Royal Caribbean Crew Member Found Dead in St. Kitts After Making Solo Hike

A search which lasted several days in the cruise port of St. Kitts has ended in heartbreak. Local authorities have confirmed that the body of a missing 33-year-old man was located on Monday, June 1.

Initial news reports on this story called the man a passenger on the cruise ship, but a statement sent to USA Today later revealed he was a crew member. Ship tracking data from the time of his disappearance confirmed the vessel was Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas.

The victim, identified as Chinese national Wang Zyuan, had reportedly set off alone last week to hike Mount Liamuiga. The mountain is a dormant volcano that marks the highest peak on the island.

Hiking the trail is a popular activity on St Kitts, and the mountain top is almost 3,800 feet tall.

But the solo hike turned into a distress call and urgent search.

A Disappearance and a Final Distress Call

According to the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force Facebook page, Wang was last seen heading toward the trail around 10:00 AM on Wednesday, May 27.

By 2:00 PM that afternoon, things started to look dire. Wang managed to place a 911 call to local emergency services, reporting that he had become completely disoriented and lost deep within the mountain’s dense rainforest.

Emergency teams immediately mobilized to track his location, but phone contact was lost shortly after the initial call. Attempts to ping his device or establish a secondary connection were unsuccessful.

Royal Caribbean Statement

In the statement provided to the media following the confirmation of his employment status, Royal Caribbean expressed its grief over the loss:

“We are saddened to learn a crew member has passed away. We appreciate the tremendous efforts of the local authorities and rescue teams, who worked tirelessly over the past several days.“

The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force also expressed their condolences on a social media post:

“It is with deep regret that the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) confirms that Mr Wang Zyuan, who had been missing on the Mt. Liamuiga trail since Wednesday, May 27th, 2026, was located deceased on Monday, June 1st, 2026, by one of the search teams…

Detailed information is not yet available, and investigations into the circumstances are ongoing.

The Force extends its heartfelt condolences to Mr Wang’s family, friends, and associates during this painful time. We respectfully ask the public to refrain from speculation and to rely only on official sources for accurate information as this matter proceeds.”

Reports suggest Wang worked within the ship’s restaurant department, arriving on the island while the vessel was docked in port early last week.

The Search and Recovery

Finding someone in the thick forest of Mount Liamuiga is not an easy task, especially if someone has gone off trail. Even the hiking routes are known for steep rock faces, thick mud, and sometimes very slippery conditions.

The search effort was an island-wide operation. Over several days, teams scoured the mountainside and the rugged terrain surrounding the volcano’s crater.

Investigation and Safety Reminders

At this point, local authorities have not released an official cause of death. The investigation is still underway, and we still don’t know the full circumstances of the situation.

Following the incident, local tourism and law enforcement agencies issued strong reminders to travelers to never hike unfamiliar, dense island trails alone. 

They are recommending to hire a certified local guide, and to ensure communication devices are fully charged and equipped with offline maps before starting out.

This tragic case might feel similar to another disappearance in Juneau, Alaska last year. In that incident, 69-year-old hiker Thomas Casey went missing after setting out alone on a trail. Just like the search in St. Kitts, rescue teams used cellphone pings to track his last known signal through a massive search grid.

Responders eventually found Casey’s body in a remote area near the Mendenhall Glacier, where he had suffered a fatal fall.