Disney Dream Passengers Witness Ocean Rescue
Cruises are often seen as a carefree way to unwind and spend time with family, but sometimes things can take a terrifying turn. That’s exactly what happened aboard the Disney Dream cruise ship when a father and his young daughter fell overboard, sparking a dramatic rescue that left fellow passengers shaken and amazed.
It all went down on Sunday, June 29, as the Disney Dream was making its way back to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The ship was wrapping up a four-night trip that included a stop at Disney’s private island, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Passengers were looking forward to a calm journey home when chaos suddenly broke out.
“There was some kind of commotion,” said Chandler, one of the passengers who witnessed the entire ordeal.
She described hearing a gut-wrenching scream, which she believes came from the child’s mother, followed by a loud splash that sounded nothing like someone jumping into a pool.
“It sounded like hitting pavement, it was so loud,” Chandler recalled.
According to details shared in the Disney Dream Cruise Ship Facebook Group, a girl fell from the fourth deck of the ship into the ocean. Moments later, her father leapt overboard after her without hesitation.
Chandler and her family rushed to their balcony when they heard the screaming, trying to get a glimpse of what was happening. What they saw was terrifying but also incredible to watch unfold.
The crew rescued the father and daughter within 30 minutes.
Within about 15 seconds, Chandler said, a life vest was tossed into the water from the ship. Over the ship’s loudspeakers, they soon heard someone call out, “MOB [Man overboard] port side,” signaling the start of an emergency rescue operation.
Crew members quickly threw three more flotation devices into the waves. Determined to capture what was happening, Chandler began filming the scene.
She watched as a team of four crew members lowered themselves from the ship into a rescue boat and sped toward where the father and daughter were struggling in the water. In the video Chandler recorded, the crew can be seen pulling both of them onto the boat as relieved passengers on the ship burst into applause for the rescuers.
According to Chandler’s account, the panic began around 11:15 a.m. when people first started screaming, and by 11:47 a.m., both the father and daughter had been safely pulled from the ocean.
Disney Cruise Line later confirmed the rescue in a statement, saying,
“The crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water. 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.”
Chandler couldn’t believe how quickly and effectively the crew responded.
“I didn’t think they’d find them,” she admitted.
The fear was so real that she even found herself trying to gently prepare her nine-year-old daughter, Harper, for the worst.
"I had to tell Harper they were probably gone because they usually can’t find people who fall,” Chandler said. But in this case, she was grateful to be wrong.
After rescuing two guests, the captain and Disney Cruise Line reassured everyone of their safety and strong safety protocols.
Once everyone was safely back on board, the ship’s captain addressed the passengers directly over the intercom. He confirmed that two guests had gone overboard and had been rescued, and he reminded everyone about the importance of staying safe while on the ship.
Disney Cruise Line emphasized their commitment to guest safety, adding in their statement,
“We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols.”
Cruises are often filled with fun, laughter, and relaxation, but this incident highlighted the need to stay alert, especially when traveling with children. Passengers expressed deep gratitude for the crew’s quick and effective response, which turned what could have been a tragedy into relief.
Though the rest of the journey went smoothly, the memory of those tense moments - and the Disney Dream crew’s impressive handling - left a lasting impression on everyone aboard.
