I keep seeing news stories about people “falling” from cruise ships.
I always wonder “What on earth were they doing to manage that?”
I am sure I am not alone in that reaction! Anyone who has ever taken a cruise would see the safety barriers and railings and think that to just “fall” overboard is virtually impossible.
In this article, we look at the safety aspects of a cruise ship and how difficult it would be to fall overboard. Hopefully, it will put your mind at rest…
The Most Common Reasons For People To Go Overboard
#1. Unsafe Behaviour
No cruiseline in the world can legislate against people’s stupidity!
There have been instances of people falling while trying to climb from one balcony to another, or sitting on balcony railings to take selfies.
They risk falling 100 feet + into the water below.
Other people move or stand on furniture by the edge of the ship, risking falling over the railings. Why would you, I wonder??
There was a very famous incident a few years ago where a grandfather sat his 18-month-old granddaughter on an 11th deck railing onboard Freedom of the Seas.
He said he thought there was a shut glass window behind her, but there wasn’t. She fell 150ft to the dockside below.
The family were involved in a lawsuit against Royal Caribbean International, even though the grandfather initially pleaded guilty to “negligent homicide” in the criminal case.
The family sought to sue Royal Caribbean International, arguing the ship’s design was unsafe.
The Courts largely sided with Royal Caribbean, ruling the danger of holding a child out of the open window was obvious and not the cruise line’s fault.
Find out about the woman banned from sailing with Royal Caribbean for life, for standing on her balcony railing, along with other stories of passengers’ ridiculous behaviour in this video:
#2. Alcohol or Drug Involvement
With Cruiselines keen to sell you unlimited drinks packages, it isn’t surprising that some people drink more and become intoxicated whilst onboard.
Other passengers choose to take recreational drugs.
The crew are trained to spot passengers who are seriously intoxicated and should refuse to serve them.
When a drunk passenger does something reckless and falls overboard, families often blame the cruise line for letting them get that drunk.
A recent example of this is Dulcie White, 66, who died in October 2024 after falling overboard from her balcony. She was onboard Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas on a Taylor Swift-themed cruise.
Her family alleged she was overserved alcohol (purchased via an unlimited package) and showed signs of intoxication (slurred speech, swaying, etc.) before falling from her balcony.
They are claiming negligence against Royal Caribbean International for continuing to serve her despite her being visibly drunk.
Her daughter has also filed an “Emotional Distress Claim” after witnessing her Mother fall overboard.
In addition to the wrongful death claim, the lawsuit states that her daughter was physically present on the balcony when her mother fell and tried to prevent the incident.
She apparently put herself in immediate danger during the incident and has suffered lasting psychological trauma, including depression, insomnia, and anxiety.
Her daughter claims Royal Caribbean’s negligence caused this harm by “creating and failing to mitigate the hazardous conditions that led to the overboard event”
Personally, I think that people should take responsibility for the amount of alcohol they choose to drink, and not seek to blame others if things go horribly wrong.
#3. Intentional Acts
People choose to commit suicide by jumping from cruise ships.
You hear stories of people arguing with their families or partners, and then choosing to climb over the side.
Retired Lieutenant Colonel James Bryan Wright chose to jump from Icon of the Seas in May 2024.
He had apparently been involved in a physical altercation with his wife shortly beforehand.
He had served in the military for 30 years and was said to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. He entered a secure area on the Icon of the Seas before jumping overboard.
According to news sources, “Shortly after the altercation, Mr Wright exited the cabin at which point he made his way to Deck 5, where he entered a secure gated area and proceeded to jump off the ship.”
How Easy Is It To Fall From:
#Balcony Cabins
Most balcony cabins have heavy sliding doors between the cabin and the balcony.
Balcony railings are plexiglass or solid. They meet or exceed the height standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). They are at least 42 inches/ 106 cm high.
It would be very difficult for someone to “fall” over the balcony railing.
Realistically, people would have to be standing on the balcony furniture, or messing about – pushing or shoving each other.
If you are acting in a normal, responsible manner, you aren’t going to “fall” overboard.
#Safety Barriers Around Top Decks
There are barriers all around the top decks.
At the front of the ship, the safety barriers are often made of plexiglass and are much taller than me. They also provide a windbreak for those trying to sunbathe.
I think I would need a set of step ladders to get over these plexiglass railings!
Other railings on the top deck are around chest height on me. I’m 5ft 5″/1.65 metres.
I would have to stand on chairs, sunloungers or tables to get over the top of the railings – and even then I think I would struggle to get my leg over the side!
Symphony of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s largest cruise ships. It has a “Central Park” area in the middle – and there are safety railings everywhere.
Royal Caribbean do seem to get sued most for safety issues by passengers, but when you consider that millions of passengers sail with them every year, this is hardly surprising.
Find out about my cruise onboard Symphony of the Seas here:
#Promenade Deck
Ships traditionally have Promenade Decks. These are lower down on the ship, closer to the waterline.
The Promenade Deck is usually covered and provides a walkway around the ship. Lifeboats and other mechanical equipment are often located on this deck.
Find out all about Promenade Decks and their history here:
Cruise Ship Promenade Decks – Photos, Uses, and History
There are safety railings all around the Promenade deck, and often lifeboats or mechanical equipment between you and the sea.
Again, the railings are chest height on me, and I would have to be standing on something high to fall, or deliberately climb over them( with great difficulty!) to end up in the water.
Children Falling Overboard
You rarely hear news stories about children “accidentally falling off” cruise ships, but there is one notable exception.
In June 2025, a child fell from Disney Dream. The ship was on its way back from the Bahamas and heading to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.
The family was walking on the port side of deck four, and the ship’s CCTV shows the mother gesturing toward the porthole railing.
The child climbed onto the railing to have her photograph taken. She lost her balance and fell approximately 49 feet into the water below.
Her father jumped overboard to save her. Within twenty minutes, the ship’s rescue boat had successfully pulled both the child and the father from the water. The child had hypothermia, and her father fractured his spine.
The child was incredibly lucky to survive, and if her father hadn’t jumped straight in after her, she doubtless would have drowned.
Find out more about whether cruise ships are really safe for children here:
Survival Rates
The vast majority of people who go overboard do not survive due to factors like cold water shock, hypothermia, and difficulty in spotting one small person in a vast sea.
The survival rate for falling off a cruise ship is very low, generally estimated at 17%-25%.
Survival depends heavily on quickly raising the alarm, the water temperature, and immediate rescue efforts.
Most people succumb to drowning in the first few minutes or hours.
“Man Overboard” Systems on Cruise Ships
The cruise industry is very safety-focused, and ships are enhancing their measures by incorporating advanced man-overboard systems.
Thermal cameras and micro-radars can be used to detect and promptly alert the crew when someone has fallen overboard.
Not every vessel is equipped with these life-saving tools though, as significant investment is required to fit this technology.
In addition to these monitoring systems, the Coast Guard can also provide calculations on where a missing passenger may have drifted to, based on their initial position and the projected path of a floating object.
Before You Go
Find out what happens if someone falls overboard a cruise ship here:
Cruise Ships Stop if You Fall Overboard – Here’s What Happens
Find out how many people die on cruise ships each year in the article below:
Cruise Ship Deaths – Annual Statistics, Causes and Real Examples
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