During a voyage from Florida, a passenger was reported to have gone overboard on the Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s largest cruise ship. The incident occurred off the coast of Cuba on the ship’s second day of a seven-day sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida. Royal Caribbean has confirmed that the guest, who remains unidentified, went overboard late Tuesday.
“The ship’s crew immediately launched a search and rescue operation and is working closely with local authorities,” the company said.
The company stated that it had collaborated with the US Coast Guard. However, according to an agency spokesperson, the responsibility for the rescue operation lies with Cuban authorities as the incident took place within their territorial waters.
Passengers aboard the colossal vessel mentioned that it had already altered its planned route due to Hurricane Idalia, as reported by the outlet.
They reported an “Oscar! Oscar! Oscar!” call, signifying an overboard emergency, about 9 p.m. EDT, industry blog Cruise Hive reported.
After the ship turned around and retraced its route, the crew dedicated approximately three hours to scouring the waters using spotlights, small craft, and watchers, as reported by the site.
The Wonder of the Seas, boasting a length of 1,188 feet and 18 decks, has the capacity to accommodate nearly 7,000 passengers and 2,300 crew members. According to Insider, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is poised to surpass the Wonder’s record when it enters service next year.
EEarlier this month, a tragic incident occurred involving an Indian woman who sadly lost her life after reportedly jumping off the Spectrum of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Reeta Sahani, aged 64, was declared missing when her husband, Jakesh Sahani, aged 70, woke up in the middle of the night and discovered she was not in their cabin. Regrettably, her family later confirmed her passing.
In a separate incident in June, a 42-year-old woman was successfully rescued after falling off Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas, approximately 25 miles south of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, during a voyage originating from Florida.
Other recent incidents occurred on the cruise ships Carnival Magic, Carnival Elation and Emerald Princess.
On average, 19 people go overboard on cruise ships each year — and of those, only about four are rescued, Insider reported, citing a 2020 study commissioned by the industry trade group Cruise Lines International Association.
The limited success rate has ignited debates regarding the necessity of equipping all cruise ships with detection devices that promptly notify the crew in the event of a passenger going overboard.
“All cruise lines use a variety of measures to maintain a safe environment on board cruise ships, including physical barriers around the periphery of external decks and balconies, video surveillance systems in public areas, and trained crew members who can respond quickly to an unsafe situation or emergency,” a spokesperson for Cruise Lines International Association told Insider.
