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Some travelers prep to board their summer cruises with intrusive thoughts about what happens if they tumble from the deck. One woman went viral for suggesting a few little-known survival tips in case it actually happens.
A TikToker posted the original video in 2024, and it began recirculating on several TikTok accounts in May 2026 ahead of summer cruise season. The original TikTok garnered over 4.6 million views.
What Should You Do If You Fall Off A Cruise?
The TikToker said she learned the tips from a “former Coast Guard navigator.”
While it seems like a good idea to swim back toward the ship, the creator suggested that overboard passengers should swim away from the boat. “These ship propellers are no joke, but that’s what’s going to start pulling you under the water,” she warned.
The TikToker pointed out that it can take over a mile to stop the cruise ship once the staff realizes a passenger fell. Then, the rescue team will need to make their way back to where the passenger swims. She told viewers to try to maintain their position in the water to ease the rescue efforts.
She also warned that hypothermia and sharks that follow the cruise ship to eat waste dumped off the side could pose additional danger.
A cruise expert interviewed by Fodor’s Travel suggests other tips to stay afloat while waiting for rescue. Passengers who fall should keep their clothing on, as it can help create buoyancy for them to stay afloat. The expert also co-signs the tip of staying near the location they fell.
However, the chances of falling off of a cruise ship are slim. The U.S. Coast Guard regulates barriers on cruise ships meant to prevent accidental falls. According to the Palm Beach Post, many overboard incidents are caused by intentional or unsafe behavior.
Are Viewers Scared To Go Overboard?
In the comments of the viral TikTok, viewers say going overboard is one of their biggest fears. Some even avoid cruising entirely.
“Idk ab everyone else but this makes me never want to go on a cruise,” one wrote.
Another said, “Soooo no surviving… got it.”
Others said they’ve heard first-hand accounts of cruise-goers who survived a fall.
“I had a teacher who fell off a cruise ship and he always said to swim as far and quick as possible from the ship you fell from ASAP,” a viewer shared.
A second highlighted the danger of ship propellers, writing, “I know somebody who fell off a regular boat and got sucked under. she almost passed and had to like learn how to walk again.”
“After I just watched a guy who was rescued tho,,,, one in a million,” a third said.