A crew member from Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess has passed away after going overboard. The ship left Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, July 11, 2026, and was involved in an active search and rescue operation in the Caribbean off Cancun, Mexico, on Monday morning.
The incident took place on the morning of July 13, while the ship was sailing in waters off Cancun. Following search efforts, Princess Cruises confirmed the tragic outcome in an updated statement.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the crew’s family and friends during this difficult time. Grief support services are being offered to guests and crew members affected by this event.”
The cruise line also added, “Princess Cruises thanks the local maritime authorities and our colleagues from Carnival Jubilee who assisted in search and rescue efforts.”
Search Efforts Near Cancun
Regal Princess departed Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, July 11, for a Western Caribbean cruise that includes a scheduled call in Cozumel.
Tracking data from sites like Cruise Globe showed the vessel’s movements during the incident, which were consistent with standard search-and-rescue patterns. Around 6:00 AM, the ship was only about 10-15 miles from Cozumel when it turned around and began heading Northeast to conduct the search.
The ship’s itinerary faced delays while the search and rescue efforts took place. The 7-day cruise on Regal Princess was scheduled to arrive in Belize on July 14, before visiting Carnival’s Isla Tropicale on July 15. The ship is set to sail back to Fort Lauderdale on July 18.
Standard Overboard Protocol
No further details regarding the crew member’s identity or the circumstances of the incident have been released.
When a person goes overboard, cruise ships immediately initiate emergency protocols, often broadcasting a “Code Oscar” over the public address system. The crew utilizes CCTV footage to pinpoint the time and location of the fall so the ship can return to that area and work directly with local maritime authorities and neighboring vessels.
Regal Princess, a Royal-class ship with a double capacity of 3,560 passengers, has been sailing Caribbean itineraries this summer.
Our thoughts are with the crew member’s loved ones and the entire ship’s team during this incredibly difficult time.
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