The FBI is investigating a suspected homicide aboard a cruise ship that returned to Texas a day after beginning a weeklong trip to Mexico and Honduras.
Agents responded Monday after the MSC Seascape docked in Galveston, the FBI’s Houston office said. Authorities have not identified the person who died or explained what happened.
The FBI’s Texas City office is handling the response, with a maritime liaison agent coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard, Galveston port police, Customs and Border Protection, and MSC Cruises.
MSC Cruises said authorities directed the ship to return to Galveston after the company reported an incident involving a guest. The cruise line said it was cooperating with investigators and supporting those affected. The ship has since left port and resumed its itinerary.
Because the investigation is ongoing, the company said it could not share further details. It also expressed sympathy to the guest’s family and friends.
The Seascape left Galveston at 4 p.m. Sunday and had been scheduled to return on Nov. 15. Its seven-night itinerary included stops in Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, and Roatan, Honduras, with the first port call set for Wednesday.
The ship entered service in 2022 and sails under the Maltese flag. It has 19 decks, 2,270 cabins, and capacity for more than 5,800 passengers, alongside a crew of about 1,600.
Investigators have not said when or where the suspected homicide took place, how the person died, or whether anyone has been detained or named as a suspect. The FBI has also not disclosed the person’s name, age, or nationality.
