Adaptation of lifeboats with a capacity for more than 150 people on cruise ships exceeds the regulatory limits, thus demanding risk analysis and assessment of alternative lifeboat designs. The risk level of the hazard or accident scenarios identified by the risk analysis is closely related to the layout planning of the lifesaving deck. The risk analysis is carried out based on the accident scenarios that are affected by the overloaded lifeboat, then the impacts of these accident scenarios on planning of the lifesaving deck are analyzed in reverse. Firstly, the object and scope of the risk analysis are designated. According to the evacuation procedures of abandoned ships, the hazard identification and risk assessment are carried out around the issues during the abandonment rescue, such as the equipment and system, layout of the lifesaving deck, personnel allocation and path planning. The direct and indirect impacts of the different planning of these elements on the risk level of the accident scenarios are explained regarding the identified hazards or accident scenarios. Conversely, the limiting factors of the layout planning of the lifesaving deck are summarized. This article can provide reference for cruise ship design, in order to avoid unreasonable design at the beginning of the design.