Officials have confirmed the death of a passenger who jumped overboard from the Icon of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, on May 26, 2024. The incident took place on the first night of the ship’s week-long journey, shortly after leaving Florida for Honduras.

The man, whose identity has not been revealed, jumped from the cruise liner, considered to be the largest in the world. The ship, stretching over 1,200 feet, has the capacity to hold 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members. The Coast Guard reported that the crew of the ship promptly launched a rescue boat and found the man. Although he was returned to the ship in a critical state, he was later declared dead.

A representative from Royal Caribbean confirmed the incident and stated that their Care Team is providing assistance and support to the family of the deceased man. “The ship’s crew immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard and launched a search and rescue operation,” said the representative.

The Icon of the Seas, which started its maiden voyage in January, boasts 20 decks and multiple amenities including a 17,000-square-foot water park, six waterslides, and the largest pool at sea. Following the incident, the ship was halted for about two hours to conduct the search before continuing its journey.

Witnesses on board described the incident as surreal. Zachary Normandin, a 31-year-old resident of Connecticut, recounted his experience, stating that when the captain announced the discovery of the missing passenger, about 300 passengers who were having dinner cheered, believing he was alive. “Everyone cheered, thinking he was safe. It was only later we found out he had died,” said Normandin. He also mentioned that he found it unsettling how many passengers carried on as though nothing had happened.

Other passengers who shared videos of the rescue operation echoed Normandin’s feelings. The videos showed rescue boats heading away from the ship to retrieve the passenger. An anonymous passenger described the atmosphere on board as dystopian, with people continuing their holiday activities despite the tragic event.

Royal Caribbean has kept further details about the incident confidential out of respect for the privacy of the deceased passenger’s family.

According to CruiseHive, at the time of the incident, the Icon of the Seas was approximately 300 miles from PortMiami and 30 to 40 miles north of Santa Lucia, Cuba. Following the incident, the ship made stops in Honduras and Costa Maya, Mexico, and returned to Miami on June 1.

The Icon of the Seas, a marvel of modern engineering, is nearly four city blocks in size and houses a variety of attractions. These include the 40,000-gallon Royal Bay pool, the largest at sea, and Absolute Zero, the largest ice skating rink at sea.

This incident follows another tragedy involving a Royal Caribbean ship in recent months. In April, a 20-year-old man fell overboard from the Liberty of the Seas during a voyage around the Bahamas. Despite thorough search efforts, the man is still missing.

Despite an average of 19 passengers falling overboard each year, it represents a small fraction of the 31.5 million people who cruised in 2023. However, every such incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent risks associated with such voyages.