A 52-year-old American woman aboard a Princess Cruises ship sailing in the Caribbean died Tuesday in what authorities are treating as a possible murder case, according to several news outlets in the region.
Aruba-based Diario reports the woman plunged from an upper deck of the 3,600-passenger Royal Princess onto a lifeboat after struggling with a man who was seen choking her. Another Aruba-based outlet, MasNoticia.com, reports authorities are investigating the incident as a possible murder case.
The ship was sailing between the islands of Curacao and Aruba at the time of the incident.
In a brief statement sent to USA TODAY, Princess Cruises confirmed that a 52-year-old American woman died on the Royal Princess early Tuesday as it was en route to Aruba but did not discuss details of the incident.
The death "was reported to the local authorities who met and boarded the ship upon arrival. The cause of death is not yet known at this time," Princess said in the statement.
"We are deeply saddened by this incident and offer our sincere condolences to the family and those affected," the line said.
A passenger on the ship posting at the message boards of cruise fan site CruiseCritic.com said Aruba police officers and forensics technicians boarded the vessel soon after it arrived in Aruba on Tuesday. Passengers weren't allowed off the ship before the authorities arrived.
Royal Princess is in the midst of a seven-day voyage to the Southern Caribbean out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It's due back in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday.
