A passenger aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas died after jumping overboard on the first night of the ship’s seven-day voyage, officials confirmed. The incident occurred on May 26, 2024, shortly after the cruise departed from Florida, heading toward Honduras.
The unidentified man jumped from the ship, the world’s largest cruise liner, measuring 1,200 feet and accommodating 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members. The Coast Guard reported that the ship’s crew quickly deployed a rescue boat and located the man. He was brought back to the ship in critical condition but was later pronounced dead.
“The ship’s crew launched a rescue boat, found the man, and brought him back on board,” stated a Coast Guard representative. “He was declared dead. Apart from helping with the search, the US Coast Guard had minimal involvement in the matter.”
Royal Caribbean confirmed the incident and stated that their Care Team actively supports and assists the man’s loved ones. “The ship’s crew immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard and launched a search and rescue operation,” a Royal Caribbean representative said.
The Icon of the Seas had just embarked on its maiden voyage in January. The ship, which boasts 20 decks and numerous amenities, including a 17,000-square-foot water park, six waterslides, and the largest pool at sea, continued its journey after halting for about two hours to search.
Witnesses on board described the scene as surreal. Zachary Normandin, a 31-year-old Connecticut resident, shared his experience, noting that around 300 passengers were eating dinner when the captain announced that the missing traveler had been found. “Everyone cheered, thinking he was safe. It was only later we found out he had died,” Normandin said. He added that many passengers seemed to go about their business as if nothing had happened, which he found unsettling.
Normandin’s sentiment was echoed by other passengers who shared videos of the rescue mission. Clips showed rescue boats heading away from the ship to retrieve the passenger. One passenger, who preferred to remain anonymous, described the atmosphere on board as dystopian, with people continuing their holiday activities despite the tragedy.
The cruise line has not disclosed additional details about the incident out of respect for the privacy of the passenger’s family. However, this incident marks the second tragedy 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 trip around the Bahamas. Despite an extensive search, the man remains missing.
According to CruiseHive, the Icon of the Seas was approximately 300 miles from PortMiami and 30 to 40 miles north of Santa Lucia, Cuba, at the time of the incident. The ship has since made ports of call in Honduras and Costa Maya, Mexico, and is scheduled to return to Miami on June 1.
The Icon of the Seas is a marvel of modern engineering. It is almost the size of four city blocks and features an array of attractions, including the 40,000-gallon Royal Bay pool, the largest at sea, and Absolute Zero, the largest ice skating rink at sea.
The cruise industry has seen an average of 19 passengers going overboard annually, a small fraction of the 31.5 million people who took a cruise in 2023. Nonetheless, each incident is a stark reminder of the risks associated with such voyages.