Police arrested a man, 57, from Exeter when the ship arrived back at Southampton, Hampshire, this morning on suspicion of the murder of a 60-year-old man
A cruise passenger has been killed onboard a luxury liner just hours after leaving the UK.
Police arrested a 57-year-old man from Exeter when the ship arrived back at Southampton, Hampshire, this morning on suspicion of the murder of a 60 year old man. The man is reported to have died on the cruise ship after an altercation at around 8.30pm on Saturday.
As the MSC Virtuosa ship was still in British waters when the death occurred it returned to the UK. The man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist police officers.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Gillooly, the senior investigating officer, said: “We want to reassure you that this appears to be an isolated incident on-board, and we want to thank the crew for their cooperation and assistance with our enquiries.”
According to the MSC’s website, the “Virtuosa’s namesake comes from the word virtuoso, meaning someone highly skilled in any field of activity, and so MSC Virtuosa was named to pay homage to the skill and expertise of the MSC Cruises architects and shipyard partners at Chantiers de l’Atlantique who designed and built this innovative class of ships.
“MSC Virtuosa, along with her sister ships MSC Meraviglia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Grandiosa and MSC Euribia, belongs to the “Meraviglia Class”, where the impressive array of onboard experiences come together in perfect harmony with the space and the destinations, to deliver the ultimate cruise holiday experience.”
The Maltese-flagged vessel, built in France in 2020, measures 332m (1,089ft) long and boasts 18 decks, accommodation for up to 6,334 passengers and 1,704 crew. Virtuosa was due to arrive in Southampton at 6:15am and depart at 8pm.
The ship also boasts a 4D cinema, bowling lanes, a casino, a game arcade, and a Formula 1 simulator. Passengers can also visit a theatre hosting Broadway-style productions, as well as a lounge featuring Carousel Productions at Sea shows.
MSC welcomed the new addition with a small and private flag ceremony at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France, where she received her official flag and blessings for good fortune.
The ceremony was attended by MSC”s executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago, his wife Alexa Aponte-Vago and their children, as well as a handful of MSC employees and executives.