Viral image raises concerns over safety and supervision at sea
A photo showing a young child standing on a table at the edge of a cruise ship balcony has gone viral, sparking alarm across the cruise community.
This type of reckless behavior could so easily have ended in tragedy if the child had slipped and fallen.
The Incident
The image, widely shared on social media, shows the child balanced on a table dangerously close to the balcony railing.
If the child had slipped, this could have ended in tragedy if she fell overboard.
It appears from the photo that there was an adult with the child on the balcony, making no attempt to do anything about the situation.
The ship involved has not been confirmed, though cruise enthusiasts suggest the design of the balcony resembles those on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway or Breakaway Plus class ships.
Recent Incident on Disney Dream – Child Fell Overboard
There was a miraculous rescue performed by the crew of Disney Dream on 29th June 2025 when a child fell overboard from the promenade deck, and her father jumped in to save her.
The incident occurred as the Disney Dream sailed back to Fort Lauderdale on the final day of her voyage.
Despite being underway at the time, the ship’s crew performed an impressive rescue operation.
The Disney Dream, a 130,000-gross ton vessel, had to be turned around to return to the exact spot where the child and her father were in the water.
During this time, the two had to tread water or float, aided by the life preservers thrown by the crew.
Within approximately 30 minutes, the ship had turned, the rescue boat was launched, and the father and daughter were brought safely back on board.
Adults, too, have been involved in risky behavior.
A recent viral video from Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas showed a passenger falling from the edge of the ship’s infinity pool. It was reported that he was reaching for his sunglasses.
The man landed on a ledge rather than in the ocean, avoiding serious injury.
Cruise Balcony Safety
Fortunately, overboard events at sea are rare, but survival rates are low.
Distance, water temperature, visibility, and response time all matter for survival.
Really, cruise ship safety is common sense.
Keeping safe on cruise balconies is easy if you follow a few simple tips. First, never let kids—or adults—climb or stand on balcony furniture or railings.
Always, always supervise your kids. One moment of inattention can have serious consequences.
Move furniture away from the railing to avoid accidents, and don’t use tables or chairs as props for photos. Lock balcony doors when you’re not using them, especially if kids are around, to keep them from wandering out.
Always follow the cruise line’s safety rules and listen to the crew—they’re there to help keep everyone safe. And if you see someone doing something unsafe, let a crew member know so they can handle it.
Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.