MIAMI _ A puzzled passenger who was apparently aboard The Royal Princess wrote a cryptic post Tuesday on cruise community website Cruise Critic.com.
The 19-deck ship had departed Nov. 9 from Port Everglades on a seven-day Southern Caribbean cruise and is set to return to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday.
"Last night something serious happened on Royal Princess," read the post. "At 4:30 am there was a ship wide security announcement broadcast directly into the cabins. Security personnel was told to gather on deck 7. Another announcement was made shortly after that only broadcast in the halls and common areas."
The cruiser continues to report that as the 3,600-passenger ship docked in Aruba the captain announced that there had been "a serious incident and no one could leave as local authorities were coming onboard."
The individual was apparently confused over what had transpired, but more details are trickling out about the "serious incident."
The Santa Clarita, Calif.-based cruise line confirmed the death of a 52-year-old American passenger in a statement. According to The Associated Press, the FBI and Aruban authorities are currently investigating.
Aruba news website Diario reports the woman plunged from an upper deck onto a lifeboat after struggling with a "muscular" man who was seen choking her before the fall.
"We are deeply saddened by this incident and offer our sincere condolences to the family and those affected," the cruise line continued. "An official cause of death has not been announced."
