A heart-stopping incident unfolded aboard the Icon of the Seas last Sunday (July 27) when a Royal Caribbean passenger jumped into an infinity pool in a desperate attempt to retrieve his lost sunglasses—only to flip headfirst over the pool’s edge .

The video shows the man dangling precariously over the glass barrier of the Hideaway Pool, an adults-only area located on Deck 15 of what’s been called “the world’s largest cruise ship.”

  • A passenger on Icon of the Seas flipped headfirst over the infinity pool edge while trying to retrieve sunglasses.
  • The incident happened at the Hideaway Pool, a suspended adults-only infinity pool on the world’s largest cruise ship.
  • The accident followed a recent violent onboard stabbing that led to a crew member fatally jumping overboard.

As the man waves his right arm over the side, apparently searching for the sunglasses, he lifts his legs to gain leverage: a mistake that caused him to lose balance and flip entirely over the railing.

A video of a passenger falling from a Royal Caribbean cruise’s pool’s edge went viral

Large cruise ship Icon of the Seas sailing with passengers near the infinity pool edge of the ship on a cloudy day.

Large cruise ship Icon of the Seas sailing with passengers near the infinity pool edge of the ship on a cloudy day. - 1

With onlookers being heard gasping and shouting as the man seemingly disappeared into the ocean, the clip went predictably viral over the last few days. To viewers, the man looked as if he had plunged straight into the open ocean.

In the hours that followed, speculation ran rampant online. Some feared the worst, assuming the man had gone overboard, while others questioned how such a fall could happen on a modern cruise ship .

Cruise ship deck at dusk with vibrant lights near water slide and infinity pool edge area.

Cruise ship deck at dusk with vibrant lights near water slide and infinity pool edge area. - 2

It wasn’t until later that the narrative began to shift. Several netizens claiming to be on board the Icon of the Seas chimed in, offering firsthand accounts that brought much-needed clarity to the situation.

Passenger flips over infinity pool edge on cruise ship while attempting a handstand, creating a viral cruise incident moment.

Passenger flips over infinity pool edge on cruise ship while attempting a handstand, creating a viral cruise incident moment. - 3

“He fell into a space not open to the public ,” one alleged eyewitness wrote before revealing how bad the accident could’ve been.

“If he had fallen over the railing completely, he would have dropped to Deck 5, right into the kids’ splash area. That’s ten decks down.”

The man was confined to his room and was not permitted to leave until the ship returned to port

Passenger flips over infinity pool edge on cruise ship with colorful lights and lounge areas around the pool at night.

Passenger flips over infinity pool edge on cruise ship with colorful lights and lounge areas around the pool at night. - 4

Royal Caribbean confirmed the details in a statement to People Magazine , reassuring the public that the man had not fallen overboard but rather landed in the ship’s built-in pool gutter: a recessed safety barrier located just beneath the glass edge of the Hideaway Pool.

Billed by Royal Caribbean as “the first suspended pool at sea,” the Hideaway Pool offers guests panoramic views of the ocean from an elevated perch.

Comment reading is the cruise ship ok with 146 likes reacting to passenger flips over infinity pool edge cruise incident.

Comment reading is the cruise ship ok with 146 likes reacting to passenger flips over infinity pool edge cruise incident. - 5

Passenger flips over infinity pool edge on cruise ship, splash captured as onlookers react with surprise and laughter.

Passenger flips over infinity pool edge on cruise ship, splash captured as onlookers react with surprise and laughter. - 6

“A guest accidentally fell onto the pool gutter after reaching over to retrieve their sunglasses,” a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean said. “Our crew immediately attended to the guest and fortunately the guest did not experience any injuries.”

“He was confined to his room after the incident and not let out until we arrived back in Miami,” an eyewitness added.

Comment on a cruise incident saying everything seen about cruises is chaotic, with 533 likes.

Comment on a cruise incident saying everything seen about cruises is chaotic, with 533 likes. - 7

Cruise ship infinity pool at sunset with loungers and passengers near edge overlooking the ocean.

Cruise ship infinity pool at sunset with loungers and passengers near edge overlooking the ocean. - 8

While the cruise line declined to specify the ship’s location at the time of the incident, the Icon of the Seas is known for its Caribbean itineraries and boasts a maximum capacity of 7,600 guests across 20 decks.

While the incident ultimately amounted to nothing more than a dramatic scare with no injuries, both viewers and the cruise line initially feared the worst, especially given that the ship had already been the scene of a much darker incident just days earlier.

The incident occurred mere days after a man passed away after jumping overboard theIcon of the Seas

Comment expressing confusion over a passenger flipping over infinity pool edge in latest cruise incident.

Comment expressing confusion over a passenger flipping over infinity pool edge in latest cruise incident. - 9

Passenger flips over infinity pool edge on a colorful cruise ship deck with lively crowd and a boat trailing behind.

Passenger flips over infinity pool edge on a colorful cruise ship deck with lively crowd and a boat trailing behind. - 10

On July 24, a crew member aboard the Icon of the Seas passed away after stabbing a colleague and then jumping overboard during a seven-night voyage from Port Miami to the Caribbean.

Comment on cruise incident, humorously suggesting rescue fee payment and apology to crew and fellow holidayers.

Comment on cruise incident, humorously suggesting rescue fee payment and apology to crew and fellow holidayers. - 11

Small rescue boat speeding on ocean water after passenger flips over infinity pool edge on cruise ship.

Small rescue boat speeding on ocean water after passenger flips over infinity pool edge on cruise ship. - 12

According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), the violent altercation involved a 35-year-old male and a 28-year-old female crew member, both South African nationals.

The two were reportedly involved in a personal dispute when the man attacked the woman, stabbing her multiple times before running to the side of the ship and leaping into the water.

Comment expressing relief about rescue and questioning the passenger’s actions after flipping over infinity pool edge on cruise.

Comment expressing relief about rescue and questioning the passenger’s actions after flipping over infinity pool edge on cruise. - 13

Rescue team in a yellow boat speeding through rough water during a cruise incident near an infinity pool edge.

Rescue team in a yellow boat speeding through rough water during a cruise incident near an infinity pool edge. - 14

A rescue boat was deployed soon after, and the man was recovered from the water approximately 30 minutes later, unresponsive.

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