A crew member aboard Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess died after going overboard near Cancún while the ship was on a Western Caribbean cruise, the company confirmed Monday. The incident occurred as the ship sailed off the coast of Mexico following its departure from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
Search and Rescue Operation
The search-and-rescue effort lasted approximately eight hours and involved the Regal Princess crew, Mexican maritime authorities, and assistance from the nearby Carnival Jubilee cruise ship. The operation conducted multiple search patterns in the waters near Cancún before Princess Cruises officially confirmed the crew member’s death.
Impact on Itinerary
The
overboard incident caused the Regal Princess to postpone its scheduled stop at Cozumel, which has been rescheduled to Thursday, July 16, 2026. After leaving the search area off Cancún, the ship resumed its planned itinerary, which includes stops in Belize and Honduras before returning to Florida on Saturday, July 18, 2026, concluding the seven-day Western Caribbean cruise.
Official Statements and Passenger Accounts
Princess Cruises expressed condolences to the family and friends of the deceased crew member and announced that grief support services are being made available to both guests and crew members affected by the event. The cruise line also thanked the Mexican maritime authorities
and the Carnival Jubilee for their assistance in the search operation.
Passenger David Jimenez described the search to CBS News Miami, saying, “At times the ship slowed down and went in circles. Then they would come back and circle again.” He noted the search lasted about eight hours before passengers were informed of the crew member’s death.
The crew member’s identity and details surrounding the circumstances of the overboard incident have not been disclosed by Princess Cruises.
Cruise Itinerary Context
The Regal Princess embarked on its seven-day Western Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale with planned stops in Mexico (including Cozumel), Belize, and Honduras.
The ship’s return to Port Everglades on July 18 remains as scheduled despite the incident.
