ORLANDO, Fla. – Two crew members aboard a Holland America cruise ship have died following an incident in the ship’s engineering space. The tragic event occurred on the Nieuw Amsterdam ship docked at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.
In a Facebook post on Friday, Holland America confirmed the crew members’ deaths and expressed their condolences to their families. The company assured the public that they had informed the necessary authorities and an investigation into the cause of the incident was underway. The identities of the deceased crew members were not revealed.
“Holland America Line is deeply saddened by this incident and our thoughts and prayers are with our team members’ families at this difficult time,” the company stated. They further emphasized that the safety and welfare of both passengers and crew members remain their top priority.
The cruise line has been providing counseling services to the crew members who may have been affected by the tragedy. According to a spokesperson, the incident took place at approximately 9:20 a.m. local time on Friday. The Nieuw Amsterdam, on a 7-night itinerary, had departed from Fort Lauderdale on March 16 and returned on Saturday, as reported by CruiseMapper.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force apprehended the man, and a quantity of suspected cocaine was confiscated from the woman’s cabin. The investigation is ongoing, and the identities of both individuals involved, as well as the cruise line, have not been disclosed.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death, while authorities continue to investigate the incident.