Cruise & Cruise Line

Cruise Ship Crew Member Dies After Falling Overboard

Image: Icon of the Seas (left) docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay next to Vision of the Seas (right). (Photo Credit: Eric Bowman)
Image: Icon of the Seas (left) docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay next to Vision of the Seas (right). (Photo Credit: Eric Bowman)
Lacey Pfalz
by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 11:05 AM ET, Fri July 25, 2025

A crew member on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas fell overboard on Thursday, July 24 and died. 

According to local Florida news station 7 News Miami, the crew member, who remains unidentified, went overboard on Thursday. The ship’s man overboard call went off at around 7:00 p.m. while the ship was sailing to the cruise line’s private island, Coco Cay, in the Bahamas.

Someone was able to film a portion of the rescue effort on their cell phone. The rescue team was able to recover the crew member’s body, but the person had passed away. The incident, and why the crew member fell overboard, is under investigation. 

Royal Caribbean issued a statement, saying “Our crew immediately initiated a search and rescue operation, but unfortunately the crew member passed away. We extend our condolences to the crew member’s family and loved ones. To respect their privacy, we have no additional details to share.”

The itinerary will continue operating without interruptions and is expected to return to Port Miami on Sunday, July 27. Icon of the Seas just debuted in January as the world’s largest cruise ship. It can accommodate over 5,000 guests and 2,350 crew. 


For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore

More From TravelPulse

Related Videos

Lacey Pfalz

Lacey Pfalz

Associate Editor

Lacey Pfalz is Associate Editor at TravelPulse. She's a passionate advocate of responsible travel and believes the best travel experiences happen outside of a planned itinerary. Lacey currently lives in rural Wisconsin. She can be reached at [email protected].

Grow Your Travel Business With Certified Courses

Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.

Don't Miss These Travel Agent Events and Trainings

Watch Now!
Headline: Learn about the New Riviera Travel River CruisesWednesday, August 12, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
If you haven't sold or sailed on Riviera over the past two years then you haven't experienced the new...
Upcoming Webinar
New Orleans: Timeless Traditions & Nonstop CultureThursday, August 13, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Learn about New Orleans from the New Orleans experts. During the presentation, you'll hear about...
Upcoming Webinar
Every Island Tells a Story: Part 2 – Selling the Caribbean Through Immersive ExperiencesWednesday, August 19, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Continue the journey in the second installment of our Every Island Tells a Story webinar series. This...
Watch Now!
Headline: Learn about the New Riviera Travel River CruisesWednesday, August 12, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
If you haven't sold or sailed on Riviera over the past two years then you haven't experienced the new...
Upcoming Webinar
New Orleans: Timeless Traditions & Nonstop CultureThursday, August 13, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Learn about New Orleans from the New Orleans experts. During the presentation, you'll hear about...
Upcoming Webinar
Every Island Tells a Story: Part 2 – Selling the Caribbean Through Immersive ExperiencesWednesday, August 19, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Continue the journey in the second installment of our Every Island Tells a Story webinar series. This...