Over 2,000 passengers faced cruise disruption after Coast Guard blocked departure
Passengers expecting to set sail on a Caribbean getaway were left with canceled vacation plans after the U.S. Coast Guard detained their cruise ship at PortMiami. Maritime attorney Alex Perez says travelers may have a stronger legal case against the cruise line if evidence shows the company was aware of problems with the vessel before departure.
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The FBI is investigating a suspected homicide aboard a cruise ship that was ordered back to Texas just one day after setting sail on a weeklong voyage to Mexico and Honduras.
FBI Houston said agents responded Monday to the MSC Seascape after the ship docked in Galveston, Texas.
Few details about what happened aboard the ship have been released, including the identity of the person who died or the circumstances surrounding the suspected homicide.
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“FBI Texas City is responding to a suspected homicide onboard the MSC Seascape cruise ship that docked in Galveston on November 9, 2026,” FBI Houston said in a statement.
The MSC Seascape is seen at the Port of Galveston in Texas. The ship later left the port and resumed its planned itinerary as the FBI investigated a suspected homicide aboard the vessel. (2025 Kirk Sides / Houston Chronicle)
A Maritime Liaison Agent from the bureau’s Texas City Resident Agency is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard, Port of Galveston Police Department, Customs and Border Protection and MSC Cruises, the agency added.
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As the primary federal agency authorized to investigate potential crimes on the high seas, the FBI works with local and federal partners when alleged crimes occur aboard cruise ships.
MSC Cruises told Fox News Digital that authorities instructed the Seascape to return to Galveston after the cruise line reported an incident involving a guest.
“We are cooperating fully with the investigation and providing support to those impacted. The ship has left the port and resumed its planned itinerary,” an MSC Cruises spokesperson said.
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The MSC Seascape is docked in Galveston, Texas. The FBI is investigating a suspected homicide aboard the cruise ship after authorities instructed it to return to port on Nov. 9, 2026. (2025 Kirk Sides / Houston Chronicle)
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“As this is an active investigation, we cannot provide more details,” the spokesperson added. “Our thoughts are with the guest’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
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The Seascape had departed Galveston at 4 p.m. Sunday and was not scheduled to return until Nov. 15, according to CruiseMapper.
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The seven-night voyage included scheduled stops in Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, as well as Roatan, Honduras. Its first scheduled port call was Wednesday in Costa Maya.
An aerial view of the Port of Galveston in Texas, where the MSC Seascape returned after the cruise line reported an incident involving a guest. (Getty Images)
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MSC Cruises describes the Seascape as a state-of-the-art ship offering seven-night Western Caribbean cruises from Galveston, with voyages to destinations in Mexico and Honduras.
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The ship can carry more than 5,800 passengers and about 1,600 crew members and has 2,270 cabins across 19 decks. The Seascape entered service in 2022 and sails under the flag of Malta.
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Authorities have not said when or where aboard the ship the suspected homicide occurred, how the person died or whether anyone has been detained or identified as a suspect.
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The FBI also has not released the person’s name, age or nationality.