A Princess Cruises crew member died after going overboard from a ship that departed Fort Lauderdale, Fla., over the weekend, the company confirmed Monday, following a search-and-rescue operation off the coast of Cancún.
The crew member went overboard while the Regal Princess was sailing near Mexico’s Caribbean coast, prompting a search involving the ship’s crew, Mexican maritime authorities and the nearby Carnival Jubilee. Princess Cruises later confirmed the crew member had died.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the crew’s family and friends during this difficult time,” Princess Cruises said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Grief support services are being offered to guests and crew members affected by this event.”
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The cruise line also thanked local authorities and the crew of the Carnival Jubilee for helping with the search.
The Regal Princess departed Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday for a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise with stops planned in Mexico, Belize and Honduras.
Passenger David Jimenez told CBS News Miami that the captain announced a crew member had gone overboard as the ship headed toward Cozumel, prompting an immediate search of the surrounding waters.
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“At times the ship slowed down and went in circles. Then they would come back and circle again,” Jimenez said. He added that the search lasted about eight hours before the cruise line told passengers the crew member had died.
Princess Cruises has not publicly identified the crew member.
The incident also forced the ship to postpone its scheduled stop in Cozumel, which the cruise line said is now scheduled for Thursday.
The company said the Regal Princess has resumed its voyage and left the waters off Cancún. Its next scheduled stop is Belize before it returns to Florida on Saturday as planned.
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