A man died after jumping overboard from the Icon of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, during the initial night of a week-long journey. Officials confirmed the incident happened on May 26, 2024, shortly after the ship left Florida en route to Honduras.
The man, who remains unidentified, leaped from the world’s largest cruise ship, a vessel spanning over 1,200 feet and housing up to 7,600 passengers and a crew of 2,350. The Coast Guard announced that the crew of the ship swiftly launched a rescue boat and located the man. Despite being returned to the ship in critical condition, he was later declared dead.
In their statement, Royal Caribbean confirmed the incident and noted their Care Team is providing support and assistance to the man’s family. “The ship’s crew immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard and launched a search and rescue operation,” a Royal Caribbean representative stated. Apart from helping with the search, the US Coast Guard had minimal involvement in the matter.”
The Icon of the Seas started its inaugural voyage in January. The ship, featuring 20 decks and a variety of amenities such as a 17,000-square-foot water park, six water slides, and the largest pool at sea, resumed its journey after pausing for roughly two hours to conduct the search.
Passengers on board described the incident as unreal. Zachary Normandin, a 31-year-old resident of Connecticut, relayed his experience, noting that about 300 passengers were dining when the captain announced the missing passenger had been located. Normandin stated, “Everyone cheered, thinking he was safe. It was only later we found out he had died,” adding that he found it strange how several passengers continued their activities as if nothing had happened.
Other passengers echoed Normandin’s sentiments, sharing videos of the rescue mission that depicted rescue boats departing the ship to retrieve the man. An anonymous passenger described the atmosphere on board as dystopian, with holiday activities continuing despite the tragic event.
Royal Caribbean has not revealed further details regarding the incident, respecting the privacy of the deceased passenger’s family. This incident is the second tragedy involving a Royal Caribbean ship in recent months. In April, a 20-year-old man fell overboard from the Liberty of the Seas during a Bahamian cruise. Despite a thorough search, he has not been located.
According to CruiseHive, at the time of the incident, the Icon of the Seas was approximately 300 miles from PortMiami and 30 to 40 miles north of Santa Lucia, Cuba. The ship then docked in Honduras and Costa Maya, Mexico, and returned to Miami on June 1.
The Icon of the Seas is a significant engineering feat. It is nearly as long as four city blocks and offers a range of attractions, such as the Royal Bay pool, capable of holding 40,000 gallons of water, and Absolute Zero, the largest ice skating rink at sea.
The cruise industry averages around 19 passengers going overboard each year, a small percentage of the 31.5 million individuals who cruised in 2023. However, each incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with such trips.
