Condolences have been expressed for a 60-year-old man who tragically lost his life aboard the MSC Virtuosa cruise ship.
The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, following a reported altercation on the vessel.
A 57-year-old male passenger from Exeter was taken into custody by authorities when the ship returned to Southampton on Monday morning, after departing for Bruges, Belgium, on Saturday, May 3.
Hampshire Constabulary has confirmed that the victim’s family has been notified and is receiving support from specially trained officers.
Responding to the tragic news, Beverly Jane expressed her sorrow, saying, “It’s heartbreaking for the family who’ve lost a son, a brother, a husband. We don’t know the full story, but a life has been lost.”
Denise Juniper also offered condolences, commenting, “So sorry for the family and friends.”
Passenger Paul Ashley, who was on board at the time of the incident, shared his perspective: “I had a great time on the cruise and didn’t witness any trouble. It was my fifth trip on the ship. This kind of thing could happen anywhere. My thoughts are with the family.”
Another guest, Christian James Lawton, who was sailing with his family, added: “Yes, people were drinking, but my three children—aged 10 and under—never felt unsafe. Most passengers were simply enjoying themselves. It’s a terrible event, but incidents like this sadly occur in town centres every week. The ship’s crew handled it as professionally as possible.”
The MSC Virtuosa, operated by Swiss company MSC Cruises, is one of the largest cruise ships in the world. Stretching 331 meters with 16 decks, it can host over 6,300 people. It’s also the backdrop for Channel 5’s crime drama The Good Ship Murder, currently filming its third season.
In a separate tragedy last October, a Colombian passenger died after falling overboard near the Channel Islands.
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