A heartbreaking event unfolded on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship when a 12-year-old boy tragically fell from an upper deck balcony, resulting in his death. The incident took place just before the ship arrived at its docking point in Texas. The identity of the boy has been kept confidential. The unfortunate event happened on the final day of a week-long cruise, in the ship’s “Central Park” area, a bustling hub of bars, restaurants, and shops.
The ship’s crew made valiant efforts to revive the boy, but sadly, he succumbed to his injuries before the ship could reach its docking point in Galveston on September 8. The incident was initially reported by the Royal Caribbean Blog.
A spokesperson from Royal Caribbean expressed their deep condolences in an email statement, confirming the tragic death of one of their young guests. The spokesperson also stated that their Care Team is offering support and assistance to the bereaved family during this challenging time. In consideration of the family’s privacy, no additional details were disclosed.
The Harmony of the Seas had just completed a seven-night cruise through the western Caribbean when the incident took place. Eyewitnesses reported that the boy had been playing with friends he had met on board just before he fell over the balcony railing of the stateroom.
A fellow passenger on the ship, Sara Tullas, shared in a Harmony of the Seas Facebook group that her daughter was friends with the boy. She mentioned that he seemed distressed on the day of the incident. Tullas encouraged anyone who knew the family to send them thoughts and prayers, expressing regret that she was unaware of the boy’s emotional state that day.
The incident also led to a delay in the ship’s schedule to board passengers for the next voyage.