A Royal Caribbean crew member died after allegedly stabbing a female colleague and jumping overboard from the world’s largest cruise ship Thursday evening near the Bahamas, according to police.
The incident took place around 7:30 p.m. on July 24, 2025, aboard the Icon of the Seas as the ship sailed off the coast of San Salvador Island, Bahamas. A 35-year-old South African man reportedly stabbed a 28-year-old South African woman multiple times in her upper body before leaving the scene and jumping into the ocean.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force reported that the man was subsequently found unresponsive in the water and declared dead by medical staff on board despite rescue efforts. The female victim received immediate medical care and is in stable condition after sustaining multiple stab wounds in her upper body.
Passengers on the ship reported hearing “oscar oscar oscar” over the intercom, Royal Caribbean’s code for a man overboard. Video footage shared by passengers showed crew members responding to the emergency as the ship slowed and turned to conduct search and rescue operations.
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson described the event as resulting from a personal dispute between the two crew members. The company stated that “one of the crew members was injured, was attended to by the onboard medical team, and she is now in stable condition.”
The cruise line’s security team reacted promptly to the incident, deploying a high-speed boat to locate the man who had jumped overboard. Witnesses reported seeing crew members toss life rings into the water to mark the location where he entered the ocean.
Given that the Icon of the Seas is nearly 3,937 feet long and weighs approximately 552,000 pounds, it took some time for the vessel to slow and maneuver back to the rescue site. The ship was traveling at a low speed after a day at sea and was heading to Royal Caribbean’s private island, CocoCay, for a scheduled stop the following day.
Royal Caribbean officials noted the incident involved two crew members in a personal dispute, but did not disclose the identities of those involved or the motive behind the attack. The cruise line expressed its condolences to the family of the deceased crew member, stating they would not release further details to respect the family’s privacy.
The Icon of the Seas continued its scheduled seven-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary following the incident. The ship departed PortMiami, Florida, on July 19 and stopped in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas before returning to Florida. It arrived at CocoCay as planned on July 25 and returned to PortMiami on July 26 to complete its voyage.
Many passengers were unaware of the incident until later, as it was not announced publicly throughout the ship. Some passengers shared videos on social media showing the rescue operation and crew members being retrieved from the water onto rescue boats.
The Icon of the Seas is recognized as the world’s largest cruise ship, with a capacity of 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members across 19 floors. The vessel cost approximately $2 billion to build and features seven pools, six waterslides, nine whirlpools, and what Royal Caribbean markets as the world’s largest waterpark at sea.
Police have scheduled an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death for the male crew member. The investigation into the stabbing and subsequent events is ongoing, as authorities seek to understand the circumstances that led to the confrontation.
This incident is considered a rare occurrence of violence aboard cruise ships, according to travel industry experts. Royal Caribbean has not indicated whether changes to security protocols or crew procedures are planned following the event.
After completing its Eastern Caribbean voyage, the Icon of the Seas departed on its next scheduled seven-day Western Caribbean cruise as planned. The cruise line confirmed that no passengers were harmed or at risk during the incident involving the two crew members.