On the initial night of its seven-day voyage, a passenger on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas tragically jumped overboard and subsequently died, as confirmed by officials. The incident took place on May 26, 2024, shortly after the ship set sail from Florida, heading towards Honduras.
The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, leaped from the running track on the fifth level of the world’s largest cruise liner, which spans 1,200 feet in length and can host up to 7,600 passengers along with 2,350 crew members. The Coast Guard stated that the crew of the ship swiftly launched a rescue boat and found the man. Despite being returned to the ship in critical condition, he was later pronounced dead. The Coast Guard said they assisted with the search but had limited involvement in the incident.
Royal Caribbean acknowledged the occurrence and shared that their Care Team is actively providing support and assistance to the man’s family. “The ship’s crew immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard and initiated a search and rescue operation,” a spokesperson from Royal Caribbean stated.
The Icon of the Seas, which began its maiden voyage in January, features 20 decks and a variety of amenities, including a 17,000-square-foot water park, six waterslides, and the largest pool at sea. Following a two-hour pause for the rescue operation, the ship resumed its journey.
Passengers on board painted a surreal picture of the event. Zachary Normandin, a 31-year-old resident of Connecticut, recalled that around 300 passengers were dining when the captain announced that the lost traveler had been located. “Everyone cheered, thinking he was safe. It was only later we found out he had died,” Normandin shared. He remarked that many passengers seemed to continue their routine as if nothing tragic had transpired, which he found unsettling.
Other passengers also captured videos of the rescue mission, showing boats moving away from the ship to retrieve the passenger. One passenger, preferring to stay anonymous, described the onboard atmosphere as dystopian, with people resuming their vacation activities despite the unfolding tragedy.
Out of respect for the privacy of the passenger’s family, the cruise line has chosen not to divulge further details about the incident. This incident is the second tragic event involving a Royal Caribbean ship in recent months. In April, a 20-year-old man went overboard from the Liberty of the Seas during a journey around the Bahamas. Despite a thorough search, the man is still missing.
At the time of the present incident, CruiseHive reports that the Icon of the Seas was roughly 300 miles from PortMiami and 30 to 40 miles north of Santa Lucia, Cuba. The ship has since docked in Honduras and Costa Maya, Mexico, and is set to return to Miami on June 1.
The Icon of the Seas, nearly four city blocks in size, boasts numerous attractions, including the 40,000-gallon Royal Bay pool, the largest at sea, and Absolute Zero, the largest sea-based ice skating rink.
Despite the occasional tragedy, the cruise industry continues to thrive with an average of 19 passengers going overboard each year compared to the 31.5 million people who cruised in 2023. However, each incident serves as a sobering reminder of the risks associated with such voyages.
