Crew Member Dies After Overboard Incident on Regal Princess

A crew member has died after going overboard from Regal Princess while the cruise ship was sailing in the Caribbean. The incident prompted an extensive search involving the vessel, Mexican maritime authorities, and a nearby cruise ship before Princess Cruises confirmed the employee’s death.

The incident occurred while Regal Princess was traveling from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Cozumel, Mexico, as part of a Western Caribbean itinerary.

Just before 6 a.m., the captain announced a “man overboard,” triggering an immediate search operation. The ship altered its course and repeatedly circled the area while crew members searched for the missing individual. Carnival Jubilee, which was nearby, also joined the search alongside Mexican rescue authorities. After more than eight hours of searching, *Regal Princess *resumed its voyage toward its next scheduled port in Belize.

Princess Cruises has not identified the crew member or confirmed which department they worked in. However, several crew members reportedly said the individual was part of the ship’s casino team.

Passenger David Jimenez shared a timeline of the operation on social media, documenting the events throughout the morning.

**Search Timeline **

6:27 a.m. – Regal Princess significantly reduces speed as the search begins.

6:33 a.m. – The captain announces the “man overboard” situation, and crew members begin searching from the ship.

6:42 a.m. – The vessel comes to a complete stop while the search continues.

6:47 a.m. – The ship resumes moving.

7:00 a.m. (Mexico time) – Search efforts continue without locating the missing crew member.

7:06 a.m. – The vessel begins circling the search area.

7:13 a.m. – Crew members receive additional instructions as the operation continues.

7:21 a.m. – The ship slows once more after completing a circuit of the area.

7:30 a.m. – The captain announces that Mexican maritime authorities have joined the search-and-rescue effort. Professional counselors are made available to passengers.

7:46 a.m. – The search continues. Jimenez noted that the operation appeared to have shifted toward search and recovery, although this was never officially confirmed.

8:00 a.m. – The ship’s reported search position is off the coast of Cancún.

8:30 a.m. – The captain says the search area has been narrowed. Shore excursions are canceled, and the call at Cozumel may be shortened. Counselors remain available onboard.

According to Jimenez, the captain continued to provide regular updates throughout the morning while counselors remained available to support both passengers and crew as the seriousness of the situation became increasingly apparent.

In a statement, Princess Cruises said it was “deeply saddened by the passing of a crew member aboard Regal Princess following an overboard incident” and extended its condolences to the crew member’s family, friends, and colleagues.

Although the cruise line confirmed the crew member’s death, it did not state whether the individual had been recovered from the water. The statement announced the employee’s passing without clarifying whether it followed a recovery or whether the crew member had been presumed dead after the prolonged search.