation devices! Once you get the hang of it, you can easily turn any clothing into floaties!

Don’t Drink Saltwater

Avoid drinking the salt water. Although it may be tempting to do so, drinking seawater can lead to dehydration, as your body will try to flush out the excess salt by excreting more water than it takes in. 

Protect Yourself From the Sun

You should protect yourself from the sun. Wrap clothes around your head to protect it. 

Make It Easy to See You

You need to make it easier for the rescue team to see you. Spotting a person’s head in the vast ocean is no easy feat. But there are ways to increase your visibility. 

First, try to gather any floating trash or debris around you. This will make you appear larger and more noticeable. 

Also, if you have any bright-colored clothing, wrap it around your head to make yourself more visible. Remember, anything you can do to make yourself stand out will significantly improve your chances of being rescued.

What are the Chances of Surviving Falling off a Cruise Ship?

According to a study by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), there is a 28.2% survival rate if you fall overboard! Between 2009 and 2019, 212 individuals fell overboard, of whom 48 were successfully rescued. The 28.2% survival rate suggests that the outcome is not as bleak as commonly believed. There is hope! Below are a few examples of passengers being rescued after falling overboard on the cruise ship.

In 2023, a 42 year old woman fell overboard from deck 10 of Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas. The cruise ship was 30 miles off the coast of the Dominican Republic when she fell overboard. Immediately, the ship’s crew sprang into action and launched a rescue boat to search for her. After a 45-minute search, the crew was able to locate her, and she was rescued safely.

Another example of a successful rescue was in 2022, when a 29 year old man, James Michael Grimes, survived 15 hours in the Gulf of Mexico!  He was on a five-day Thanksgiving cruise with his family on the Carnival Valor when he fell overboard. After leaving the ship’s bar to use the bathroom, he went missing and was found to be in the Gulf of Mexico.

During his ordeal, he encountered some unbelievable situations. He spotted floating bamboo and decided to eat it to survive. He also swam through a school of jellyfish and got up close to what he thought was a shark or a big fish with fins. Luckily, he was rescued by a tanker ship after surviving for 15 hours in the Gulf of Mexico. Imagine treading water for 15 hours! It’s not an easy feat!

What Should You Do If You See Someone Go Overboard?

If you see someone falling overboard, it’s important that you act fast. First, yell out “Man Overboard!” as loudly as you can. Next, grab a floatation device and toss it down to the person in the water. The bright orange color of the floatation device will make it easier to spot during rescue operations. 

After that, quickly inform crew members and take note of the time. This will help the ship’s officers determine the exact location where the person went overboard and steer the ship toward that spot as quickly as possible. 

It’s also important to provide a detailed description of the person who fell overboard. Every little piece of information can help locate them. Remember, you need to act fast.

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