Are There a Lot of Cruise Ship Murders?
Cruise ships have long been associated with luxury and adventure, but in recent years, they’ve also been linked to an increasing number of mysterious and violent deaths. From 2009-2018, the FBI reported 38 suspicious or criminal deaths at sea, including 19 homicides. The majority of these deaths occurred on Carnival-owned or operated vessels.
The most high-profile unsolved murder occurred in 2005, when George Smith IV vanished from a honeymoon cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas. The ship was sailing from Greece to Turkey when Smith suddenly disappeared from his cabin.
Despite an extensive search, he was never found. In the years since his disappearance, several theories have emerged about what happened that night—none of which have been proven—including that Smith may have fallen overboard or was killed by a crew member.
But while the mystery surrounding Smith’s death has received a great deal of media attention, it is far from the only unsolved crime on a cruise ship in recent years. Between 2009 and 2018 there were 19 homicides reported on cruise ships, according to FBI data obtained by USA Today. Most of these were committed within cabins onboard the ship or in port cities during shore excursions.
In 2015, for example, a British tourist was found dead in her cabin aboard the Thomson Majesty while it was docked in Gran Canaria; while in 2016 a 42-year-old woman was strangled to death onboard the MSC Divina while it sailed from Barcelona to Rome. In 2017, a 27-year-old man was stabbed to death by his roommate aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas; and in 2018 a 58-year-old woman was stabbed and killed onboard Celebrity Cruises’ Infinity as it sailed from Chile to Peru.
The majority of these deaths remain unsolved as authorities struggle to investigate crimes that occur hundreds of miles away from shore without access to physical evidence or reliable witnesses—a problem that has been exacerbated by tightened security regulations instituted after 9/11 which limits access to certain areas onboard ships for law enforcement personnel investigating crimes at sea.
Given these challenges, it is not surprising that many cruise line operators are reluctant to discuss unsolved murders onboard their ships; but despite this reluctance—and perhaps because of it—it appears that there are more unsolved murders occurring at sea than previously thought. While this does not necessarily mean that cruise ships are dangerous places for vacationers—the vast majority of trips still take place without incident—it does suggest that travelers should be aware of their surroundings and exercise caution when traveling on these vessels.
Conclusion:
Cruise ships may be seen as luxurious and adventurous getaways – but they also come with potential risks due to an increasing number of mysterious and violent deaths occurring on board over recent years. While most trips still take place without incident – travelers should be aware of their surroundings and exercise caution when taking part in any ocean voyage.