Going on a cruise, especially a Disney cruise, is meant to be a fun time for the family. For some, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, one family who was recently aboard the Disney Dream cruise found themselves in the middle of a nightmare after one of their children fell overboard.
The ship was on its way back to Fort Lauderdale from the Bahamas on June 29, 2025, when the incident occurred. The Street reported that several passengers on social media claimed to hear the “Mr. M.O.B.” call out over the ship’s intercom system which is code for “man overboard,” before watching the vessel’s rescue team move into action.
While it is unclear exactly how the child ended up overboard, on social media, fellow cruise goers claimed the child was sitting on a railing of the cruise ship on the fourth deck. They said she was taking a photo and fell back. It was then that her father reportedly dove in after her to save her life.
Miraculously, they both survived thanks to the swift actions of the rescue team.
“The Crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water,” a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson told USA Today. “We commend our Crew Members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions, which ensured the safe return of both guests to the ship within minutes. We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols.”
Sadly, this is far from the first time an incident like this has occurred. In 2019, Salvatore Anello held his granddaughter up against what he thought was a set of closed windows. She went through the opening and fell more than 100 feet from a docked Royal Caribbean cruise ship. She died from her injuries.
“At the moment the accident happened, it was as if this wall of protective glass disappeared,” he told CBS News. “I was in complete disbelief … I wasn’t drinking and I wasn’t dangling her out of a window. I just wanted to knock on the glass with her as we did together so many times before … I was placed in charge of keeping my beautiful granddaughter safe and I failed.”
When traveling with kids, it is always best to anticipate every possible worst case scenario. Safety is paramount, especially on or near any body of water. Luckily, this little girl and her father will live to never repeat that mistake again.
