Cruise Passenger Declared Dead While Visiting Greek Port
A cruise has unfortunately ended in tragedy for a 67-year-old British man and his loved ones.
On Tuesday, July 2, 2025, the passenger was pronounced dead while his cruise ship was docked at the Greek Island of Corfu.
“In the morning hours today, the Corfu Port Authority was informed of the death of a 67-year-old foreign passenger (British citizen) on a cruise ship (C/Z) flying the Maltese flag in the port of Corfu,” Port officials said in a statement that was released on July 2.
The guest died onboard, but it’s unclear if his passing occurred mid-voyage or after the vessel had arrived in the port.
The cause of death and if he had any pre-existing health conditions that may have contributed are also unknown.
“The body was transferred to the Corfu General Hospital for an autopsy,” the statement continued. “A preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Corfu Central Port Authority.”
Cruise ships are also required to investigate deaths that occur onboard, which is a process that is usually led by onboard security personnel.
Speaking of cruise ships, three vessels were in Corfu when the death was reported. These include TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 6, MSC Cruises’ MSC Fantasia, and Seabourn Cruise Line’s Seabourn Encore.
However, the man was most likely sailing on Mein Schiff 6 because authorities indicated the ship was registered to Malta, which TUI’s vessel is.
MSC Fantasia sails under the Panama flag, while Seabourn Encore is registered in Nassau, Bahamas.
When the sad incident occurred, the 2,535-guest Mein Schiff 6 was in the middle of operating simultaneous 7-night and 14-night sailings throughout Greece, Italy, and Croatia.
There was no delay to the itinerary, with cruise tracking data showing that the 2017-launched ship is well on her way to her next port call, which will be at Ravenna (Porto Corsini), Italy, on July 4, 2025.
Cruise Hive sends our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased as they navigate this dark time.
What Happens After a Death at Sea?
While deaths during sailings aren’t exactly common, they are an unfortunate inevitability with millions of people from all walks of life booking cruise vacations every year.
But as this is the third recent mid-voyage death, some might be wondering what happens on a cruise ship if someone does unfortunately pass away.
In May of 2025, Diamond Princess Captain Michele Bartolomei died suddenly after suffering from a medical emergency.
Not long after, a two-year-old boy sailing onboard Costa Cruises’ Costa Toscana collapsed and died during a Western Mediterranean Voyage. His death was most likely related to a known heart condition.
Read Also: How to Stay Safe and Enjoy Your Cruise Vacation
If someone falls ill on a cruise ship, the crew members will do everything they can to keep them alive and get them the care they need, even if that means coordinating a medical evacuation or diverting the ship.
But if a death does occur, the first step is for the onboard medical staff to pronounce the patient. The onboard doctor and authorities in the country where the ship is registered may also issue a preliminary death certificate.
Contrary to myths about bodies being stored in refrigerators, cruise ships do have onboard morgues where the body can be preserved until it is taken offboard (usually during the next port call).
A trained crisis team will then comfort the deceased’s companions and help them sort out the logistics of bringing their loved one home for burial.