Norwegian Cruise Line passenger goes overboard

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Norwegian Cruise Line passenger goes overboard originally appeared on TravelHost.

Although the vast majority of cruises are smooth, incident-free journeys, a very small percentage of sailings experience man overboard situations each year.

They may seem more common though since social media sharing lets people learn about man overboard cases in real time, no matter where in the world a ship may be sailing.

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If you haven’t been on cruise, reading about cases of people going overboard might make you worry that it’s easy to fall off a cruise ship.Despite what social media may tell you, your chances of slipping or tripping on a cruise ship deck and tumbling off the ship and into the sea are very slim, however.

Related: Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas makes huge entrance in Florida

Cruise ships are designed with high railings and safety barriers to prevent man overboard accidents. When people go overboard on cruise ships, it’s usually because they climbed a railing — whether in an alcohol-fueled stunt or moment of desperation. Some people may fall overboard while engaging in risky behavior, while others intentionally jump off.

It’s not always passengers who go overboard on a cruise ship either. Sometimes, it’s crew members who have accidents or decide to jump ship. On a Royal Caribbean cruise on Icon of the Seas in July, for example, a crew member jumped to his death after stabbing a coworker.

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Doug Parker shared details on the latest cruise ship man overboard incident, and other cruise news, including the lawsuit Royal Caribbean is facing after a waterslide accident on Icon of the Seas, on the Aug. 13 edition of Cruise News Today.

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Norwegian Star passenger goes overboard on cruise to Greenland

Cruise News Today Transcript:

This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker.

Good morning, here's your cruise news for Wednesday, August 13th.

Another man overboard. Passengers aboard Norwegian Star were awakened early Tuesday morning by a Code Oscar, the maritime signal for a man overboard. Guests reported lifeboats launching just after 3 a.m. as the ship briefly changed course.

Related: Adults-only retreat coming to more Norwegian Cruise Line ships

Now, marine tracking shows the ship searched a three-mile area for 29 minutes before resuming its voyage to Nuuk, Greenland. Passenger accounts say that the person was recovered but may not have survived.

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NCL told Cruise News Today: "We are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our guests, a 79-year-old male, was reported to have gone overboard while the ship was sailing to Greenland. The appropriate authorities have been contacted and an investigation is ongoing."

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Passenger sues Royal Caribbean over waterslide injury

And a passenger hurt on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas is suing after a section of the Frightening Bolt waterslide broke open mid-ride last Thursday afternoon.

Seen in this footage, the drop slide, billed as the tallest at sea, lost a section of its acrylic wall, sending water decks below. Now, the man inside of the slide at the time suffered cuts from his legs to his hands, but luckily did not fall out.

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He hired a South Florida maritime law firm to represent him. The firm commented that cruise lines must ensure onboard attractions are safe. Sounds reasonable.

Royal Caribbean has closed the drop slides on both Icon and Star of the Seas while investigating whether the failure was due to a defect, installation issues, or impact. No reopening date has been set.

Related: Carnival faces another brawl; Royal Caribbean has slide accident

Carnival Cruise Line adds short cruises on Excel-class ship

And more shorter cruises: Carnival Cruise Line is expanding sailings in ’27 and ’28. The Mardi Gras will be the first Excel-class ship to run short sailings from Port Canaveral starting in May of ’27 with four- and five-night sailings to Celebration Key, Half Moon Key, and Nassau.

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Down the coast, the Carnival Celebration will continue its year-round, alternating eastern and western, seven-night cruises from PortMiami.

Carnival Festivale will join the fleet in spring of ’27, followed by Carnival Tropicale in 2028.

Related: Carnival Cruise Line embraces key Royal Caribbean strategy

And cruise stocks were up on Tuesday. Carnival Corporation: up 3.6%, 29.64. Royal Caribbean: up 3.4%, 313.08. Norwegian: up 2%, 24.24. And Viking: up 3%, 59.70.

If you have a lead on a story, let us know: [email protected].

Have yourself a great Wednesday. I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today.

(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)

Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me’s Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at [email protected] or call or text her at 386-383-2472.

This story was originally reported by TravelHost on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.