Passenger Dead After Jumping Overboard on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas
A male passenger has died after jumping overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, just one day into its 7-night Western Caribbean sailing, which embarked on May 25, 2024.
The incident occurred on the morning of May 26, 2024, as the world's largest cruise ship was en route to Roatan, Honduras, from its homeport in Miami, Florida. At the time, the ship was approximately 300 miles from PortMiami and 30-40 miles north of Santa Lucia, Cuba.
Royal Caribbean told Cruise Hive: "The ship’s crew immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard and launched a search and rescue operation. Our Care Team is actively providing support and assistance to the guest’s loved ones during this difficult time. For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share." The jumper was brought back onboard in critical condition before he succumbed to his injuries, the report said.
The emergency was promptly noticed, and the 2,350-person crew sprang into action, halting the ship and commencing a search and rescue mission. According to cruise tracking data, the ship paused its course for approximately two hours until the man was safely brought back onboard.
Passengers on the 7,600-passenger ship confirmed the incident by posting videos of two small rescue boats launched from the vessel. “The cruise ship deployed one of their rescue boats, located the man and brought him back aboard,” the Coast Guard said.
“He was pronounced deceased. Beyond assisting in the search, the US Coast Guard did not have much involvement in this incident,” the agency added.
According to CruiseHive, the ship was only about 300 miles from PortMiami at the time of the incident.
The ship stopped for about 2 hours while members of the 2,350-person crew helped the Coast Guard accomplish its search and rescue mission. Despite the delay, the Icon of the Seas' Western Caribbean itinerary remains on schedule, with the ship expected to arrive in Roatan, Honduras, on time on the morning of May 27. The ship will also visit Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, as well as Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas, before returning to Miami on June 1.
Since her maiden voyage on January 27, 2024, the Icon of the Seas has been alternating between 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, with plans to continue these routes through April 2026.
