A crew member has died following an accident onboard P&O Cruises’ Arvia, the cruise line has confirmed.
The incident occurred on Sunday, 26th October 2025, while the ship was sailing from Southampton at the start of a 14-night voyage to Barbados.
In a statement, P&O Cruises said it was supporting those affected.
“We can confirm the death of a crewmember following an accident on board Arvia yesterday,
“Our thoughts and prayers are with their family and friends both on board and at home, and we are providing every possible support to them.”
P&O Cruises spokesperson
The company has not released details about the crew member’s identity or role, citing respect for the family’s privacy.
Investigation Underway
The cause of the accident has not been disclosed. An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances and ensure that all safety procedures were followed.
The 185,600-gross-ton ship, which entered service in 2022, remains fully operational.
The itinerary is continuing as scheduled, with a call in Tenerife on Tuesday, 28th October, followed by St Maarten, St Kitts, and St Lucia before reaching Barbados on 7th November.
Arvia carries up to 6,685 passengers and 1,700 crew members and is the newest and largest ship in the P&O Cruises fleet.
Rare Tragedy at Sea
Accidents resulting in fatalities among cruise ship crew are rare but not unprecedented.
In March 2024, two crew members aboard Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam were killed by a steam leak in an engineering space while the ship was docked at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.
More recently, Diamond Princess captain Michele Bartolomei died of a medical emergency in port in Taiwan in May 2025, and Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas captain James MacDonald passed away following a heart attack in Cozumel, Mexico, in April 2024.
While investigations into such cases are standard procedure, they are a reminder of the complex and often demanding environments in which cruise crews work.
P&O Cruises said it continues to offer support to the ship’s team, who are assisting investigators and comforting one another following the loss.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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