A tragic accident occurred aboard Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas over the weekend when a 12-year-old child passed away after falling from one of the upper decks and into the ship’s Central Park area.
The child was on a cruise to celebrate a family birthday and reportedly fell head-first from an interior balcony to the ground below. Despite a rapid response from onboard medical staff, the child succumbed to their injuries in the medical center.
Royal Caribbean sent a letter to future passengers informing them of delayed boarding in Galveston as an investigation occurred.
Unclear Details and Speculations
The exact cause of the fall remains uncertain, with several rumors circulating among passengers and online.
| A passenger on the September 1 voyage said, “I was on the ship when it happened and I saw the very sad after math. I do have to say that it would be very difficult to just fall by accident on these balcony’s, the railings are decently high up, but I have heard many different rumors. This was a tragedy and I’m sending prayers to the family.” |
Other passengers speculated that two chairs had been pushed up against the balcony, suggesting the child may have been climbing. Some have said horseplay could have contributed to the fall.
We contacted Royal Caribbean for a statement but have not received a response as of publication.
Boarding Delays in Galveston, Texas
Following the incident, passengers were informed that the terminal would be closed until noon to allow authorities to conduct a safety investigation. Boarding for Harmony of the Seas was delayed, and guests had to check in no later than 3:30 p.m.
In 2019, a teenage passenger died on Harmony of the Seas after trying to climb between balcony cabins.
