Woman Dies on Cruise Ship Headed to Aruba

FBI, local authorities are investigating after incident involving 52-year-old
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 15, 2018 6:29 AM CST
A 'Muscular' Man, a Possible Murder on Caribbean Cruise
Kate Middleton cuts the ribbon to release the bottle of champagne to officially name the Royal Princess.   (PRNewsFoto/Princess Cruises)

Not many details are out yet, but it's a big enough story that the FBI is now involved. ABC News reports that both local and federal authorities are investigating the Tuesday death of a 52-year-old woman on Princess Cruises' Royal Princess cruise ship. The vessel had departed its Florida port in Fort Lauderdale and was on a seven-day journey, with Aruba as one of its destinations. That's where police boarded the ship after the incident was reported. "We are cooperating fully with the investigating authorities, including the FBI," Princess Cruises noted in a statement. CBS News and USA Today report that some Aruba news outlets are saying authorities may be treating the incident as a possible murder; an island police update on Facebook Tuesday notes it doesn't appear to be a "natural death."

Per Newsweek, one outlet gets even more detail, reporting that the woman fell off the boat's top deck after she was seen scuffling with a "muscular" man who appeared to be choking her. A person claiming to be a passenger posted in a cruise forum that passengers weren't immediately allowed off the ship in Aruba, and that cops and forensic technicians had come onboard. "We are deeply saddened by this incident and offer our sincere condolences to the family and those affected," the cruise line added in its statement. The ship is set to arrive back in Florida on Saturday. (A "tragic accident" on another cruise line last month.)

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