A 60-year-old man died during a luxury cruise on the MSC Virtuosa, which had departed from Southampton for a two-night trip. The incident happened just a few hours into the voyage, which was reportedly disrupted by multiple stag and hen parties. According to passengers, there was “chaos” on board when a fight broke out.
The ship returned to Southampton while still in British waters. Upon arrival, police arrested a 57-year-old man from Exeter on suspicion of murder. Authorities have informed the deceased’s family and are offering them support.
Passenger Lynda Hardiman-Pearce described the atmosphere on board as unruly, saying it felt unlike any cruise she had experienced before. Reports suggest the altercation involved a group of around 20 people.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Gillooly assured the public that this appears to be an isolated incident and praised the ship’s crew for their cooperation.
MSC Cruises stated they are fully cooperating with the investigation and providing support to those affected. The MSC Virtuosa, a state-of-the-art cruise ship built in France in 2020, features a variety of amenities including theatres, a casino, a 4D cinema, and more. It was scheduled to return to Southampton at 6:15am and depart again by 8pm.
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