Passenger killed in ‘fight’ on cruise ship once used for murder mystery drama
A 60-year-old man died in a suspected fight on board a luxury cruise ship just hours after leaving Southampton.
He was killed in an ‘isolated incident’ following an altercation on MSC Virtuosa at around 8.30pm on Saturday, said police.
The ship, which had been in British waters at the time, returned to the port, where a 57-year-old man from Exeter was arrested on suspicion of murder.
He remains in custody.
MSC Virtuosa was on a two-day trip to Bruges, in Belgium at the time, but also offers cruises to the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and Norway for up to £2,000 per person.
The ship was used as a filming location for 2023 Channel 5 TV drama series, The Good Ship Murder, starring X Factor singer, Shayne Ward.
A source told the MailOnline that the dead man’s family are local to the Southampton area and apparently known travellers.
It’s thought the suspect knew the victim and that both were part of a group of 20 men.
The source said family of the dead man had arrived at the port before the man’s body had been removed from the boat.
‘Three family members, two women who might be his daughters, and the son managed to get on to the quayside to try and gain entry on the ship. The family are demanding they release the body,’ he said.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Gillooly, the Senior Investigating Officer with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary 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.
‘If anyone who was on-board has information that could assist, please contact Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary on 101 with reference 44250193676.’
They said the victim’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist police officers.
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