Passenger, 73, dies after falling from Disney Wonder cruise ship

Passenger, 73, dies after falling from Disney Wonder cruise ship Molly Lee Molly Lee Published November 23, 2025 1:58pm Updated November 23, 2025 2:26pm Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook Comment now Comments The 73-year-old man fell overboard from a Disney Wonder cruise ship this weekend (Picture: AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

A pensioner has died after falling overboard from a Disney Wonder cruise ship this weekend.

The 73-year-old man, from Melbourne, reportedly fell from one of the vessel’s decks on Saturday morning.

The Disney Wonder cruise was heading for Auckland, New Zealand, but was forced to turn around in the Tasman Sea.

It is understood that the man fell from the ship around 4.30am, but passengers first noticed the change in course several hours later, at around 12pm.

Passenger Mitch Talbot told 7News: ‘The captain came on and updated the boat and basically stated that there was someone, a passenger had fallen overboard…but they were unable to find them.

‘It was quite sombre and it was just a bit eerie for the rest of the day.’

The cruise has since continued its journey, with passengers expected to reach New Zealand on Wednesday.

Victoria Police told Metro: ‘Police will prepare a report for the coroner following the death of a Melbourne man.

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‘It’s understood the man died after he jumped from a cruise liner into waters in the Tasman Sea on 22 November about 4.30am.

‘The body of the 73-year-old Moonee Ponds man is yet to be recovered.

‘The death is not being treated as suspicious.’

Metro has contacted Disney Cruiselines for comment.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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