A well-known cruising expert has shared exactly what happens on the rare occasion that a passenger falls overboard whilst sailing.

Preston runs the TikTok page @ship_facts and regularly posts short videos in which he advises to help people have the best time on board an upcoming cruise and debunk common rumours.

In a recent video, Preston discusses a recent case of a passenger who fell overboard on the Icon of the Seas during a voyage to Honduras.

He explained: “One of the most common reasons people don’t go on cruise ships is because of the fear of going overboard. The news has been at an all-time high [with man overboard stories] recently, with a man going overboard on the world’s largest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas.

“However, rest assured, as it is actually quite difficult to fall overboard. Due to calm seas and clear weather, the crew were able to locate and recover the man, who was taken to the ship’s medical centre for immediate care. The passenger didn’t recall as to why he jumped overboard and unfortunately passed away later on.”

Whether intentional or not, it is incredibly rare for passengers to fall overboard whilst on a cruise. Nevertheless, all staff are trained to deal with this situation.

As soon as staff are alerted of a passenger overboard, they will pinpoint the area where the incident happened and turn back to search for them.

Depending on the weather, this may take several hours and may also involve other vessels in the area to increase the likelihood of finding the passenger quickly.

Preston reassured viewers that cases of passengers going overboard are incredibly uncommon, with all cruise lines offering a range of safety measures to prevent falls.

He advised: “After sailing on numerous cruise ships, I can confirm that you can’t just fall off a cruise ship as they have high railings and various safety measures to prevent accidental falls.

“The majority of overboard incidents are the result of intentional or reckless action, such as climbing over the railings. To top things off, cruise lines continuously improve safety protocolls and crew training to ensure passenger safety.”