A crew member aboard Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess died after going overboard near Cancún, Mexico, while the ship was sailing in the Caribbean Sea. The incident occurred after the vessel departed Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Regal Princess Cruise Timeline and Itinerary Adjustments
The Regal Princess had left Fort Lauderdale on a Saturday for a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise. The planned itinerary included stops in Mexico, Belize, and Honduras. Following the incident, the scheduled port call in Cozumel, Mexico was postponed and rescheduled for Thursday. The ship has resumed its route toward Belize and is set to return to Florida on the following Saturday as originally
planned.
Search-and-Rescue Efforts Involving Multiple Parties
The search for the missing crew member lasted about eight hours and involved the ship’s crew, Mexican maritime authorities, and assistance from the nearby Carnival Jubilee cruise ship. Passenger David Jimenez described periods when the ship slowed down and circled multiple times during the search operation. Princess Cruises confirmed the crew member’s death following the conclusion of the search.
Official Statements and Passenger Impact
Princess Cruises released a statement expressing sympathy: “Our heartfelt condolences go out to the crew’s family and friends during this difficult time.” The cruise line said grief support services were made available to both guests and crew members. Passengers were
informed about the overboard incident and subsequent search efforts, which led to the temporary itinerary change including postponement of the Cozumel stop.
