Of all the honking announcements you might hear on a cruise, “Code Oscar” can be one of the scariest for passengers and crew.

This message alerts the crew when a man falls overboard from a cruise ship.

Cases of people falling off a cruise ship are rare but often attract a lot of attention.

A 72-year-old man is believed to have died after falling into the sea in early December following a Princess Cruises trip to Mexico. A passenger in MSC Virtuosa Died overboard in October 2024 while sailing from Alderney in the Channel Islands to Southampton.

In August 2024, a passenger reportedly fell off the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the seas near Croatia and was never found, while another passenger died earlier this year after jumping off the ground The symbol of the seas.

There have been other incidents in recent years, but they are very much in the minority and cruise lines have taken strict measures to keep people safe and help launch a rescue when there is a man overboard.

Andy Harmer, director of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), said Independent: “Vacation by ship is one of the safest forms of travel. Cruise ships today are the safest ships ever to sail, thanks to the laws, regulations and technological innovations that govern their design. There is no known case of someone acting responsibly who accidentally fell over the railing of a cruise ship.

How often do people fall off cruise ships?

Passengers rarely fall off a cruise ship.

CLIA data shows that between 2009 and 2019, there were 212 human casualties on cruise ships at sea. This figure reaches 19 every year.

More recent data from the CruiseJunkie blog puts the figure at 417 as of this year. This figure is still very small compared to the 32 million people who went on a cruise in 2023.

Cruise blogger Emma Le Teace, who runs the Emma Cruises YouTube channel, says that puts your odds of crashing on a cruise ship at about 1 in 1.4 million.

“Fortunately, it’s almost impossible to fall off a cruise ship,” he said. “There are still people who accidentally fall — usually while doing something stupid or dangerous.

Can you fall off a cruise ship?

Technically you can fall off a cruise ship. CLIA research shows that in every male incident recorded between 2009 and 2019, it was an “intentional or reckless” incident.

Legal expert Brad Hoffman adds that cruise line liability can be complicated in the event of an accident at sea.

“While they have a legal duty to keep passengers safe, cruise lines’ liability is often limited by fine print in their ticket contracts, which few passengers fully read or understand,” he said.

“Maritime law gives them a certain amount of leeway, so the family’s options for seeking compensation can be limited.”

What would happen if you saw someone fall off a cruise ship?

One of the first things you’ll be asked to do on a cruise ship is attend a safety briefing or watch a video that explains what to do if something goes wrong.

The procedure on most ships is to shout “man overboard” if you see someone overboard.

For example, Princess Cruises advises guests in their pre-cruise package to alert a crew member if someone goes overboard and throws a lifebuoy or anything that floats.

Some ships have sensor systems to detect when someone goes overboard, while ships arriving and departing U.S. ports with more than 250 passengers are required to have cameras so that a person can be easily identified if they go down.

The general procedure if someone falls from a cruise is to stop the ship, while the outer deck may be closed.

Lifeboats will be launched and the Coast Guard will be contacted, while other nearby vessels will be alerted to be on the lookout.

Unfortunately, CLIA data shows that of the 212 incidents between 2009 and 2019, only 48 — or 28.2 percent — ended in a successful rescue.

What safety measures are in place to prevent people from falling off a cruise ship?

The salvage rate may sound scary, but falling off a cruise ship is pretty tough.

Ships can be longer and more sophisticated, such as Royal Caribbean The symbol of the seasbut all ships are designed with safety in mind.

Outdoor decks have glass railings that must be at least 42 inches high, while balconies must be at least one meter high.

“Cruise lines are highly regulated by strong execution,” Harmer adds. “The average ship carries out dozens of announced and unannounced safety inspections each year, involving hundreds of man-hours and covering thousands of specific requirements set by the International Maritime Organization.”

Of course, passengers should be responsible and avoid dangerous activities like climbing balconies and running on slippery decks, especially after a few drinks, but for the most part you should be able to have a relaxing trip without worrying about falling off the cruise. ship

Read more: The best cruises from Southampton