Police are investigating after a 60-year-old man died aboard the MSC Virtuosa which had left Southampton on a two-night cruise when an argument broke out hours after it set sail
A cruise passenger killed onboard a luxury liner is said to have been on a stag do when “chaos” broke out.
The MSC Virtuosa left the port in Southampton on Saturday for two nights, and a few hours later a fight broke out in which a 60-year-old man died. As the MSC Virtuosa ship was still in British waters when the death occurred, it returned to the UK and police arrested a 57-year-old man from Exeter when the ship arrived back at Southampton, Hampshire on suspicion of murder. The victim’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist police officers.
Passenger Lynda Hardiman-Pearce told MailOnline there were several hen and stag do parties onboard “causing havoc”. She added: “On Saturday night we were in a bar onboard and I was chatting to someone whilst waiting to be served. Apparently, the [man] was on a stag do.
“The cruise was full of hen and stag parties causing chaos. Since getting home we talked to our family, and they all said it didn’t sound like any cruise they had been on.”
Reports suggested the men involved in the incident were part of a party of 20.
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.”
A spokesperson for MSC Virtuosa added: “Following an incident on board our ship, the relevant authorities were contacted, and we are co-operating fully with their investigations. We are providing full support to those impacted.”
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.
