A sombre mood has fallen over a Disney cruise voyage after a 73-year-old passenger was reported missing, having fallen overboard into the Tasman Sea.
The incident occurred aboard the Disney Wonder in the early hours of Saturday, November 22. The ship, which can carry up to 1,750 passengers, was en route from Melbourne, Australia, to Auckland, New Zealand, at the time.
Extensive Search Operation Launched
Upon realising the man was overboard, the ship immediately turned around to initiate a search and rescue mission. The crew spent approximately five hours scouring the waters, employing thermal imaging technology in a desperate attempt to locate the missing passenger.
Passengers reportedly became aware of the unfolding situation around midday when they noticed the ship had changed course. The captain later addressed everyone on board, confirming the tragic news that a passenger had fallen overboard and that the extensive search had been unsuccessful.
Passengers and Crew React to the Tragedy
Mitch Talbot, a passenger on the ship, described the atmosphere as "quite sombre and just a bit eerie for the rest of the day." He also noted that "a lot of the staff kind of took some time," indicating the profound impact the event had on the crew.
Following the unsuccessful search, the Disney Wonder resumed its journey towards New Zealand. Due to the significant delay caused by the search operation, the ship is now expected to arrive in Auckland on Wednesday, November 26, one day later than originally scheduled.
This five-night Melbourne to Auckland trip is one of the final local cruises Disney is operating in Australia for the foreseeable future. The company has previously announced that it will not run voyages from Australia in the 2026/27 season.
