norwegian cruise overboard

Man went overboard on Miami-bound Norwegian ship during ‘Headbangers Boat' cruise

Coast guard searching for 41-year-old man who went overboard near the bahamas, by brian hamacher • published november 3, 2023 • updated on november 3, 2023 at 8:47 pm.

A search was underway after a man went overboard from a Norwegian cruise ship that was returning to Miami during a "Headbangers Boat" trip.

The incident happened early Friday morning as the Norwegian Pearl was sailing near the Bahamas on its way to Miami, a spokesperson for the cruise line said.

A search was underway to find the passenger, a 41-year-old man, by the U.S. Coast Guard.

"The investigation is ongoing, and we will share updates as appropriate. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time," the spokesperson said in a statement.

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The ship was on a roundtrip from Miami to Nassau and then back to Miami as part of the "Headbangers Boat" cruise.

A number of metal bands were performing during the cruise, including Lamb of God, Mastodon and Gwar, according to the trip's website .

The ship left on Halloween and was expected to return to Miami on Saturday morning.

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Search underway for man missing from Headbangers Boat cruise

41-year-old man feared lost overboard from Headbangers Boat heavy metal cruise hosted by Lamb of God

The owners of a cruise ship which is playing host to the Headbangers Boat metal cruise say a 41-year-old man is missing overboard.

A spokesperson for the Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed that a United States Coast Guard search and rescue operation was underway after the man went overboard from the Norwegian Pearl near the Bahamas.

Headbangers Boat is a four-day cruise hosted by Lamb of God and also featuring Mastodon , Testament , Hatebreed and more. It set sail from Miami, Florida, heading to Nassau in the Bahamas.

The Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson said: "On the early morning of Friday, November 3, 2023, Norwegian Pearl was notified that a 41-year-old male guest went overboard while the ship was sailing near the Bahamas on its way to Miami.

"The authorities have been notified and the United States Coast Guard search and rescue operation is underway. The investigation is ongoing, and we will share updates as appropriate. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time."

The Norwegian Pearl is a 294m (964ft) cruise ship. The Norwegian Cruise Line describes the ship as follows: "Cruise to the breezy islands of The Caribbean, or simply sit back and sail through the world's greatest shortcut on a Panama Canal cruise. Whatever you choose to do, we invite you to experience the wonders of getting there aboard Norwegian Pearl. 

"Her 16 chic dining options, 14 bars and lounges, dazzling casino, tranquil spa, and spacious Garden Villas are just a few things that make this Jewel Class cruise ship a destination of her own."

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This is the inaugural Headbanger’s Boat cruise, featuring two performances from Lamb of God including Ashes of the Wake in full.

In a statement provided to Rock Feed, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed that a passenger went overboard during the Headbangers Boat cruise early this morning. The statement reads: “On the early morning of Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, Norwegian Pearl was notified… pic.twitter.com/8nTBJacACU November 3, 2023

Stef wrote close to 5,000 stories during his time as assistant online news editor and later as online news editor between 2014-2016. An accomplished reporter and journalist, Stef has written extensively for a number of UK newspapers and also played bass with UK rock favourites Logan. His favourite bands are Pixies and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Stef left the world of rock'n'roll news behind when he moved to his beloved Canada in 2016, but he started on his next 5000 stories in 2022. 

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Man Overboard on Cruise Ship, Search Called Off

Doug Parker

• November 5, 2023

A 41-year-old man went missing after going overboard during the “Headbangers Boat” cruise this weekend on Norwegian Pearl.

Confirmed by Norwegian Cruise Line, the vessel was en route back to Miami from the Bahamas when the incident occurred.

The line issued a statement saying. “On the early morning of Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, Norwegian Pearl was notified that a 41-year-old male guest went overboard while the ship was sailing near the Bahamas on its way to Miami.”

177 miles southeast of Miami

Following the search pattern, the guest went overboard approximately 177 miles southeast east of Miami.

The weather in the area on early Friday morning was choppy, with wind gusts up to 30 knots. The ship searched for nine hours before being released by the US Coast Guard.

The statement went on to read, “The authorities have been notified, and the United States Coast Guard search and rescue operation is underway. The investigation is ongoing, and we will share updates as appropriate. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time.”

Cruise co-host speaks on event

One of the cruise co-hosts, Riki Rachtman, former host of MTV Hangbanger Ball TV show, spoke on the incident during a Facebook Live on Saturday morning.

“Everybody was devastated when we were woken up by the calls, and then they spent nine hours trying to find this person with the Coast Guard. And I get sentimental when I say this, but at about nine o’clock in the morning, they made the announcement that the search was called off. And when that happened, it was devastating, and it hurt everybody when you walked around the ship.”

12 cruise ship passengers overboard in 2023

This was the twelfth man overboard on a cruise ship in 2023, according to the CruiseJunkie website .

Last week, a guest went overboard on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas as it left Barcelona. That guest was found shortly after he went overboard .

This story will be updated when additional details are released.

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41-year-old man presumed dead after going overboard on heavy metal 'Headbanger's Boat'

MIAMI, Fla. (WKRC) - The search for a 41-year-old man who fell overboard was called off, according to the cruise line.

According to PEOPLE Magazine, a man went overboard a heavy metal-theme cruise hosted by the Norwegian Pearl. A Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson speaking to the publication confirmed a man “went overboard while the ship was sailing near the Bahamas” Friday.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time,” the spokesperson said. The passenger's identity has not been released at this time.

Per Metal Injection , an outlet covering movements in the genre, Lamb of God, who headlined the five-day, four-night event, issued a statement saying the group was "deeply saddened to have learned that a member of our community was involved in a tragic incident," and that they were "sending love and light to their family and loved ones."

Cruise left port in Miami on October 31 and was scheduled to return on November 4, just one day after the passenger's vanishing. According to PEOPLE , the cruise was on its way back from Nassau when the passenger went missing. Per PEOPLE , Shadows Fall, GWAR, Mastodon and Hatebreed were also slated to perform on the cruise.

According to the publication, an investigation into the disappearance is ongoing.

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Passenger Goes Overboard on Headbangers Boat Cruise

The post Passenger Goes Overboard on Headbangers Boat Cruise appeared first on Consequence .

Headbangers Boat , the inaugural metal cruise headlined by Lamb of God, experienced a tragic turn early Friday morning (November 3rd) when a 41-year-old male passenger went overboard. A search and rescue mission is currently underway.

In a statement provided to Rock Feed , a spokesperson for the Norwegian Cruise Line offered the following details:

“On the early morning of Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, Norwegian Pearl was notified that a 41-year-old male guest went overboard while the ship was sailing near the Bahamas on its way to Miami. The authorities have been notified and the United States Coast Guard search and rescue operation is underway. The investigation is ongoing, and we will share updates as appropriate. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time.”

The incident sadly casts a pall over what by all accounts was turning out to be a very festive metal experience. As we’ve been reporting, via our on-board photographer, the cruise has had some memorable moments thus far, like Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe officiating a wedding between two of the passengers, as well as a hot tub circle pit breaking out during Hatebreed’s set.

In addition to Lamb of God and Hatebreed, the cruise has featured performances from Mastodon, GWAR, Testament, and several more acts. The ship set sail from Miami on Halloween (October 31st), and visited the Bahamas. The original schedule had it returning to Miami to disembark on Saturday (November 4th).

Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the missing passenger.

In a statement provided to Rock Feed, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed that a passenger went overboard during the Headbangers Boat cruise early this morning. The statement reads: “On the early morning of Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, Norwegian Pearl was notified… pic.twitter.com/8nTBJacACU — Rock Feed 🎸 (@RockFeedNet) November 3, 2023

Passenger Goes Overboard on Headbangers Boat Cruise Heavy Consequence Staff

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A Man Went Overboard On Inaugural ‘Headbangers Boat’ Cruise (Updated)

Update: November 03rd, 2023 02:22pm :

A statement issued by the Norwegian Cruise Line to Rock Feed confirms that a 41-year-old man went overboard on the ‘ Headbangers Boat ‘ cruise earlier this morning. That statement reads as follows:

“On the early morning of Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, Norwegian Pearl was notified that a 41-year-old male guest went overboard while the ship was sailing near the Bahamas on its way to Miami. The authorities have been notified and the United States Coast Guard search and rescue operation is underway. The investigation is ongoing, and we will share updates as appropriate. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time.”

Original Story:

According to several attendees, a man has been reported going overboard on this year’s inaugural ‘ Headbangers Boat ‘ cruise. That event, which was curated by Lamb Of God , set sail from Miami, FL aboard the Norwegian Pearl on October 31st and is scheduled to wrap up tomorrow, November 04th.

A number of individuals claiming to be aboard the cruise have since stated online that the ship docked as rescue operations were launched for the individual, who apparently went overboard late last night.

Several of the attendees have commented on Reddit on the matter, and mentioned choppy waters seemingly played a part in the incident. Theprp.com has also heard similar reports from individuals associated with the cruise of a man having gone overboard.

Related Stories

'Headbangers Boat' Returns To Miami After Search For Man Who Went Overboard Was Unsuccessful

LAMB OF GOD 's Headbangers Boat charter cruise made its way back to Miami, Florida earlier today, one day after a man on the ship went overboard.

The incident transpired on the morning of Friday, November 3 as the Norwegian Pearl was sailing near the Bahamas on its way back to Port Miami, a spokesperson for cruise line Norwegian Cruise Line said.

According to Cruise Hive , a search for the missing 41-year-old passenger was quickly initiated. However, after a nine-hour search, the captain of Norwegian Pearl was forced to cancel the search and rescue mission, and the vessel resumed her course to Miami.

The U.S. Coast Guard told WFLA they were conducting a search for the man who was last seen 20 miles east of Cay Say Bahamas around 4 a.m.

The Coast Guard was assisting the Royal Bahamas Defense Force in the search.

A statement released by a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line read: "On the early morning of Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, Norwegian Pearl was notified that a 41-year-old male guest went overboard while the ship was sailing near the Bahamas on its way to Miami. The authorities have been notified and the United States Coast Guard search and rescue operation is underway. The investigation is ongoing, and we will share updates as appropriate. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time."

LAMB OF GOD said in a separate statement: "We're deeply saddened to have learned that a member of our community was involved in a tragic incident. Sending love and light to their family and loved ones."

Earlier today, Headbangers Boat co-host Riki Rachtman , who is best known as the host of MTV 's popular 1980s and 1990s program "Headbangers Ball" , shared a video message on social media in which he addressed the tragic incident that occurred on the ship. He said: "I'm just gonna start by talking about this because it's something that weighs heavy on our heart and all the bands and all the people that were on the cruise. Unfortunately, somebody went over. There was a man overboard. And I know what I've heard and I'm not gonna share anything until it already comes out. But somebody went off the ship at about four o'clock in the morning. Everybody was devastated when we were woken up by the calls, and then they spent nine hours trying to find this person with the Coast Guard. And I get sentimental when I say this, but at about nine o'clock in the morning, they made the announcement that the search was called off. And when that happened, it was devastating and it hurt everybody when you walked around the ship."

He added: "This metal community, and I don't talk about this 'cause you know I love so many different genres of music, but the metal community, especially the people on this boat, is just that — it's a community — and we lost one of our own.

"My thoughts and prayers are for the families and friends and it was just so tragic."

According to Cruise Hive , the Headbangers Boat cruise was a special charter voyage, offering a unique blend of heavy metal music with LAMB OF GOD as the headliner. The charter cruise was organized by Sixthman , which is in partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line .

Cruise Critic says that there are no specific statistics compiled by the U.S. government about how often going overboard happens on cruise ships. In general, there are about 20 incidents reported a year. "Survival rates depend on several factors, including whether the person was injured by impact with the water or part of the ship on the way down and how quickly the person can be rescued by the cruise ship crew or Coast Guard," the web site notes. "Wind and weather factors also play a role in a rescue mission. If the seas are rough, it not only makes it difficult for a person to swim, it's also tough for emergency staff to find them in the water. Other factors include the temperature of the sea; hypothermia can begin to set in when the water is less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit."

Live just off the #headbangersboat Posted by Riki Rachtman on Saturday, November 4, 2023

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Man goes overboard on Florida-bound Norwegian cruise ship, search underway: report

T AMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Search crews are looking for a man who went overboard on the Miami-bound Norwegian Pearl Friday morning, according to Norwegian Cruise Lines.

The U.S. Coast Guard said they are currently conducting a search for the 41-year-old who was last seen 20 miles east of Cay Say Bahamas around 4 a.m.

The Coast Guard is assisting the Royal Bahamas Defense Force in the search.

“The investigation is ongoing, and we will share updates as appropriate. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time,” a Norwegian spokesperson said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.

• CruiseMapper
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• Passenger jumps overboard from Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship...

Passenger jumps overboard from Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship en route to New Orleans (Port NOLA, Louisiana)

A passenger aboard an NCL-Norwegian Cruise Lines ' ship jumped overboard close to the coast of Mexico, while the liner was en route back to Port NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana USA) , and he hasn't yet been found.

According to a statement from NCL Public Relations, a 31-year-old man onboard Norwegian Breakaway jumped off the liner on March 11 while the ship was passing by Costa Maya (Quintana Roo Mexico, Riviera Maya) .

The statement reported that authorities had been immediately notified, and a search had begun. Officials said the man had not been found yet.

An NCL spokesperson said their thoughts and prayers were with the individual's loved ones during that difficult time.

For more Norwegian Breakaway incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page .

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Norwegian Epic cruise passenger goes overboard in Mediterranean Sea; search for woman called off

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A woman went overboard from the Norwegian Epic cruise ship  in the Mediterranean Sea over the weekend, and in a grim development, officials called off the search for her on Sunday.

The ship was crossing the Mediterranean Sea while traveling from Cannes, France, to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, but turned around and docked in the middle of the ocean to launch a search party where the passenger, identified as a 63-year-old Korean woman, was last seen.

Passengers told The Sun  thousands of people on board were searching for the woman who was last seen wearing pink pajamas.

One vacationer said that it took two hours to sail back in an attempt to find her and that a helicopter also came to search the waters.

After several hours, passengers said the cruise line abandoned the search and the ship set off for Barcelona, where it arrived the next day.

CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP RESCUES FISHERMEN WHO WERE STUCK AT SEA FOR TWO DAYS

A passenger on the Norwegian Epic cruise ship went overboard over the weekend. (File)

CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP RESCUES MAN WHO JUMPED OVERBOARD

"Staff eventually just turned the music on and told us to go get and get a drink and after four hours, we were on our way again. It was like it had almost been forgotten about last night," British tourist Claire Murphy said.

"Around 8 p.m. the search was called off and the captain informed us that according to the family she could not swim at all. Given the conditions it's unlikely she would have survived," another passenger, Kyjuan Brown, said.

"Everyone felt for the family. It's horrible to go on vacation and leave without a family member."

Norwegian Cruise Lines issued a statement confirming the incident.

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"Early morning on June 8, a 63-year-old Korean female guest went overboard while the ship was sailing from Cannes, France to Palma de Mallorca, Spain. As soon as the report was made, the authorities were notified and a search and rescue operation ensued," it read.

"The search has now ceased, and sadly, the guest has not been found. Our thoughts and prayers are with the individual's family during this difficult time."

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Eight passengers stranded on African island after Norwegian cruise ship left without them

A dream cruise vacation has turned into a nightmare for eight passengers left stranded on the African island of São Tomé and Príncipe after their ship left without them because they were late to return from a private tour.

The tourists — six from the U.S. and two from Australia — were aboard the Norwegian Dawn, a Norwegian cruise line ship , which departed from Cape Town, South Africa, on March 20 for a 21-day voyage up the coast of Africa set to end in Barcelona, Spain, on April 10.

But on Wednesday, the group of eight tourists was late to return to the ship by more than an hour for the all-aboard time of 3 p.m. from a private excursion on the island, which was not organized by the cruise line.

Jay and Jill Campbell of South Carolina were part of the group that was left behind.

They said that their tour’s operator notified the cruise captain that they were going to be late to rejoin the ship and that the local Coast Guard tried to get them on the vessel but that they weren’t allowed to board.

As a result, the couple and the rest of the group have been stranded for days on the island off Nigeria, grappling with language, currency issues and complicated travel to catch up with the ship.

“The lovely people of São Tomé were very gracious, very hospitable. They had reached out as much as they could to help us find hotels,” Jay Campbell said on NBC's "TODAY" show Tuesday morning.

“We were able to get to a tour agency there to arrange flights to the next port of call. ... Very difficult process — you’re dealing with multiple languages, language barriers, you’re dealing with different currencies ... finding someone that even has dollars ... trying to get an agent to understand where we need to get to.

"It’s one of those ‘You can’t get there from here,’" he added.

A Norwegian spokesperson called the incident a “very unfortunate situation” and said, “Guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time.”

The cruise line said that after the guests failed to return, their passports were delivered to local port agents, in line with protocol. The company said it was working with local authorities to understand “the requirements and visas needed for the guests to reboard the ship at the next available port of call.”

On Monday, the guests had made arrangements to rejoin the ship in Banjul, Gambia, but the ship was unable to safely dock there because of “adverse weather conditions” and “tidal restrictions,” Norwegian said. The guests were then contacted and provided with information to rejoin the ship at Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday. 

Jill Campbell said they traveled through seven countries in 48 hours to arrive in Senegal on Monday night.

But the couple was reconsidering whether they even wanted to return to the cruise.

"We are considering whether or not we are going to board the ship. It is in dock here in Senegal," she said. "We believe there was a basic duty of care that they had forgotten about, so it does concern us."

"After what we witnessed, we truly believe that although there’s a set of rules or policies that the ship may have followed, they followed those rules too rigidly. I believe that they really forgot that they are people working in the hospitality industry and really the safety and well-being of the customers should be their first priority," she added.

Ultimately, the eight passengers did rejoin the cruise before 8:30 a.m. ET Tuesday in Dakar, Senegal, Norwegian told NBC News in an e-mail Tuesday evening, after this story originally published.

Norwegian said the passengers were responsible for making their own travel arrangements to rejoin the ship.

"Despite the series of unfortunate events outside of our control, we will be reimbursing these eight guests for their travel costs from Banjur, Gambia to Dakar, Senegal," a cruise line spokesperson said in a statement. "We remain in communication with the guests and are providing additional information as it becomes available."

A silver lining of the catastrophe was that the Campbells were able to connect with another Norwegian Dawn passenger — Julia Lenkoff, 80 — who was also left on the island, but for a medical reason.

Lenkoff was on a different day tour Wednesday. She had "medically disembarked" from the cruise to seek local treatment on that day, Norwegian said.

Norwegian said that its care team tried to call Lenkoff several times and was unable to reach her and that it worked with its port agent in São Tomé and Príncipe for updates on her health.

The Campbells met Lenkoff and were able to put her in contact with her family in California, who flew her home — a move Lenkoff's daughter said "saved her life."

"She's a world traveler. She travels all the time. So this was going to be one of her bucket list trips, because she's been to 120 countries so far, and she wanted to get to 130," her daughter, Lana Lenkoff Geis, said in an interview that aired Tuesday on "TODAY."

Norwegian said Lenkoff was escorted on a flight to Lisbon, Portugal, then put in the care of airport staff members to continue her journey back to the U.S., where she has safely returned.

Breaking News Reporter

What are cruise ship overboard detection systems and why doesn't every ship have them?

• Cruise ship overboard systems aim to cut down on response time and notify the crew when someone goes overboard.
• Not all cruise ships have the systems yet, but some have installed them.
• Passengers rarely go overboard by accident, one industry expert said.

"Safety in Travel” is a six-part series focusing on the travel safety tools available in different industries, how they can affect the overall experience, and how travelers can make use of them. If you'd like to contribute to our future reporting and share your experience as a source, you can click here to fill out this quick form .

Sherry Boleen got up early to watch the sunrise with her family during a cruise to Mexico over Thanksgiving. But when she arrived at her siblings' cabin on Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Valor ship around 6 a.m., her stepsister said their brother, James Michael Grimes, never came back to the room.

The family was sailing with roughly 20 relatives, so Boleen thought maybe he'd slept in one of their rooms. "He's notorious for just falling asleep anywhere, anytime," Boleen, who is 31 and lives at Fort Benning in Georgia, told USA TODAY. "And so I was like, 'Or he's just asleep on a lawn chair somewhere or whatever.' "

After looking for him around the ship to no avail, she said, she notified the cruise line, which began an hourslong search that ended with the U.S. Coast Guard rescuing 29-year-old Grimes from the water   later that day around 8:30 p.m. after he had gone overboard.

James Michael Grimes spent approximately 20 hours stranded at sea.

Grimes, who was found about 20 miles south of Southwest Pass, Louisiana, told PEOPLE magazine in December that he remembered having some drinks and winning an air-guitar competition before waking up in the water. He did not respond to interview requests from USA TODAY.

While the incident ended with his safe return to shore, it raised questions about cruise ship overboard detection systems – a new technology that aims to cut down on response time and notify the crew as soon as someone goes overboard.

Carnival spokesperson Matt Lupoli told USA TODAY in an email that as soon as the line was notified, "Carnival Valor’s crew immediately searched the ship, retraced the ship's route, and coordinated with U.S. Coast Guard officials."

"During the search, another mariner spotted Mr. Grimes in the ocean and contacted the USCG, and the rescue was made," he said. "We remain greatly appreciative of all the efforts that brought Mr. Grimes to safety."

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What are cruise ship overboard detection systems?

The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 requires passenger vessels operating in the United States to "integrate technology that can be used for capturing images of passengers or detecting passengers who have fallen overboard, to the extent that such technology is available."

Cruise lines were given an option because when the law was passed, there were no available products that could reliably detect passengers going overboard, according to Brian Salerno, senior vice president of global maritime policy at Cruise Lines International Association, the industry's leading trade group.

"The problem was tuning the technology just right so that you wouldn't be getting false alarms every time a seagull flew by the ship," he said. "It's just human nature, if you have alarms going off constantly, they become less and less important."

In the years since, multiple companies have worked to develop more dependable technology, and CLIA and its member lines worked with the International Organization for Standardization to develop a standard for them.

The standard was finalized around the time the COVID-19 pandemic began, Salerno said, which delayed the process, but some ships have adopted the detection systems.

Boleen said security on board told her that while the Carnival Valor had camera footage from the bar where her brother was last seen, it did not have cameras everywhere because it was an older vessel.

Lupoli said cameras "may not have 100% visibility" in certain places on ships. "We do know that he left a bar on Deck 3, and we later found his clothes and wallet on Deck 6," he said.

In addition to security cameras, Lupoli said, all ships have "safety barriers that are regulated by U.S. Coast Guard standards and prevent a guest from falling off."

How do overboard detection systems work?

Technology company MARSS' MOBtronic system is among those that developed the system for cruises.

The product, which uses thermal cameras and micro radars to detect when someone has gone overboard and can alert crew members, along with other features, is installed on "quite a few" vessels, including one cruise line's entire fleet, according to CEO Johannes Pinl, though he could not name specific lines.

He said he expects the system to receive certification in accordance with the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standard within the first half of 2023.

Salerno said that certification will give cruise lines greater confidence in spending money on overboard detection technology. For its part, MOBtronic starts at around $200,000, Pinl said. Typically, between four and 12 sensor stations are mounted on the ship's exterior, depending on its size and design.

"Overall, considering how much a cruise ship costs ... these investments are minor," he said.

How many cruise ships have overboard detection systems?

Salerno declined to name specific lines but said a number of ships have installed the detection technology. "I think we'll start seeing more and more of the detection equipment once the certification process is complete," he said.

He said he expects that at least one manufacturer will receive certification in accordance with the ISO standard this year.

• Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line and MSC Cruises did not answer USA TODAY's questions about whether or not they have the systems installed on their ships and referred inquiries to CLIA.
• Royal Caribbean International and Princess Cruises did not respond to USA TODAY's questions about whether or not they had installed the technology.
• A spokesperson for Disney Cruise Line confirmed the technology is available on its ships, but was unable to share more details.

How many people go overboard on cruise ships?

Between 2009 and 2019, there were 212 overboard incidents globally involving passengers and crew, according to statistics compiled for CLIA by consulting firm G.P. Wild (International) Limited. Only 48 people were rescued.

"I'll stress that people don't just fall over the side," said Salerno. "There are railings and they're pretty high. It's almost always the result of an intentional act."

The CVSSA requires passenger vessels to have rails that are "located not less than 42 inches above the cabin deck." Many cruise ships complied with that even before the law was enacted, according to Cmdr. Jason Kling, Detachment Chief at the U.S. Coast Guard's Cruise Ship National Center of Expertise, which conducts compliance inspections of cruise ships embarking passengers in U.S. ports or embarking U.S. passengers.

Why do people go overboard on cruises?

Alcohol can play a role in overboard incidents, said Michael Winkleman, a maritime attorney with Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., who has represented travelers in overboard cases. "Usually, it's just people not making smart decisions because they're dramatically overserved and they end up going over," he said.

He noted that cruise lines have procedures in place to prevent overserving passengers, but in instances when a passenger believes the cruise line contributed to their going overboard, Winkleman said, they could bring a lawsuit. Most suits of that kind are resolved with confidential settlements.

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"My advice, which I think applies across the board with cruising, is don't leave your common sense at the port," he said.

Regardless of the cause, Salerno said overboard detection systems are aimed at improving the likelihood of a positive outcome. "The sooner the search can begin, obviously, the better the chance of recovery," he said.

In the search for Boleen's brother, she said she believes the crew could have benefitted from an overboard detection system. "I feel like it just would have saved so much time," she said.

Have you or someone you know had an emergency during a cruise sailing?

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8 Norwegian Cruise Passengers Stranded on African Island Catch Up to Ship After Traversing 7 Countries

The group of stranded American and Australian passengers included four elderly people, one with a heart condition and a pregnant woman

Natalia Senanayake is an Editorial Assistant, Lifestyle at PEOPLE. She covers all things travel and home, from celebrities' luxury mansions to breaking travel news.

Sipa via AP

• Nine Norwegian Cruise Line passengers were reportedly left behind on the African island of São Tomé and Príncipe on March 27 
• The group was on a guided excursion that got delayed, leading them to miss the ship’s "all aboard" call 
• A statement from Norwegian Cruise Lines noted that all guests are responsible for returning to the docked ship at the designated call time 
• Eight people were able to catch up to the ship on Tuesday morning after reportedly traversing seven countries.
• One, who had fallen ill before the incident, has safely returned to the U.S.

Multiple passengers were stranded on an island in Africa after their Norwegian Cruise Line ship reportedly left them behind. After several days of uncertainty and a trek across seven countries, they're now back on board the vessel.

On Wednesday, March 27, South Carolina couple Jill and Jay Campbell were enjoying a guided tour on the island of São Tomé and Príncipe located off the continent's western coast, ABC15 News reported at the time. The pair was with six other American and Australian passengers when they realized they wouldn’t make it back to the ship on time due to their tour taking longer than planned.

Though the tour operator contacted the cruise ship’s captain to inform them of the delay, the captain refused to let them back on the still-anchored ship when they arrived at the port because it was after the "all aboard" call, per the outlet. 

The São Tomé and Príncipe Coast Guard allegedly then took them by boat directly to the ship where the captain again did not permit them to board. 

The group later encountered another stranded passenger, an 80-year-old woman, who was hospitalized on the island after a cruise line tour, the outlet stated. The woman reportedly experienced memory and vision loss due to a medical emergency. 

In addition to the ill passenger, the group also includes one person who is pregnant, one with a heart condition and four elderly travelers. 

The majority of the group left their medications and credit cards on the ship except for the Campbells, who have reportedly paid over $5,000 for food, accommodations, and other necessities for their fellow passengers. 

On Sunday, the U.S. Embassy in Angola allegedly arranged for the group to fly to the West African country of Gambia, the ship's next planned port of call, so they could reboard. 

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Unfortunately, the group discovered the cruise ship wasn’t docked at the port in Gambia as planned because it had to spend another day at sea due to low tides. ABC News 4 reports the passengers spent fifteen hours traveling through six countries to make it to the port on Sunday. 

“We have to cross the ferry to get into Senegal,” Campbell told the outlet on Monday, marking their seventh country. “We just learned from the gentleman that the ferry hadn’t been working, but he said no problem, if the ferry is not working we will get another little boat and then pick up a car on the other side. And then once we get on the other side of Senegal, it’s another four-hour drive.” 

In a statement to PEOPLE, Norwegian Cruise Line said, “On the afternoon of March 27, 2024, while the ship was in São Tomé and Príncipe, an African island nation, eight guests who were on the island on a private tour not organized through us missed the last tender back to the vessel, therefore not meeting the all aboard time of 3 p.m. local time."

The statement continued, “While this is a very unfortunate situation, guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time, which is communicated broadly over the ship’s intercom, in the daily print communication and posted just before exiting the vessel.”

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The cruise line added that guests are “responsible for any necessary travel arrangements” to meet the ship at the next port and that they had each of their passports “delivered to the local port agents to retrieve” when they missed their all aboard call.

The group was finally able to catch up to the vessel. They reached Dakar, Senegal, its next port, on Monday night, PEOPLE confirmed.

After what they'd been through, Jill told NBC News in a story published on Tuesday, "We are considering whether or not we are going to board the ship. We believe there was a basic duty of care that they had forgotten about, so it does concern us." While she allowed that Norwegian technically followed protocol, she says, "I believe that they really forgot that they are people working in the hospitality industry and really the safety and well-being of the customers should be their first priority."

On Tuesday morning, the eight passengers, less the person who had fallen ill and later safely returned home to the United States, chose to board the cruise. Norwegian confirmed the news to PEOPLE in a statement.

"Despite the series of unfortunate events outside of our control, we will be reimbursing these eight guests for their travel costs from Banjur, Gambia to Dakar, Senegal. We remain in communication with the guests and are providing additional information as it becomes available,"

The Norwegian Dawn departed from Cape Town, South Africa, on March 20 for a 21-day trip that will end in Barcelona on April 10.

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Norwegian Cruise Line passengers were stranded on a small African island after missing a deadline to re-embark

• A couple says they were stranded on an island after missing their cruise ship's boarding time.
• They were on a tour of São Tomé and Príncipe with six others, per US local media. It overran.
• The stranded group flew to Gambia on Sunday, hoping to catch the ship at another port.

A couple says they were stranded on a small African island after they missed a cruise ship 's boarding deadline, according to local media.

Jay and Jill Campbell, from Garden City, South Carolina, described their ordeal with a Norwegian Cruise Line ship in an interview with WPDE, their local ABC affiliate.

Norwegian confirmed to Business Insider that they were denied boarding, saying it was their responsibility to be on time.

The Campbells said they were frequent cruisers, embarking on Norwegian Dawn on March 20 for their third voyage with the cruise line in a year.

However, an excursion last Wednesday with six other people to São Tomé and Príncipe , an island nation of some 220,000 people off West Africa, took an unfortunate turn.

The couple says the tour overran, and its operator informed the captain that eight passengers were running late.

They were refused entry to the ship upon their return, according to WPDE, even though they could still see the ship from the shore.

The ship was anchored, Jay Campbell said, but the captain refused to let them board despite repeated calls and emails by the passengers to the ship and the cruise line's emergency hotline.

The São Tomé and Príncipe Coast Guard even took the passengers to the ship, but they weren't able to get on and had to turn back, WPDE reported.

In total, WPDE said that nine passengers were not allowed to reenter the ship, including four elderly people and one person who is a paraplegic.

The Campbells told the news outlet that the ninth passenger was late for another reason — an 80-year-old woman who got a concussion on the island and was hospitalized there.

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Most of the stranded passengers didn't have their medication or working credit cards, WPDE said.

The Campbells, who had a working card, said they covered $5,000 worth of expenses for the group in food, toiletries, and hotel bills.

"We have never had an experience like this before," Jill Campbell told WPDE.

The Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement provided to BI by email that eight guests on the tour missed the last tender back to the vessel.

The cruise line said the passengers missed the "all aboard time of 3 p.m. local time." It said it was a "very unfortunate situation" but that passengers were responsible for being on time.

It added that the deadline to return was "communicated broadly" over the ship's intercom, in printed communications, and on posts shown at the exits of the ship.

The elderly passenger who was concussed was returned to the US, where she has made a "safe return," a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said.

According to WPDE, the group flew to Gambia on Sunday, hoping to rejoin the ship at another port.

A spokesperson for the cruise line said that the ship could not safely dock in Gambia due to adverse weather conditions, adding that efforts are being made for the guests to rejoin the ship in Senegal on Tuesday.

Though cruise ships need to stay punctual, ruined-vacation stories like this are a reputational risk and might put people off.

For instance, two MSC Splendida passengers were stranded last summer at an Italian port after arriving too late for departure.

A TikTok video showed the couple waving and begging the crew to wait for them, even though the gangway appeared to have already been removed.

Other passengers may face the stress of becoming stranded in remote locations through no fault of their own. Last September, more than 200 people got stuck in a remote part of Greenland after their cruise ship ran aground.

And last November, passengers were stranded at a Brisbane port after a Royal Caribbean ship was overbooked.

Watch: Stowaways survive 14 days at sea clinging to a ship rudder

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