A crew member of Princess Cruises died after falling overboard from the Regal Princess near the Caribbean coast of Mexico off Cancún, the company confirmed on Monday, July 13, 2026. The ship had departed Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, two days earlier on July 11 for a seven-day Western Caribbean itinerary.
Incident and Timeline
The Regal Princess was en route on its planned cruise through the Western Caribbean with scheduled stops in Cozumel, Mexico; Belize; and Honduras when the incident occurred. The crew member went overboard near Cancún. A search lasting approximately eight hours was conducted before the fatality was confirmed. The
scheduled stop in Cozumel was postponed and rescheduled for Thursday, July 16, 2026, according to the cruise line. The ship is expected to return to Florida on Saturday, July 18, 2026.
Official Statements and Support Services
Princess Cruises expressed condolences in a statement, saying, “Our heartfelt condolences go out to the crew’s family and friends during this difficult time.” The company also announced that grief support services are being provided to both passengers and crew members affected by the incident.
Search Efforts and Passenger Account
The search operation involved the Regal Princess crew, Mexican maritime authorities, and assistance from the nearby Carnival Jubilee cruise ship. Passenger David Jimenez recounted that
the crew announced the overboard event while approaching Cozumel and described the ship’s maneuvers during the search, saying, “At times the ship slowed down and went in circles. Then they would come back and circle again.” The search lasted about eight hours before Princess Cruises confirmed the crew member had died.
Voyage Resumption and Itinerary
After leaving the waters off Cancún, the Regal Princess resumed its voyage. The cruise’s next scheduled port of call is Belize, with the itinerary continuing as planned before returning to Fort Lauderdale on July 18, 2026.
