How Many People Die on Cruise Ships?

Millions of passengers take sea voyages every year. With so many people spending so much time on cruise ships, it should be no surprise that cruise deaths are relatively common. But you might be wondering just how common they are. 

For cruise passengers and family members of deceased passengers, it’s important to understand the numbers surrounding cruise deaths. Keep reading to learn more about how many people die on cruise ships, the top causes, and what happens when cruise deaths occur.

Key Takeaways

• Hundreds of cruise ship deaths occur every year.
• Many passenger deaths are the result of natural causes and medical emergencies, with other common factors being falls overboard, slip and fall accidents, and violence.
• After a passenger death, very specific protocols must be followed by the cruise line.
• When cruise fatalities occur due to cruise line negligence, a cruise ship wrongful death lawyer can help surviving family members seek justice.

Passenger Mortality Statistics

While there are rules requiring cruise lines to report and record onboard deaths, these requirements aren’t always straightforward, and, as reported by Reuters, they can be difficult to enforce, with “plenty of wiggle room”. Because of issues like these, cruise fatality statistics are both scarce and largely unreliable. While we’ve included commonly cited statistics below, it’s important to keep that issue of underreporting in mind:

• According to most sources, cruise lines report roughly two hundred deaths per year.
• There is roughly one death per 150,000 guests.
• Cruise travel is safer than driving when it comes to fatality rates.
• Up to three cruise passengers may die on cruise ships every week.
• The average age of cruise fatality victims is around 65, according to a limited study. 

One figure you may read is that the odds of dying in a cruise ship accident is about one in 6.25 million, but this figure may be misleading. First, it’s important to note that the statistic was provided by a cruise line industry group. Next, as noted by the BBC, the calculation was based on a fatality estimate of just 16 deaths across more than 6 years, a figure which is vastly lower than other estimates of total cruise deaths.

Keep in mind that, while there is reason to believe that the numbers are underreported, cruise deaths are still relatively rare given the high number of annual cruise passengers.

Causes of Cruise Ships Deaths

While hundreds occur every year, most cruise deaths are the result of just a few causes. Passengers should be aware of the following leading causes of cruise deaths:

• Natural Causes – Most deaths on cruise ships are the result of natural medical emergencies such as heart attacks. In fact, it is estimated that 80% of cruise deaths are caused by cardiovascular events.
• Slip and Falls – While we often think of falls as a minor concern, the truth is that slip and fall incidents are another leading cause of cruise deaths, with traumatic brain injuries being one type of potentially deadly fall injury.
• Overboard Accidents – Overboard accidents, while rare, are incredibly dangerous and often result in death. Self-harm is an unfortunate but notable factor in some overboard accidents.
• Violence – Cruise lines are responsible for maintaining safety, including by screening passengers and guests. However, violence can still occur, including cruise ship murders. 
• Drowning – Again, while rare, drowning is still a real concerns on cruise ships, particularly when negligence is present. Drowning while on excursions is another less common cause of cruise deaths.

What Happens When a Passenger Dies on a Cruise?

From Royal Carribean cruise vessels and Carnival ships to vessels operated by smaller companies, no matter what size cruise a person is on, there should be clear steps in place for the crew to follow in case of a life-threatening situation. Typically, you can expect the steps below to be taken when cruise deaths occur on board:

• Operation Rising Star – There are two common alerts you may hear in the event of a cruise death: Operation Bright Star, which signals a severe medical emergency, and Operation Rising Star, which signals that a passenger has died.
• Medical Emergency Care – When a cruise passenger experiences a life-threatening emergency, they can usually receive limited care in the cruise ship medical center, staffed by trained medical personnel. Larger ships are usually better equipped.
• The Cruise Morgue – When a passenger dies, their body will be transported to the morgue until disembarkation, often in a body bag. Most cruise line ships are equipped with at least a small morgue, usually large enough for 2 to 10 bodies.
• Disembarkation – When the ship reaches port, the body will usually be transferred to local authorities.
• Reporting Requirements – Cruise operators are typically obligated to record the death in the ship’s log, though there are limited reporting requirements.
• Family Support – The majority of cruise lines assign a specially trained guide to support the family and friends after a death. 
• Repatriation – The family must cover the cost of repatriation, or the legal process of transporting the body home.

Hold Cruise Lines Accountable for Wrongful Death

Cruise lines are required to take reasonable care to prevent passenger deaths. This includes maintaining safety features like high railings and surveillance cameras and providing more than enough lifeboats in case of an emergency. When cruise lines fail to take these sorts of reasonable precautions, and passengers and crew members are injured or die as a result, then the cruise line should be held legally responsible.

If your family member was killed in a cruise ship accident or due to cruise line medical negligence, our team at Cardone Law Firm is ready to help you seek justice and financial relief. While nothing can make up for the loss of a loved one, a settlement can help support you during this difficult time while holding the cruise line accountable. Cliff Cardone can help you navigate complex issues like international jurisdictions and maritime law in your cruise wrongful death case.

We’re proud to help surviving loved ones seek justice and compensation for cruise ship wrongful deaths. Reach out for legal assistance.