RCCL Allure of the Seas
On Friday morning, a British passenger was seen falling overboard fell from the balcony of his cruise ship cabin on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, the Allure of the Seas, while cruising off the coast of Mexico, near the island of Cozumel. The Allure of the Seas with a capacity of 5,400 passengers is currently the largest cruise ship in the world. The passenger, a 30 year old man, is still missing, despite ongoing searches by the Mexican Navy and Coast Guard. This has been the third recorded case of passengers or crew lost overboard on cruise ships this year and the second incident on a Royal Caribbean ship. In 2011, 23 people were reported to have been lost overboard on cruise ships and ferries. Since 2000, 176 are reported to have been lost. Thanks to Alaric Bond for passing on the news.
Suicide by cruise ship??
The adoption of balconies on the exterior cabins of cruise ship has led to a dramatic increase in passengers ending up overboard. Alcohol is often a contributing factor. Some passengers and crew do commit suicide, based on the reports, but many falls off balconies seem to be a combination of drunkenness and gravity.
Accident or suicide, it’s still awfully sad. I imagine someone now and then gets the ol’ heave ho as well…