Passenger Missing After Going Overboard Disney Cruise Ship

A passenger is missing and presumed dead after going overboard from a Disney Cruise Line ship making its way from Melbourne, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday.

The passenger, a 73-year-old man, jumped overboard at 4.30 a.m. local time, according to 7 News Australia. The ship reportedly turned around  in the Tasman Sea to locate the man but was unsuccessful.

“It is understood the man died after he jumped from a cruise liner into the waters in the Tasman Sea," a police spokeswoman said, via PEOPLE.

'It was just a bit eerie'

The search for the man, reportedly a resident of the north Melbourne suburb of Moonee Ponds, lasted five hours, said 7 News. Passengers began realizing something was wrong around noon.

“The captain came on and updated the boat and basically stated that there was someone, a passenger had fallen overboard ... (but) that they were unable to find them,” passenger Mitch Talbot told the outlet.

“It was quite sombre and it was just a bit eerie for the rest of the day. A lot of the staff kind of took some time."

Despite the tragedy, the ship is continuing its scheduled journey and will arrive in Auckland on Wednesday, Nov. 26, one day later than expected.

More on the Wonder

The Disney Wonder has been in existence since the advent of the cruise line in 1999. The second-oldest ship in the fleet after the Disney Magic, the Wonder offers "modern amenities and can't-miss entertainment, surrounded by lavish art nouveau details inspired by the grand era of early 20th-century cruising," according to its official website.

The Wonder's capacity is up to 1,750 passengers across 11 decks. Earlier this year, Disney announced the ship's service was discontinuing service from Australia at the end of the 2025-26 season.

The final cruise from Sydney will leave Jan. 30, 2026.