What Does Disney Do If Someone Falls Overboard on a Cruise?

On June 29th, a child fell overboard on the Disney Dream cruise ship, causing her father to jump in after her.

The Disney Dream

The incident occurred as the ship was returning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from a four-night Bahamian sailing, according to The Street.

The father and daughter were quickly rescued once crews became aware of what had happened. The emergency code “Mr. M.O.B.” (man overboard) was announced over the ship’s intercom, prompting a swift response from crew members.

Disney Dream

A Disney Cruise Line spokesperson told USA Today, “We commend our Crew Members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions, which ensured the safe return of both guests to the ship within minutes. We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols.”

Passengers on the Disney Dream shared videos to social media of the crew, showing them launching life preservers and a rescue boat within minutes. The rescue took place while the Disney Dream was sailing between the Bahamas and Florida. The child reportedly fell from Deck 4, which is where the walking track is located.

Disney Dream at Castaway Cay

One passenger on the ship, Kevin Furuta, said on Facebook: “On the last day of our Dream voyage and it is an at Sea Day. A girl fell overboard from the 4th deck & her dad went in after her. Right after the incident we heard on the loud speaker MOB Port side!! Thankfully, the DCL rescue team was on it immediately and both were saved!”

Disney Dream

Since the ship has plexiglass safety barriers, it’s still unclear as to how the child was able to go overboard. Disney Cruise Line ships are equipped with overboard detection systems that are designed to alert the crew to any potential incidents in real-time. In addition, all Disney Cruise Line passengers are required to participate in a muster drill, in compliance with U.S. Coast Guard and international safety regulations.

Railings onboard the Disney Dream are at least 42 inches in height to help prevent falling, along with 24/7 security and surveillance designed to the same.

We love Disney Cruises!

Luckily, in this case and in general, the crew onboard Disney Cruise ships are fully trained and equipped to handle situations like this, should they ever unfortunately happen. Disney has various safety measures in place, but it’s important to remember to abide by all safety rules and listen to crew member instructions while you’re onboard. While it’s still unclear how this overboard incident happened, we’re glad that Disney Cruise Line crew members were able to rescue the girl and her father quickly and safely.