Why Do People Go Missing On Cruise Ships?

In summary, cruise ship accidents are a significant issue that affects millions of passengers and crew members. Since 2000, around 400 people have been reported missing from cruise ships, with around 1 in 4 people surviving going overboard. If the person cannot be found on board, the ship’s Security Director will coordinate search efforts.

Accidental overboards can occur when cruisers have had too much to drink, climb on top of railings, enter restricted areas, or attempt to escape. There are several potential reasons for people disappearing on cruise ships, including falling overboard, which can happen if a person accidentally falls or intentionally jumps from the ship. The International Cruise Victims Association reports that 165 people have gone missing at sea since 1995, with at least 13 people missing this year alone.

One common reason for these disappearances is falling overboard, which can happen if a person accidentally falls or intentionally jumps from the ship. Another reason is suicide, as the stress and isolation of a cruise ship environment can sometimes lead to this tragic outcome. Disappearances also occur during port visits.

On average, there are multiple cruise ship disappearances annually, with the most common cause being passengers falling overboard. People go missing, jump overboard, probably fall overboard, and in some cases are probably pushed overboard. Reports do not include the possibility of a person being pushed overboard.

The International Cruise Victims Association (ICV) claims that upwards of 1,000 people are unaccounted for each year from cruise-related incidents. People rarely disappear on a cruise ship, with an average of 19 people going missing each year out of the many millions of passengers.