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.
A JustGiving page has been set up in his memory, naming him as Lixter Mahinay. However, this is not verified and so should be treated with caution.
Investigation Underway
The cause of the accident has not been officially disclosed. An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances and ensure that all safety procedures were followed.
Some sources are reporting that the crew member died while carrying out elevator maintenance.
The 185,600-gross-ton ship, which entered service in 2022, remains fully operational.
The itinerary is continuing almost as scheduled, with a call in Tenerife delayed by one day to 29th 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.
Related Posts
- Tragedy As Crew Member Goes Overboard From World’s Largest Cruise Ship & Passes Away
- Beloved Cruise Captain Dies Overnight On Asia Cruise
- Crew Member Goes Overboard From Sun Princess
Passenger Dies Aboard Cruise Ship During Gastrointestinal Illness Outbreak
A passenger has sadly died aboard Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition during a gastrointestinal illness outbreak that affected dozens of people during the ship’s current sailing to Bordeaux. While early media…
Cruise Passengers Face Federal Charges After Fight Over Loyalty Line
Two passengers aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Spirit are facing federal assault charges after a dispute over a priority Guest Services queue allegedly turned physical during a Bahamas cruise earlier…
Elderly Cruise Guest Dies After Mobility Scooter Falls From Pier At Celebration Key
An elderly passenger sailing aboard Carnival Celebration has died following a tragic accident involving a mobility scooter at Celebration Key in The Bahamas. The incident happened at around midday on…
Last Passengers Leave Virus-Hit Cruise Ship As New Hantavirus Cases Confirmed
The final passengers have disembarked from the virus-hit expedition cruise ship MV Hondius, while health authorities confirmed three additional positive hantavirus cases linked to the deadly outbreak. The vessel departed…
