On August 26, 2025, the Disney Wish cruise ship was en route from Nassau to Castaway Cay when a man-overboard (MOB) alarm sounded around 8:00 p.m. ship time. An organized and urgent response followed, only for it to be determined that the situation was a false alarm, likely triggered by debris in the water.
Rapid Response Amid Concern and Confusion
Passengers aboard the Disney Wish reported that the ship abruptly changed course and slowed as the alarm echoed through the vessel. Crew members deployed safety equipment, throwing life rings and launching rescue boats as spotlights swept across the dark waters.
A mandatory muster was promptly called—guests and crew were asked to proceed to their designated assembly stations for a headcount, ensuring everyone was accounted for.
A TikTok Video was posted showing search and rescue efforts
@madiez22 An MOB call was made on the Disney Wish around 8pm tonight My family and I are currently on board the ship and, though many decks were closed to assist with the search, we were able to watch from the top deck and were able to see multiple rescue boats and spotlights off the ship searching around the area After a couple of hours of searching, they called us all to our assembly stations so they could account for the attendance of all guests and crew Fortunately, everyone was on board and accounted for, but the search still continues Hopefully we get more updates soon! UPDATE: it was a false alarm! It was determined that it was a piece of debris in the water that caused the alarm. Everyone is safe and guests were compensated for the inconvenience ❤️ #disneycruise #searchandrescue ♬ original sound – Madie
False Alarm, Safety First
By late evening, the ship’s captain confirmed that it was a false alarm. After verifying that no passengers or crew were missing, the rescue operation was officially concluded.
As a gesture of goodwill for the mistake and disruption, each stateroom was issued a $150 onboard credit. This was very nice of DCL to do.
Cruise technology experts note that false alarms are rare—Disney’s MOB detection systems, which combine radar and thermal imaging, maintain a 95% accuracy rate. However, the alarm can accidentally trigger under unusual circumstances, such as large debris.
A Testament to Emergency Response Protocol
While no one was in danger, industry experts discussed how the incident underscores the importance of having excellent training and procedural protocols—especially in response to potential man-overboard emergencies. The Disney Wish crew’s swift, by-the-book action turned a frightening alert into a model of safety readiness.
Disney Cruise Lines may be extra prepared after a child fell overboard the Disney Dream in June. Again, that crew was praised for their swift response and training.
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