Cruise ship deaths usually happen from natural causes.

Many cruisers are older and it’s not entirely uncommon to lost the occasisional passenger to natural causes. That’s incredibly traumatic for their traveling companions and anyone who witnesses a death, but cruise lines have well-practiced medical protocols.

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If a passenger collapses or otherwise needs medical attention, a privacy tent is generally erected. That’s important for the passenger’s dignity as medical treatment often involves removing clothing and it shields passengers from the trauma of seeing someone pass away.

Doug Parker, host of Cruise News, covered a very different type of death and its fallout on a recent episode.

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Death in cruise port leads to an arrest

Transcript:

A Carnival cruise turned deadly for two young cruise passengers in the Bahamas, claiming the life of one and leading to the other being arrested. 

James Darling, a 21-year-old from Illinois, has been charged following an ATV accident at Airwalk K in Nassau that claimed the life of his friend, James Palmer. Now, authorities report that the ATV overturned during the ride, resulting in Palmer’s fatal injuries. 

According to a police report, Darling was arrested after the crash when police found him in possession of nine grams of the green stuff. He has been granted $40,000 bail and will be required to appear in court again in March.

Airwalk K is a 100-acre man-made island located about a mile from the Nassau Cruise Port and is known for its beaches and fish fry. 

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Port of New Orleans set to break record, Disney takes delivery

And the Port of New Orleans is set to break its cruise passenger record in 2024, reaching 1.3 million passenger movements. Now, this surpasses the 1.2 million last year.

The surge in passengers at about 300,000 hotel bookings and $125 million in yearly revenue for pre- and post-cruise stays. Major cruise lines, including Carnival, RoyalCaribbean, Norwegian, and Disney, have ships homeported in New Orleans either year-round or seasonally. 

And Meyer Werff Shipyard in Poppenburg, Germany, has delivered the brand-new Disney Treasure to Disney Cruise Line six days ahead of schedule, as happened yesterday.

The 144,000 gross registered ton ship was completed in under two years following itsinitial steel cutting in January of last year. It recently passed sea trials in the North Sea after navigating the Ems River without any issue. It starts sailing in December.

ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise

Disney is on track to have 13 ships by 2031. And the photo of the week comes fromBeth, Emerald Princess and Enchanted Princess here in Portland, Maine. 

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