Random Weird Things You Didn't Know About Falling From A Cruise Ship (9 items)

(#2) The Hardest Part Is Surviving The Fall

When you fall off a cruise ship, you could be falling from as much as 10 stories up - and anyone who's ever done a belly flop knows that hitting water is like hitting concrete. You could easily break a bone, and having the wind knocked out of you can also make you more likely to drown.
(#5) The Shock Of Cold Water Can End Your Life Almost Instantly

If you're on a cruise to the Bahamas, your chances of survival are much greater than if you're on a cruise in Alaska. If you fall into cold water, you could die almost instantly of cold shock response. The sudden icy coldness causes you to take an involuntary gasp, causing you to inhale seawater and drown.

Survival expert Mike Tipton said that 60% of deaths in cold seas occur in the first few minutes, well before a ship could spot and rescue you.

If you survive the initial shock, you still could die of hypothermia within only 30 minutes. To avoid hypothermia, you should keep your limbs as close to your body as you can, and exert as little energy as possible. "Try to stay still and float," Tipton advised. Curling up into the fetal position can help keep your body insulated and calm.

Of course, warm water has its fair share of problems, too - the warmer the water is, the more likely you are to encounter a shark.
(#4) The Captain Might Think You're Still On The Ship

Even if you are reported missing, the ship might not turn around and go back for you right away. When Sarah Kirby fell off a Carnival cruise, her friend Rebecca tried to get the captain to turn around, but because Rebecca didn't actually see Sarah fall, the captain would not veer off course until it was certain that Sarah was no longer on board.

Sarah was eventually rescued after two hours in the water.
(#7) Falling From A Cruise Ship At Night Is Especially Scary
If you fall off a cruise ship at night, unless the ship happens to be very close to shore, you're going to be swimming in complete darkness. This also makes it more difficult for rescue crews to find you. Talk about terrifying.
(#1) You Might Never Be Found

Even though only a minuscule number of people fall off cruise ships every year, the percentage of those people who are rescued alive is very small. Many are never found, either because nobody realizes they are missing until it's too late, or because sea conditions prevent rescue crews from ever spotting them.
(#6) It's Harder To Spot Someone In Choppy Seas

Spotting a person in the ocean is harder than you might think, and finding a person in rough seas is even more difficult because the water is so choppy. If you're going to fall off a cruise ship, your chances are better if the water is calm that day.