For many, a Disney Cruise Line trip represents the pinnacle of vacation planning: an elaborate mix of ocean views, Broadway-style shows, and Disney characters roaming the decks. The line has built a reputation as a family-friendly option in an industry packed with competitors, drawing in loyalists who book years in advance to secure staterooms.
Yet, just like its theme park counterparts in Florida and California, Disney Cruise Line has not escaped occasional turbulence.
From operational hiccups to weather disruptions, the company has weathered more than a few storms. In 2025 alone, some passengers reported stateroom bed bug sightings and recurring plumbing issues, complaints that spread quickly across social media. A year earlier, the Disney Fantasy rerouted a Caribbean itinerary due to Hurricane Beryl, while the newer Disney Treasure was recently forced to alter plans because of Hurricane Erin.
Political turmoil has also altered Disney’s course. Civil unrest in New Caledonia led to reroutes in 2024, and the company has since confirmed that its Australia and New Zealand sailings are off the table for now. With expansion still underway — Disney Destiny, Disney Adventure, and a Japanese ship on the horizon — the company continues to balance ambition with logistical challenges.
Launched in 2022, the Disney Wish is the first of Disney’s Triton-class ships and marked a bold step forward for the fleet. At 144,000 gross tons, it carries roughly 4,000 passengers and features themed experiences like the Marvel Super Hero Academy, the Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge, and the first-ever Disney attraction at sea, the AquaMouse water coaster. It quickly became a cornerstone of Disney’s cruise strategy.
Reports of a Passenger Overboard
On Monday night, that balancing act collided with one of the most serious fears in cruising: reports of a passenger overboard.
The incident unfolded aboard the Disney Wish, shortly after leaving Nassau. “We’re on the Wish now, about an hour after leaving Nassau they sounded the man overboard alarm and started throwing life preservers over the port side and started turning around,” one passenger wrote on Reddit. “Not sure if anyone has heard anything but we have a port side balcony and didn’t see anyone in the water.”
Another traveler on the DISBoards forum placed the timing at around 8 p.m. and confirmed the ship turned back while rescue boats scoured the area. “The ‘man overboard’ call was issued at around 8 p.m. while around 15 miles away from Nassau,” they said.
Passengers Accounted For
Fortunately, later updates indicated that no guest or crew member was missing. The captain reportedly ordered all passengers to muster stations for a headcount. “Everyone is accounted for and we were just dismissed,” one guest posted. “Thank god.”
One family was briefly unaccounted for during the census, leading to repeated announcements of their last name and stateroom number until they were eventually located. “I don’t foresee them being popular for the rest of the trip,” a fellow passenger noted.
Even after reassurance, some guests reported confusion. “There are life boats out with the search light from the ship,” one wrote, observing activity off Nassau’s coast. “Hopefully it’s just debris but there were two RCL ships leaving Nassau ahead of us so if there was someone spotted it could have been from there.”
While Disney Cruise Line has faced no shortage of operational challenges in recent years, few moments match the tension of an overboard alarm at sea. In this case, however, relief arrived quickly: every passenger and crew member remained safely on board.
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