A crew member from Princess Cruises died after going overboard from the Regal Princess ship near the Caribbean coast of Mexico close to Cancún over the weekend before Monday, July 13, 2026. The incident occurred shortly after the vessel had departed from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades on Saturday, July 11, 2026, during a scheduled seven-day Western Caribbean cruise.
Search and Rescue Efforts Involve Multiple Parties
The search for the crew member lasted approximately eight hours and included participation from the Regal Princess crew, Mexican maritime authorities, and the crew of the nearby Carnival Jubilee cruise ship. During the search, the Regal Princess repeatedly slowed down and circled
the area near Cancún. Princess Cruises later confirmed the crew member’s death.
Itinerary Impact and Company Response
The scheduled stop at Cozumel, Mexico, was postponed to Thursday, July 16, 2026, following the incident. The Regal Princess resumed its voyage after the search, departing the waters near Cancún to continue the itinerary, which includes the next scheduled port of call in Belize. The ship is due to return to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, July 18, 2026.
Princess Cruises issued a statement expressing condolences to the crew member’s family and friends and announced that grief support services are being provided to both guests and crew members affected
by the event. The company also thanked the local authorities and the Carnival Jubilee crew for their assistance during the search operation.
Passenger Account and Ship Actions
Passenger David Jimenez reported that the ship’s captain informed passengers about the overboard incident while en route to Cozumel, which triggered an immediate search of surrounding waters. Jimenez described how the ship intermittently slowed its speed and circled the area multiple times during the rescue efforts. The search concluded after around eight hours, after which the cruise line confirmed the crew member’s death to passengers.
