A tragic incident aboard the Disney Wonder cruise ship has left a 73-year-old Australian man presumed dead after he went overboard during a voyage across the Tasman Sea. The event occurred during the ship's journey from Melbourne to New Zealand, casting a somber mood over the entire vessel.
Search and Rescue Operation Launched
The man, identified as being from the Melbourne suburb of Moonee Ponds, jumped from the cruise liner at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, according to statements from Victoria Police. The Disney Wonder immediately turned around in the Tasman Sea to initiate a search and rescue operation for the missing passenger.
Crews conducted an extensive search of the waters for approximately five hours using thermal imaging cameras and visual scans from the decks. Despite these efforts, authorities were unable to locate the man, and his body has not been recovered. Police have stated they are not treating the death as suspicious.
Passengers React to Tragic News
Fellow passengers described the atmosphere aboard the ship as somber after Captain announced the incident around noon on Saturday. Mitch Talbot, a passenger who spoke with 7 News Australia, recounted the captain's announcement that a passenger had fallen overboard and could not be found.
"It was quite sombre and it was just a bit eerie for the rest of the day," Talbot said. "A lot of the staff kind of took some time." Another passenger noted that crew members were visibly affected by the tragedy while maintaining their professional duties throughout the search operation.
Cruise Itinerary Impacted
The Disney Wonder, which can accommodate up to 1,750 passengers across its 11 decks, is continuing its voyage to Auckland despite the tragic event. However, the ship's schedule has been affected, with arrival in New Zealand now expected on Wednesday, one day later than originally planned.
This incident occurs as Disney Cruise Line prepares to conclude its operations in Australian and New Zealand waters. The company had previously announced it was bidding a "fond farewell" to the Down Under voyage after the current season. The final Disney cruise in the region is scheduled to depart from Sydney on January 30, 2026, after which the Disney Wonder will reposition to Honolulu for future voyages.
This marks the second concerning overboard incident involving a Disney cruise ship in recent months. In June, a five-year-old girl fell from the Disney Dream, prompting her father to jump in after her. Both were successfully rescued, and authorities later determined the mother had instructed the child to pose for photos near the railing when the accident occurred.
