Falling off a cruise ship is fairly uncommon. One study found just over 200 such cases in roughly a decade. There are many safety systems in place to prevent these potentially catastrophic accidents from occurring.
That said, even if it’s rare, this is something that can and does happen. In some cases, it’s because people on cruise ships have been drinking alcohol or even using drugs. In other cases, it could be due to faulty maintenance or safety systems that don’t work correctly—such as a loose handrail that was never fixed.
Those who don’t spend much time on ships often think that the boat could just slow down and pick someone up if they fall overboard. But the reality is that many of these people are never seen again, because it’s far harder to locate them than people realize.
Vast distances
For one thing, the ocean is vast, and boats cannot stop immediately. If someone falls overboard—even if the alarm is sounded right away, which doesn’t always happen—the boat could be hundreds or even thousands of yards away before it comes to a stop and turns around. If there’s any delay in sounding the alarm, they could be miles away.
Moreover, even if the person is an excellent swimmer, they’re almost entirely underwater. Trying to look for someone’s head bobbing on the waves is incredibly difficult. They essentially disappear every time they go into a wave trough, and it’s like trying to find a volleyball bobbing in endless miles of open ocean.
Have you suffered injuries in a cruise ship accident or lost a loved one? You may be able to seek financial compensation, especially if the cruise line was negligent in some way—so be sure that you understand what legal options you have.