cruise ship overboard stories

Carnival cruise passenger who went overboard was 'dead set' on surviving

U.S. Coast Guard rescued James Michael Grimes after almost 20 hours, he says.

LA FAYETTE, ALABAMA -- James Michael Grimes is speaking out for the first time in an exclusive interview with ABC News after going overboard on a Carnival cruise ship after being missing for almost 20 hours.

The 28-year-old man said he was determined to make it out of the Gulf of Mexico alive, calling it the experience of a lifetime.

Grimes said he treaded water for nearly 20 hours after falling overboard on Thanksgiving Eve -- battling jelly fish, rip currents and shark-infested waters before being airlifted by the U.S. Coast Guard on Nov. 24. shortly after 8 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard told ABC News.

Grimes had only been aboard the Carnival Valor for a day before his sister reported him missing. The two were last seen together at a restaurant where Grimes had won an air guitar contest before going to the bathroom.

MORE: Coast Guard rescues man who went overboard on Carnival cruise ship

That is the last thing he remembers. Grimes said he believes the fall overboard knocked him unconscious.

"The next thing I know... I regained consciousness. I was in the water with no boat in sight," he said.

Alone in solid darkness, and the light from the stars and the moon, Grimes decided in that moment he would make it out of the water.

"I felt like I was given a chance right then... you're alive for a reason... that [fall] could've killed me, but I felt like from that moment on, I was trying to stay positive. And, you know when you're here, you're still alive for a reason. So, all you got to do now is swim and survive. I was hoping... they will start looking for me... they will find me eventually," Grimes said.

MORE: Royal Caribbean to offer Starlink internet on all its ships

Grimes was aboard the five-day cruise with 18 of his family members for Thanksgiving. When he didn't return to his cabin that night, his sister reported him missing.

The ship was on its way to Cozumel, a Mexican island in the Caribbean, and was released by the Coast Guard to continue to its destination after the rescue was made.

"The Jayhawk aircrew hoisted the man onto the helicopter and transferred him to awaiting emergency medical services at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport," a statement from the Coast Guard read.

"We are beyond grateful that this case ended with a positive outcome," said Lt. Seth Gross, a Coast Guard Sector New Orleans search-and-rescue mission coordinator.

"We greatly appreciate the efforts of all, most especially the U.S. Coast Guard and the mariner who spotted the guest in the water," the Coast Guard said in a statement Thursday to ABC News. "Cruise ships have safety barriers in all public areas that are regulated by U.S. Coast Guard standards that prevent a guest from falling off. Guests should never ever climb up on the rails. The only way to go overboard is to purposefully climb up and over the safety barriers."

Carnival Valor had said in a statement to ABC News that it conducted a search-and-rescue operation after Grimes went missing.

"Carnival Valor retraced its route to support the search and rescue, but the ship has now been released by the U.S. Coast Guard, and will continue on its way to Cozumel. Carnival's Care Team is providing support to the family members of the missing guest who were sailing with him and remain on board," the statement at the time said.

Against all odds, Grimes said he kept a positive attitude and "just kept swimming."

In addition to his attitude, he said it was his will to see his family again that kept him afloat.

"I wanted to see my family and I was dead set on making it out of there. I was never accepting that this is it, this is going to be the end of my life. I'm 28 years old. I'm too young. This is not going to be it," Grimes said.

"I always thought there's a greater purpose for my life. Now, I know for sure I'm meant to do something on this Earth. And, you know, I don't know. It was just the Lord was out there helping me, giving me strength and helping me stay afloat," he added.

ABC News' Victoria J. Arancio contributed to this report.

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Cruise passenger who fell overboard tells how he survived 15 hours in the water and battled ‘sea creature’

A coast guard rescuer who saved mr grimes estimated the man had at most a minute left before he succumbed to the waves when they found him, article bookmarked.

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James Michael Grimes’ Thanksgiving was unorthodox.

After winning an air guitar contest, he toppled off the side of a cruise ship , battled a "sea creature," treaded water for more than half a day, and survived on bamboo — or maybe just some kind of stick — until the Coast Guard picked him up the next day.

And, according to him, though alcohol was consumed, it did not play a part in the chain of events.

Mr Grimes, 28, survived a harrowing 15 hours at sea that could have turned tragic had he not managed to keep himself afloat while waves washed over him in the Gulf of Mexico .

Mr Grimes and his sister were on a Carnival cruise ship departing from New Orleans and bound for Cozumel, Mexico on 23 November. At some point that evening, Mr Grimes’ sister noticed he had left to use the restroom and had not returned. After failing to return the following day, she reported him missing and, a few hours later, the Coast Guard was notified that the man had vanished.

• Man who disappeared off Carnival cruise rescued in gulf of Mexico
• Simon Calder answers your travel questions on cruise Covid rules and much more

According to Mr Grimes, who gave an interview to ABC News’ Good Morning America about his ordeal, that night he had just won an air guitar competition in one of the ship’s lounges and had hit the bar to celebrate.

He said he did not have "tons" of drinks and that he "couldn’t really say" how much booze he had actually consumed, but assured the interviewer he was not drunk at the time.

Whatever the case, the next thing he remembers is floating around in the Gulf of Mexico without a ship in sight.

He treaded water for hours, noting during the interview that he was terrified of drowning and was desperate to see his family again.

"I wanted to see my family and I was dead set on making it out of there, you know. I was never accepting that this is it. This is going to be the end of my life," he said during the interview.

As he fought to stay above the waves, Mr Grimes claims he had an encounter with a "sea creature" that he initially worried could have been a shark. He claims the creature had a fin and bumped his leg, spooking him to the point where he felt the need to kick at the animal.

"I thought it was a shark. I mean, I was swimming in one direction and looked around I seen it out the corner of my eye and it came up on me really quick and went under and I could see it and it wasn’t a shark," he said.

He saw the fish had a "flat mouth" just before it bumped him, prompting him to kick at it.

Mr Grimes had nothing to eat or drink for the duration of his time floating in the Gulf. That’s why when a stick that he says "looked like bamboo" floated by him he scooped it up and began chewing on it. Though he has no idea if it provided any nutritional value, he did note that it at least provided the comfort of tasting something other than salt water.

He began to worry as night fell — the water’s temperature cooled, and his body was running out of energy — but he says he remained positive, believing he had survived for a reason.

"You know, the fall didn’t kill me, you know, sea creatures didn’t eat me, I felt like I was meant to get out of there," he said.

And he did; he was eventually spotted by a passing tanker, which notified the US Coast Guard rescuers. The Coast Guard units arrived on scene and, according to one rescuer, likely found Mr Grimes just in time.

Richard Hoefle, a US Coast Guard Aviation Survival Technician, told 4WWL News that Mr Grimes was "at his limit" when they found him.

"Some people break down and cry, some people are in shock, and they don’t know what’s going on, some people are ecstatic and they act a little crazy because they are so happy to be out of the situation that they’re in," Mr Hoefle said, describing typical reactions of individuals who are rescued. "Mr Grimes had nothing left. He had no energy. He had nothing left to give. My best guess is that he had between a minute and 30 seconds left before we lost him completely."

Mr Grimes said he recalled being secured by Mr Hoefle and remembers "just thinking ‘thank you, you are like a guardian angel.’"

The Coast Guard transported Mr Grimes to a hospital in New Orleans. He was treated for hypothermia and dehydration, and has since been released.

Mr Grimes told Good Morning America that the experience "opened my eyes" and taught him to be mindful of that which he takes for granted. It also left him lacking a proper cruise experience.

"I definitely would be open to go on another cruise," he said, "because I really didn’t get to go on this one."

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Coast Guard Suspends Search for Passenger Who Fell From Cruise Ship

The U.S. Coast Guard said on Sunday that it halted its search for a woman who went overboard from a Carnival cruise ship near Ensenada, Mexico.

By Johnny Diaz

The U.S. Coast Guard suspended a 31-hour search for a passenger who fell off a cruise ship near Mexico, the authorities said on Sunday.

The woman, who was not immediately identified, was aboard a Carnival cruise ship when she fell on Saturday morning “from the balcony of her stateroom,” Carnival Cruise Line said in a statement. The company said the ship had been on a three-day cruise to Ensenada, Mexico, and the Coast Guard said the woman fell near there.

Carnival did not provide further details of how the woman fell overboard.

On Saturday, the Coast Guard said that it had deployed a cutter called the Forrest Rednour as well as a helicopter, and that it was working with Mexico’s Navy to find the woman.

Crews started searching early in the morning on Saturday and into Sunday, the Coast Guard said. It led a search of about 520 square nautical miles, it said.

One passenger told a California news station, KABC-TV , that he heard someone say, “Man overboard, man overboard port side” on the ship’s speakers. He said that when he looked over the balcony of his room, he saw crew members tossing life preservers into the water.

Daniel Miranda, another passenger, told the station that cruise officials said that they had “verified through the cameras” that a woman had fallen into the water. A photo he took, broadcast by the station, also showed that the area of the ship where the woman fell had been cordoned off with blue tape.

After more than 31 hours scouring the area, the Coast Guard said on Sunday that it had suspended its search “pending additional information.”

The cruise company said in its statement that after assisting the Coast Guard, its ship had returned to Long Beach, Calif., as scheduled on Dec. 12. “Our thoughts are with the guest and her family, and our Care Team is providing support,” the company said.

In California, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents went to the ship “with an evidence response team” to assist in the case, a spokeswoman for the bureau said on Monday.

It is increasingly uncommon for passengers to fall from cruise ships, according to Carolyn Spencer Brown, who has covered the cruise industry for about 25 years, currently as chief content officer of Cruise Media LLC.

“It’s becoming much more uncommon than it was 20 years ago,” she said, citing the “increasingly sophisticated design specifications” that have prioritized safety on ships.

“They are designed to keep you safe,” she continued. “You really don’t hear about it very often, and when it happens, typically there are other factors involved.”

In 2010, Congress passed the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act , which required ships be equipped with rails no shorter than 42 inches above the deck, and with alarms and other technology to help signal and find passengers who go overboard.

In 2018 and 2019, 26 and 29 people fell overboard from cruise and ferry ships, according to Cruisejunkie.com , which lists cases reported by the news media, including those involving people who jumped. In 2020 and 2021, when far fewer passengers took cruises because of the pandemic, the site recorded three incidents.

Ross A. Klein, who tracks the cases of people who fall overboard on his website, Cruisejunkie.com, wrote in a June 2019 report that information on people who fall overboard is limited “as cases may not be publicly reported.”

Falls overboard could involve intoxication, accidents or deliberate jumps, Mr. Klein’s report said, but he warned there was reason to be cautious with labels because of the lack of information.

“Alcohol intoxication is known in only a small percentage of cases, largely because there is no systematic reporting of persons overboard, and no accounting of behavior prior to a disappearance (such as alcohol consumption),” the report said.

Asked about how many people have fallen overboard from Carnival ships in recent years, a spokeswoman for the company said she did not have any further information other than the statement about this weekend’s search.

The ship traveling to Ensenada this weekend, the Carnival Miracle, debuted in 2004 and can accommodate more than 2,100 guests and 934 crew members, according to the company.

Johnny Diaz is a general assignment reporter covering breaking news. He previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel and The Boston Globe. More about Johnny Diaz

clock This article was published more than  1 year ago

Coast Guard saves overboard cruise passenger in ‘Thanksgiving miracle’

A 28-year-old man on a carnival cruise from new orleans spent a day floating in the gulf of mexico.

In a rescue United States Coast Guard officials are calling a “Thanksgiving miracle,” a helicopter crew saved a 28-year-old man Thursday night after he went overboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship and spent a day floating in the Gulf of Mexico.

Coast Guard officers in New Orleans received a call about a missing passenger from the Carnival Valor at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, according to a news release from the Coast Guard’s 8th District Public Affairs Office. A rescue swimmer on an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter secured him at 8:25 p.m. Thursday about 20 miles south of Southwest Pass. The man was last seen on the ship around 11 p.m. Wednesday, the Coast Guard said, meaning he could have been treading water through the night into Thanksgiving.

“This is an exceptionally rare case,” Ryan Graves, a petty officer in public affairs with the 8th District, told The Washington Post. “It is really nothing short of a Thanksgiving miracle to be able to pick somebody up after that long in the water without any sort of flotation device.”

Graves said the man was in stable condition when he was rescued and was able to provide his name to the team aboard the helicopter. The Coast Guard transported him to emergency medical services waiting at New Orleans Lakefront Airport.

In its search, the Coast Guard also deployed a 45-foot response boat from Venice, La., and a fixed-wing airplane from Mobile, Ala. Commercial sailors on a bulk carrier told the Coast Guard they observed a man in the water, helping the helicopter crew locate him.

“We are beyond grateful that this case ended with a positive outcome,” Seth Gross, a Sector New Orleans search and rescue mission coordinator, said in a news release. “It took a total team effort from Coast Guard watch standers, response crews, and our professional maritime partners operating in the Gulf of Mexico to locate the missing individual and get him to safety.”

“It is why we joined, really, is to do things like this,” Graves said. “On a holiday like this, it’s good to bring him back to his family.” Representatives for Carnival Cruise Line declined to provide details about what the passenger was doing before he went overboard but expressed their gratitude for the rescue.

“We greatly appreciate the efforts of all, most especially the U.S. Coast Guard and the mariner who spotted the guest in the water,” Matt Lupoli, a spokesman for Carnival Cruise Line, said in an email. Chris Chiames, the chief communications officer, said in an email that cruise ship safety barriers are regulated by Coast Guard standards to prevent falls. “Guests should never ever climb up on the rails,” Chiames said. “The only way to go overboard is to purposefully climb up and over the safety barriers.”

A previous version of this story incorrectly said the Coast Guard received a call about a missing passenger Wednesday afternoon. It was Thursday.

More cruise news

Living at sea: Travelers on a 9-month world cruise are going viral on social media. For some travelers, not even nine months was enough time on a ship; they sold cars, moved out of their homes and prepared to set sail for three years . That plan fell apart, but a 3.5-year version is waiting in the wings.

Passengers beware: It’s not all buffets and dance contests. Crime data reported by cruise lines show that the number of sex crimes has increased compared to previous years. And though man-overboard cases are rare, they are usually deadly .

The more you know: If you’re cruise-curious, here are six tips from a newcomer. Remember that in most cases, extra fees and add-ons will increase the seemingly cheap price of a sailing. And if you happen to get sick , know what to expect on board.

Cruise Passenger Who Survived 20 Hours Overboard Has No Idea How He Fell

James Michael Grimes says he spent 20 hours treading water before being rescued by the Coast Guard.

Barbie Latza Nadeau

Kathleen Flynn/Reuters

The 28-year-old Carnival cruise ship passenger who somehow stayed alive for 20 hours after falling overboard on Thanksgiving eve says the last thing he remembers onboard was winning an air guitar contest in one of the ship lounges.

James Michael Grimes told ABC News in an interview that aired Friday morning that he likely passed out when he fell from the Carnival Valor into the water, but was so determined to survive he willed himself to stay afloat.

“The next thing I know... I regained consciousness. I was in the water with no boat in sight,” he said. “I wanted to see my family and I was dead set on making it out of there. I was never accepting that this is it, this is going to be the end of my life. I’m 28 years old. I’m too young. This is not going to be it.”

That unbelievable determination led him to tread shark-invested water for 20 hours, where he says he battled jellyfish and rip tides. “I always thought there’s a greater purpose for my life,” he told ABC. “Now, I know for sure I’m meant to do something on this Earth. And, you know, I don’t know. It was just the Lord was out there helping me, giving me strength and helping me stay afloat.”

Faith, of course, and the help of the cargo ship that alerted the U.S. Coast Guard team searching for him after his sister reported him missing from the cruise ship, which was bound for Cozumel, Mexico. Grimes was rescued by the Jayhawk crew after a mariner spotted him in the water. “We are beyond grateful that this case ended with a positive outcome,” Coast Guard search and rescue mission coordinator Lt. Seth Gross told ABC in a statement. “We greatly appreciate the efforts of all, most especially the U.S. Coast Guard and the mariner who spotted the guest in the water.”

The statement went on to imply that perhaps Grimes breached the safety barrier. “Cruise ships have safety barriers in all public areas that are regulated by U.S. Coast Guard standards that prevent a guest from falling off,” the statement says. “Guests should never ever climb up on the rails. The only way to go overboard is to purposefully climb up and over the safety barriers.”

Grimes, who was on the five-day cruise to Cozumel with 18 members of his family, did admit to drinking but said he has no recollection at all of how he managed to fall off the ship. When asked if he would ever go on a cruise again, he said he would “because I didn’t really get to go on this one,” but said would stay away from the rails.

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast  here .

READ THIS LIST

Man overboard: Cruise ship overboards and how they happen

We've all heard sad news reports of people going overboard on cruises. If you're someone who hasn't cruised before or who isn't familiar with ships, it sounds scary. But is it true? Can you really fall off a cruise ship? What do the authorities do in a cruise ship overboard situation?

Here's everything you need to know about what happens in a "man overboard" situation on a cruise ship and how to make sure it doesn't happen to you.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Is falling off a cruise ship easy?

No. Cruise ships have railings — usually about chest height on the average person — on all open deck areas and cabin balconies. They are placed intentionally to ensure passenger safety.

The only way you risk a fall is if you're standing on furniture to peer over the side or climbing somewhere you're not supposed to. It's not possible for you to trip over a door frame or slip on a wet deck and fall off of a vessel.

Play by the rules and remain in control of your actions, and you don't have to worry about inadvertently falling overboard from a cruise ship.

Related: Are cruises safe? Here's what you need to know about cruise ship security and safety

How does someone go overboard from a cruise ship?

Accidental overboards can happen when cruisers have had too much to drink and climb on top of railings, enter restricted areas or attempt dangerous — and potentially fatal — stunts like climbing from balcony to balcony. One sad story involved a grandfather holding his baby granddaughter up to an open window to see the view and then losing his grip and dropping her.

It's impossible to discuss cruise-ship man-overboard incidents without mentioning that some of them are, in fact, intentional. Some cruisers purposefully jump off cruise ships to commit suicide. Passengers caught up in a physical fight or wishing to do harm could push someone off the ship, though it would take some effort.

Are man overboard situations common on cruise ships?

In many cases, stories of passengers "falling off" of cruise ships make it seem like it's a regular occurrence or that there's a grave risk you could be swept over the side while going about your daily vacation activities. In reality, one or two people go overboard each month out of roughly 2.5 million who cruise during the same time frame.

Between 2009 and 2019, there have been 212 man overboard incidents on cruise ships, according to a Report on Operational Incidents issued by the Cruise Lines International Association. That works out to roughly 19 overboards each year.

Cases of people falling off ships are also on the decline. "From 2009 to 2019, man overboard incidents have declined with an incidence of 0.00004 overboard reports per active lower berth (synonymous with a cabin's bed) in 2019," reports CLIA. "This is 64% of the figure recorded in 2009."

Related: 15 cruise ship rules you shouldn't break

What happens when someone falls off a cruise ship?

When it's determined that someone has gone over the side, the bridge — the ship's control center — will contact the coast guard, and a search will begin.

Officers will attempt to pinpoint when and where the incident happened, allowing the search to cover a particular radius where the individual is predicted to be. The search will be called off after either the passenger is found or the ship is cleared by the coast guard to continue its voyage.

If your ship is involved in a search for a missing passenger, it might have to skip a port call or delay its return home to account for the time spent retracing its route to look for the person overboard.

What should you do if you see a cruise ship overboard?

If you witness someone falling off a cruise ship, throw them a life buoy or other flotation device if you're near one. You can often find orange life rings attached to deck railings.

It's crucial to then alert a crew member that you witnessed a man overboard and have the crew alert the bridge. Note the time the overboard occurred. With this information, the bridge officers can identify the exact position of the ship at that time, so it can return to that location to search for the missing guest.

Related: 6 cruise mistakes that will ruin your vacation in an instant

Can you survive going overboard from a cruise ship?

Unfortunately, it's rare that a passenger is found alive. A Carnival cruiser who fell off a ship over Thanksgiving 2022 made headlines when he was rescued after spending close to 20 hours in the Gulf of Mexico. He was lucky because his positive outcome is not common.

Overboards are particularly grim when the ship is moving, as the vessel's speed and current mean that a person can be swept away quickly. If they aren't immediately seen, it can be a while before the captain realizes what has happened.

Chances of survival vary, depending on the circumstances of the fall. A passenger could be injured if they hit part of the ship as they fall. Should they survive the fall, water temperature also plays a significant role in how long a person can remain alive. You have a better chance of waiting out a rescue in the warm Caribbean sea than in chilly Alaskan waters.

Of the 212 overboard incidents mentioned earlier, 48 of those (roughly 28%) were rescued alive, CLIA reports. That amounts to four or five rescues each year.

Any time an overboard occurs, cruise lines offer assistance to friends, family or other travel companions traveling with the passenger in question.

Bottom line

If you stick to the areas where you're allowed to be as a passenger, you don't have to worry about falling overboard on a cruise.

Always pay attention to safety messages and signage that indicates which parts of the ship are meant for crew only, and drink alcohol responsibly.

Have more cruise questions? TPG has answers:

• More banned items: What not to pack for a cruise
• What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships?
• What are the largest cruise ships in the world?
• What is a gentleman host on a cruise?
• What is the Jones Act and how does it affect cruise ships?
• What is a lido deck on a cruise ship?
• What's a cruise cabin guarantee and will it save you money?
• What's the difference between a cruise concierge and a butler?

A cruise passenger just went overboard. What happens next?

• In the past three months, at least six passengers have gone overboard on cruise ships. 
• If this happens, you might hear crew use distress signals like "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar."
• Depending on the ship's location, the US Coast Guard will conduct a search and rescue mission. 

"Oscar, Oscar, Oscar" are three words you don't want to hear on a cruise ship.

The maritime distress signal is used by some cruise lines to alert crew members that a person has gone overboard; an unfortunate turn of events that has happened at least six times in the past three months.

While man-overboard incidents are rare , they are a leading cause of death for passengers on cruise ships, according to research conducted by Travis Heggie, a professor at Bowling Green State University who specializes in health and safety risks in the tourism industry.

Based on recent man-overboard incidents, here's what passengers can expect if someone goes overboard during their cruise. Individual incidents and exact procedures followed by cruise lines may vary.

What happens when passenger goes overboard on a cruise ship?

The best-case scenario is that someone on the ship spots the person going overboard and immediately initiates a rescue operation. This was the case in July, when a woman fell off the 10th deck of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and was rescued by crew members in a dramatic, nearly hour-long rescue .

But if there are no witnesses, it could take hours for the passenger's family or friends to realize they are missing and report the situation to cruise staff.

Once a passenger is reported missing, crew members might announce the person's name over the loudspeaker while conducting an onboard search.

Cruise staff will likely review the ship's security footage to determine if, when, and where a passenger has gone overboard. But in some cases, there is no footage due to blind spots on the ship.

Once crew members learn that a person has gone overboard, they "immediately inform the Coast Guard, stop the ship, and turn around to help find the missing passenger," a spokesperson for the industry trade group Cruise Line International Association told Insider.

"Often, smaller boats that can move at high speeds are deployed from the ship to search for the person," they said.

Related stories

Depending on the ship's location, local authorities (such as the Cuban Border Guard) may be put in charge of coordinating search and rescue missions.

If the US Coast Guard is the agency in charge, responders will likely search for the missing passenger from the air and on the water. After 35-year-old Ronnie Peale Jr. fell overboard a Carnival cruise ship in late May, Coast Guard responders searched more than 5,171 square miles for 60 hours.

Unfortunately, most cruise ship man-overboard incidents don't result in a successful rescue, a 2020 study commissioned by CLIA found.

The low recovery rate has prompted debate on whether or not cruise ships should be required to install man-overboard detection systems that automatically alert crew members when a person goes overboard, instead of retroactively checking security footage.

Rules Royal Caribbean has required crew to follow if a person goes overboard

Cruise lines have specific protocols designed for crew to take quick action during man-overboard incidents, the CLIA spokesperson said.

They don't typically publicize these internal company procedures. But a Bahamas Maritime Authority safety report regarding a 2017 incident excerpted portions of Royal Caribbean International's missing person guidelines.

Royal Caribbean International did not respond to multiple requests for comment about whether or not the cruise line has updated its missing person procedures since 2017. The industry blog Cruise Law News first reported on the safety report.

According to the safety report, once a guest or crew member is reported missing to guest services, Royal Caribbean policy requires crew to immediately inform the cruise's main control center, called the bridge, as well as the ship's staff captain and security officer.

The bridge officer must then note the ship's position while the security officer takes steps to locate the missing guest or crew member.

Before the captain can turn the ship around to look for the missing person, they must notify marine operations — a corporate department based in Miami — unless they are responding to a confirmed overboard sighting, the report said.

"The Care Team (Miami) and if necessary, the ship's Medical Unit should be involved to support the family and friends of the missing person," the policy continues, per the report.

Do you work on a cruise ship? Have a tip or story to share? Email this reporter at [email protected]

Watch: Sub taking tourists to see the Titanic goes missing

• Main content

Carnival passenger goes overboard during Caribbean cruise, Coast Guard suspends search

A Carnival Cruise Line passenger went overboard on the line’s Carnival Glory ship.

The man appears to have jumped from the fourth deck shortly before 2 a.m. on Monday, according to Carnival spokesperson Matt Lupoli. A family member reported the passenger missing on Monday morning.

"Only on Tuesday were we advised of the possibility of him wearing a different shirt, which allowed our security team to change the profile of the guest as we searched onboard video," Lupoli said in an emailed statement. "We have informed the U.S. Coast Guard and are providing assistance to the guest’s family that was traveling with him who are still on board."

The Coast Guard suspended its search for the passenger on Thursday, and the incident is under investigation.

After the man was reported missing, the ship’s security team immediately began searching the vessel, Lupoli said in an earlier statement. The ship was on its way from New Orleans to Montego Bay, Jamaica at the time as part of a week-long Western Caribbean cruise that began Sunday, according to CruiseMapper .

The Coast Guard said the passenger was 28-year-old Tyler Barnett from Houma, Louisiana. Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony Randisi told USA TODAY that Carnival reported the guest was last seen around midnight on Monday.

The Coast Guard began searching later that day. “Our crews battled severe weather conditions for multiple days and made every effort to find Mr. Barnett," Lt. Cmdr. Sean DiGeorge, Coast Guard District Eight search and rescue mission coordinator, said in a news release . "Suspending an active search is never a decision we make lightly, and we offer our most sincere condolences to Mr. Barnett’s family and friends.”

The search area originally encompassed approximately 200 miles, but was narrowed to "roughly 30 miles southwest of" Louisiana's Southwest Pass, the Coast Guard said on X , formerly Twitter.

The Coast Guard cleared Carnival Glory to continue to Montego Bay, where it was set to arrive Wednesday, Lupoli said.

Cruise overboard detection systems: What are they and why doesn't every ship have them?

Between 2009 and 2019, there were 212 overboard incidents globally involving passengers and crew, according to  statistics compiled for Cruise Lines International Association  by consulting firm G.P. Wild (International) Ltd. Among those, only 48 people were rescued.

If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the  U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time day or night, or  chat online.

Crisis Text Line  also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville . You can reach him at [email protected].

• Cruise News

Passenger Reportedly Jumps from Cruise Ship in Front of Family

Andrea Santillan

• April 5, 2024

A passenger on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas cruise ship reportedly jumped overboard in front of his family early Thursday morning.

According to witnesses, the 20-year-old man had been drinking alcohol and leaped out of a window following a brief argument with his father.

The incident occurred yesterday shortly after 4 a.m. as the ship was sailing off the coast of The Bahamas.

How did the cruise passenger go overboard?

The 18-story cruise ship was sailing from Grand Inagua Island in The Bahamas to Cuba on its final day at sea before returning to Port Everglades.

A passenger named Bryan Sims was with the 20-year-old man who eventually went overboard. From the ship’s hot tub, they went to the elevators, where they encountered the man’s father and brother. According to Sims, “he was pretty drunk.”

Another passenger described the events on the ship. “The ship slowed and began rescue efforts without success. The US Coast Guard was called, and a helicopter and a rescue boat were sent. Since those assets have arrived, we have been freed to resume our journey to FLL,” he recounted.

According to Royal Caribbean, the crew quickly mobilized search and rescue efforts with the US Coast Guard, who eventually continued the search. The ship’s captain confirmed the man overboard event over the public address system a few hours later.

#Breaking @USCG crews are searching for a 20-year-old man who went overboard from the Liberty of the Seas cruise ship 57 miles from Great Inagua this morning. USCG Cutter Seneca and Air Station Miami HC-144 crews are conducting the search. #USCG #SAR pic.twitter.com/zZPpKOdyCn — USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) April 4, 2024

Meanwhile, the cruise line assured that “Our Care Team is providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time. For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share.”

In 2023, 15 man overboard incidents occurred on cruise ships. Though rare, they are often fatal, and the people who jump overboard are hardly ever rescued.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

British tourist’s final text before falling overboard on cruise ship

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The final text sent by a Scottish tourist feared dead after falling overboard from a cruise ship has been revealed.

23-year-old Liam Jones was last seen on the deck of the MSC Euribia on March 16 as it set off from Southampton to Amsterdam in The Netherlands.

It’s now been revealed Liam messaged his wife Sophia Mcphee to say he was seasick that same day – and that was the last time his devastated wife heard from her.

Sophia told the  Daily Record that the last time she saw her husband was March 14 when he travelled from their home to Glasgow to meet his family.

She said: ‘I feel so lost. He’s just… gone. I’m never going to see him again. I’m devastated.

‘I have so many questions, and I’m not getting any answers to what’s happened.’

The cruise operator, MSC Cruises, has confirmed a passenger disappeared and police have since boarded the vessel after it returned to Britain.

The cruise, set to make pit stops in Germany, France and Belgium, was on its way to Hamburg when Liam texted Sophia.

She said Liam’s sister messaged her the following day, saying there had been an ‘accident’ and Liam ‘wasn’t coming back’.

CCTV footage, Liam’s sister told her, showed Liam going overboard.

‘I’ve not had contact from anyone else since,’ Sophia added.

According to its itinerary , the Euribia would have docked in Hamburg on March 27 before going to Rotterdam on Tuesday, Bruges on Wednesday and Le Harve on Thursday before arriving back in Southampton on Friday.

A spokesperson for MSC Cruises said: ‘A passenger on board MSC Euribia went overboard on 16 March as the ship was sailing to Hamburg.

‘This was reported to the authorities. The police in Southampton boarded the vessel on 22 March and investigated on behalf of the coroner.

‘We are deeply saddened by this news and our thoughts are with the family at this very difficult time. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we will refrain from disclosing any additional information.’

Hampshire Constabulary added: ‘Officers boarded the vessel on Friday 22 March following a report that a man had gone overboard.

‘The man’s family are aware and police are investigating this on behalf of the coroner.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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Breaking news, breathtaking video shows pregnant disney cruise passenger dangling over the ocean in coast guard rescue.

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Dramatic video captured the moment a pregnant woman suffering medical complications was airlifted from a Disney cruise ship.

Footage posted by the US Coast Guard shows a rescuer being lowered onto the Disney Fantasy on Monday in the Atlantic Ocean, about 180 miles northwest of Puerto Rico.

The 35-year-old woman, whose identity was not released, is then seen being raised by a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk chopper to be flown to a hospital.

“Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a communication from the Disney Fantasy Monday morning requesting medevac assistance as the cruise ship was transiting 260 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico,” the agency said.

The Coast Guard also deployed an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft from Air Station Miami to rendezvous with the cruise ship.

“Once on scene, the Coast Guard Jayhawk aircrew deployed their rescue swimmer aboard the cruise ship, who prepared a rescue basket and litter to safely hoist the patient and cruise ship doctor aboard the aircraft,” the Coast Guard said.

The woman was transported to the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she was treated at Centro Medico Hospital, officials said.

“Our crew was able to quickly, safely, and efficiently execute a long-range MEDEVAC for the patient to receive the higher level of care she required,” Lt. Cmdr. Todd Stephens said in a statement. “This case demonstrates the value of good crew resource management and the capabilities of our Jayhawk helicopter.”

Ensign Michael Riccio, Coast Guard Sector San Juan operations unit leader, said his crew was “glad everything came together to help this passenger.

“The competency displayed by the Disney Fantasy crew and the Coast Guard personnel and units involved made all the difference,” he said.

It was unclear if the woman’s emergency was related to her pregnancy.

The Post has reached out to Disney Cruise Line for comment.

According to the company’s frequently asked questions , women must be no more than 23 weeks pregnant in order to set sail. If they enter the 24th week of pregnancy during the sailing, “they will be refused passage due to safety concerns.”

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Cruise Passenger, 23, Reportedly Falls Overboard After Texting Wife He Felt Seasick

A 23-year-old passenger is presumed dead  after falling from the MSC Euribia cruise ship, according to multiple reports .

Liam Jones, a social work student from Scotland, was last seen on March 16 while on a seven-day tour cruise from Southampton to Amsterdam with his family, the  Daily Record reports .

Jones’ wife, Sophia Mcphee, 20, told the outlet that Jones texted her right before his disappearance to tell her he was feeling seasick. 

“He’s just gone. I’m never going to see him again,” Mcphee told the Daily Record . “I’m devastated. I have so many questions, and I’m not getting any answers to what’s happened.”

Mcphee told U.K.’s Metro that Jones’ sister broke the news to her on the phone and explained that security camera footage showed Jones falling overboard. 

“She said there had been an accident and Liam ‘wasn’t coming back.’ She then said she had seen CCTV and he’d gone overboard,” Mcphee recalled. 

But Mcphee said she hasn’t been updated on the investigation since hearing about his disappearance. She told the Daily Record that the last time she had seen Jones was on March 14 when he traveled to visit family in Glasgow before they boarded the cruise the following day.  

“I’ve been trying to get in contact with the MSC since Monday, but it’s been a headache,” Mcphee told the Daily Record. “They’re not getting back to me.”

MSC Cruises didn’t immediately respond to HuffPost’s requests for comment. 

Police reportedly boarded the cruise ship on March 22 to investigate the incident upon its return to Southampton, Metro reports. 

The cruise line suspects the man intentionally went overboard, Fox10 News reports .

In a statement to the Daily Record, MSC Cruises said it is “deeply saddened” by the news of Jones’ disappearance. 

“A passenger on board MSC Euribia was reported missing, who we believe intentionally went overboard, on 17 March as the ship sailed from Hamburg to Rotterdam,” the cruise line said. 

“The authorities have been informed and have been on board the vessel. We are deeply saddened by this news and our thoughts are with the family at this very difficult time,” the statement continued. “Out of respect for the family’s privacy we will refrain from disclosing any additional information.” 

• Two Holland America Crew Members Die During 'Incident' On Cruise Ship
• Cruise Ship With 206 Aboard Freed After Being Stuck In Greenland For Days
• Why That Viral Photo Of A Massive Cruise Ship Is Freaking Everyone Out

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Holland America crewmember missing after going overboard before vessel docks at Port Everglades

By Hunter Geisel

Updated on: April 13, 2024 / 4:52 PM EDT / CBS Miami

FORT LAUDERDALE  — A search is underway for a cruise ship crewmember who went overboard while the vessel was still at sea before docking in South Florida this weekend.

Around 11:18 a.m. Saturday, deputies with the Broward County Sheriff's Office Port Everglades District responded to a report of a missing crewmember on a Holland America cruise ship.

According to Holland America, the crew member was reported missing when the Rotterdam vessel docked in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday. After reviewing the security camera video, the crew member went "purposefully overboard" around 9:45 p.m. Friday while the vessel was still en route between Cuba and Key West, the cruise line told CBS News Miami.

BSO's Homicide and Crime Scene units have responded to Port Everglades to investigate, while the U.S. Coast has been notified and is currently searching the sea for the crew member.

"All of us at Holland America Line are deeply saddened by this incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the team member's family at this difficult time," the cruise line shared in a statement with CBS News Miami.

This is a developing story. Tune into CBS News Miami on-air and online for the latest updates.

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Hunter Geisel is a digital producer at CBS News Miami. Hunter has previously produced digital content for local and national outlets, covering several topics from breaking news and current events to politics and pop culture.

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Passenger rescued after falling off 10th deck of cruise ship, Coast Guard says

A Royal Caribbean passenger was rescued this week after having fallen overboard from the 10th deck of a cruise ship near the Dominican Republic, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Officials were alerted to the rescue of the 42-year-old woman, an American citizen, at about 5:44 p.m. Sunday, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

The Mariner of the Seas cruise ship was about 27 nautical miles south of Punta Cana on its way to Willemstad, Curaçao, when the passenger went overboard, the statement said.

“The passenger was recovered alive and reported to be in good health, after reportedly falling into the water from 10th deck of the ship," it said. "No medical evacuation of the passenger was requested by the cruise ship. The passenger was being kept on the cruise ship’s medical facility and later transferred to the Hospital in Willemstad, Curacao for evaluation."

The Coast Guard said it is investigating.

In a statement Wednesday, Royal Caribbean confirmed a passenger went overboard Sunday close to the Dominican Republic.

“The ship and crew immediately reported the incident to local authorities and began searching for the guest. Thankfully, the guest was successfully recovered and was brought on board. Our Care team is now offering assistance and support to them and their traveling party. Out of privacy for the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share,” the statement said. 

The ship continued the trip as planned, Royal Caribbean said.

Matthew Kuhn, who was on the cruise ship with his family, told WOFL -TV of Orlando , Florida, that he watched rescue efforts from his balcony.

“I think it was amazing to see everyone was on their balcony. Everyone was trying to help, and the crew was very receptive to everyone,” he said.

Kuhn said that he didn’t expect the passenger to be found alive and that he was pleasantly surprised he was wrong.

“Holy crap, they found her, and she’s alive,” he told WOFL.

Kuhn, who declined to comment to NBC News on Wednesday, shared some videos he posted on Twitter of the rescue efforts.

In one of the v ideo s , a small boat can be seen in the distance and people aboard the cruise ship are heard clapping, whistling and cheering.

Antonio Planas is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.