What could have become a devastating tragedy turned into a story of bravery and quick action aboard Disney Dream on Sunday, 29th June 2025, when a young girl fell overboard and was rescued by her father, who leapt in after her.
The ship was enjoying a day at sea, sailing back to Fort Lauderdale on the final leg of a 4-night Bahamas cruise, when the call of “Man Overboard – port side!” rang out across the ship’s public announcement system.
Crew immediately sprang into action. Life preservers were thrown into the water and the ship’s rescue pilot craft was launched within minutes.
Thanks to the quick manoeuvring of the 130,000-gross ton ship and the crew’s training, both guests were back onboard in under 30 minutes.
“We commend our crew members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions… This incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols.”
Disney Cruise Line spokesperson
The father and daughter were not seriously injured, and both were able to re-join the ship safely.
@noeayala32 #disneycruise #disneydream ♬ original sound – noe ayala875
How Did It Happen?
The girl reportedly fell from Deck 4, which includes the jogging track and promenade. This deck does not have guest staterooms, but is open to the sea via viewing areas protected by solid bulkheads and high railings.
It’s not yet known how she managed to fall overboard. Investigations will likely include:
- Reviewing surveillance footage
- Inspecting the deck railings
- Interviewing witnesses
- Ensuring safety standards were being followed
There were reports on social media that the father had placed the girl on a railing for a photograph before she fell, but these appear to have been discredited by authorities in Miami.
Training That Saves Lives
Disney Cruise Line, like all major cruise lines, conducts frequent emergency drills to ensure their crew can react calmly and effectively in emergencies.
In fact, crew training drills were observed just two weeks ago aboard Disney Magic by guests.
Earlier this year, Disney Fantasy coordinated a successful airlift evacuation for a critically ill guest mid-ocean – a testament to the crew’s professionalism and preparation.
Despite the incident, Disney Dream arrived in Fort Lauderdale on schedule on Monday, 30th June, and its next cruise – a 5-night Bahamian itinerary – departed without delay.
That voyage includes calls to:
- Nassau
- Castaway Cay
- Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
A Reminder for Cruise Safety
This dramatic event is a stark reminder that, while rare, overboard incidents can and do happen – but also that training, preparedness, and calm leadership can make the difference between life and death.
Most importantly, it serves as a tribute to the father’s bravery and the crew’s swift response, which saved two lives in less than half an hour.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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They do clearly know how she fell. Her father had put her up on the railing to take a picture of her. Some people don’t deserve to be parents. I hope the cruise line bans him for life. He could have gotten the crew hurt or killed with his idiotic behavior.
Domestic building regulations in the UK state that the rails on a flight of stairs must not be more than 100mm apart. This stops babies and children being able to fall through them. I have seen railings on boats and ships much further than 100mm apart. I wonder why ships can have such large gaps when the consequences can be so dire.