A crew member working for Royal Caribbean died after allegedly stabbing a female coworker and then jumping overboard from the world’s largest cruise ship Thursday evening near the Bahamas, according to police.
Authorities said the incident happened around 7:30 p.m. on July 24, 2025, aboard the Icon of the Seas as the ship was sailing near San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. A 35-year-old male crew member from South Africa is accused of repeatedly stabbing a 28-year-old South African woman in her upper body before fleeing and leaping into the sea.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force reported that the man was found in the water a short time later, but was unresponsive. Despite efforts from the ship’s medical staff, he was pronounced dead. The injured woman was given immediate medical care and is stable after suffering multiple wounds to her upper body.
Passengers said they heard the announcement “oscar oscar oscar” over the intercom, Royal Caribbean’s code for a man overboard. Videos posted by passengers showed the crew hastily responding to the emergency as the massive ship slowed down and turned to conduct a search and rescue effort.
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson described the event as arising from a personal dispute between the two crew members.
Security personnel on the ship responded without delay, and rescue teams launched a high-speed boat to search for the man who had gone overboard. Witnesses saw crew members tossing life rings into the sea to indicate where the man entered the water.
Because the Icon of the Seas is nearly 1,200 feet long and weighs around 250,800 tons, it took time for the ship to slow and turn back to the scene. The vessel was moving at a reduced pace after a day at sea and was heading to Royal Caribbean’s private island, CocoCay, scheduled for the following day.
Royal Caribbean confirmed that the incident was an isolated conflict between two employees but has not released their names or specific details about what prompted the attack. The cruise line offered condolences to the deceased man’s family, stating no further information would be provided out of respect for their privacy.
Following the incident, Icon of the Seas continued its planned seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise. The ship left PortMiami on July 19, stopping at St. Thomas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas before returning to Florida. The vessel reached CocoCay on July 25 as planned and concluded its voyage at PortMiami on July 26.
Many guests remained unaware of the incident for hours since there was no formal announcement made on board. Some passengers posted videos online showing the rescue operation and crew members being brought back from the water onto rescue boats.
As the world’s largest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas can accommodate up to 7,600 guests and 2,350 crew across 19 decks. The $2 billion vessel boasts seven pools, six waterslides, nine whirlpools, and what Royal Caribbean claims is the world’s largest waterpark at sea.
The investigation into the stabbing and subsequent events is ongoing as officials work to piece together what triggered the violent altercation.
According to travel industry specialists, occurrences of violence on cruise ships are unusual. Royal Caribbean has not disclosed whether it will implement any changes to crew policies or onboard security as a result of this incident.
After completing its Eastern Caribbean journey, the Icon of the Seas departed for its next scheduled seven-day Western Caribbean cruise. The cruise line confirmed that passengers were never at risk during the incident between the two crew members.