What happens when someone goes overboard on a cruise ship?

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. This message, sent over a ship’s PA system, alerts crew members when someone falls off a cruise ship, known as man overboard. Data from the CLIA shows that between 2009 and 2019, there were 212 man overboard incidents on cruise ships. “Maritime law gives them a certain amount of leeway, so a family’s options for seeking compensation can be limited.” What happens if you see someone fall off a cruise ship? The average ship undergoes dozens of announced and unannounced safety inspections per year, involving hundreds of man hours and covering thousands of specific requirements set by the International Maritime Organisation.” Passengers, of course, have to be responsible and avoid dangerous acts such as climbing over balconies and running on slippery decks, especially after a few drinks, but in most cases you should be able to have a smooth sailing without worrying about falling off a cruise ship.