A Caribbean cruise was thrown into chaos Sunday after a female passenger fell from her balcony to her death — landing on another person below.
The unnamed woman, who some on board said fell at least 10 stories, crossed the barrier shortly after Virgin Voyages’ ship, Valiant Lady, left Miami at 6 p.m. Sunday.
The passenger it landed on was not seriously injured.
A Virgin spokesperson said: “Yesterday evening, shortly after departure, there was a medical emergency involving one of our passengers.”
This occupant went from his porch to a lower deck and, despite receiving immediate medical attention, passed away. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and our hearts and thoughts are with their loved ones.”
The gallant lady was seen returning to Miami in the early hours of Monday morning
An ambulance arrived at the wharf in Miami in the early hours of Monday morning and the woman’s body was removed
The Courageous Lady, which was launched in November, set sail from Miami on Sunday, bound for the Honduras island of Roatan.
The ship was sailing to the Honduras island of Roatan, and was expected to arrive on Tuesday.
Instead, the ship headed back to Miami, docking again at about 2 a.m. on Monday.
An ambulance removed the woman’s body, and the ship resumed sailing.
“Just embarked on my first cruise with Virgin Voyages… and someone fell off their balcony and died,” Mel Murray tweeted.
On the first day bro – people saw this *** happen. This is Terrifying * !!
Another passenger, Wilson, tweeted at 1:50 a.m. Sunday:
“No word or update from the crew as to our itinerary or reason for returning to Miami.”
Then the captain told the passengers what had happened, and that they would no longer go to Roatan.
The planned second leg — scheduled for Wednesday, to Costa Maya in Mexico — was also changed due to difficult weather conditions.
The brave lady is currently heading to the Mexican port of Cozumel, where she will dock before returning via Bimini Island in the Bahamas.
The ship will return to Miami as scheduled on Saturday morning.
The gallant lady has been seen sailing across Europe. It is currently used in the Caribbean
One passenger said they were told passengers were being given credit for a future cruise.
Valiant Lady launched in November, and their six-night cruise starts at $1,700 per person.
The sister ship, Scarlet Lady – the first launched by Virgin Voyages – set sail in 2021.
Jennifer Lopez will spend one day aboard the Scarlet Lady later this month in a special edition “Boundless Voyage” around the Caribbean, from April 14 to April 19.
The five-night sailing trip, which will be run by Lopez and her organization, Limitless Labs, will include J.Lo-inspired experiences and discussion sessions with female entrepreneurs.
Deaths on cruise ships are not uncommon.
On April 1st last year, a British man jumped Our Gallant Lady to his death while she was sailing around the Mediterranean.
The cruise was on its way to Portsmouth when the man jumped overboard in the Bay of Biscay, with French and Spanish ships called in to assist in the search.
That ’80s cruise featured pop icons Tony Hadley, of Spandau Ballet, and T’Pau
In May 2020, a 32-year-old Filipino man working on Scarlet Lady died by suicide.
Between 2009 and 2019, there were 292 serious injuries to passengers or crew members on cruise ships, and 126 minor injuries, according to the Cruise Lines International Association.
In February, the FBI launched an investigation into what it called the “suspicious death” of a female passenger on the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship – although the company said the death appeared to be natural.
The woman was found unresponsive during the ship’s Feb. 27 voyage to Nassau, Bahamas, the FBI field office in Columbia, South Carolina said.
They have refused to provide any details of their investigation.
In November, a 28-year-old man from Alabama survived 20 hours after falling from the Carnival of Valor, bound for Cozumel.
James Grimes told ABC News he didn’t remember falling off the ship on November 23, but only remembered coming to the water “with no boat in sight” after excused himself to go to the bathroom after a few drinks.
He said, “The Lord was with me when I was out.”
“Because something was holding me back the whole time when I passed out.”
Eventually, Grimes spotted a tanker ship and swam to the ship, which alerted the US Coast Guard for help.
He said his ordeal in the Gulf of Mexico brought meaning to his life.
“I always thought there was a greater purpose to my life,” he said.
“Now, I know for sure that I am supposed to do something on this earth.”
