FBI investigates possible homicide aboard MSC Seascape after ship returns to Galveston
The cruise ship turned back about six hours into a week-long Mexico cruise and resumed it the next day
The FBI is investigating "a possible homicide" aboard the cruise ship MSC Seascape, which was ordered back to Galveston, Texas, late on 8 November, about six hours after leaving on a week-long cruise to Mexico. The agency said the ship returned to her home port early on 9 November and that it was working with the US Coast Guard, the Port of Galveston Police Department, Customs and Border Protection and the cruise line. It said no further details would be released while the investigation continues.
MSC Cruises confirmed that the ship had been ordered to return briefly after reports of an incident on board. Passengers were told only that a medical emergency had prompted the return. Unconfirmed reports on social media described an altercation between a couple on the evening of 8 November, and unverified video showed a man being escorted off the ship in handcuffs in Galveston. One passenger deck with cabins was reported to have been cordoned off while investigators were on board. The authorities have confirmed none of these accounts.
The ship was allowed to resume her cruise and sailed from Galveston just before noon local time on 9 November. Passengers were told they would still make the scheduled calls, and the line apologised for the disruption. In a statement, MSC Cruises said its "thoughts were with the guest's family and friends at this difficult time."
Built in 2022, MSC Seascape is a 170,412 gt ship, 323 metres long, with 15 passenger decks, room for 5,877 passengers and a crew of 1,648. MSC moved her to Galveston in November 2025, and she sails year-round on seven-day cruises to Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico and Isla de Roatán in Honduras.
The FBI says it is frequently called to cruise ships over a wide range of crimes, but homicides are extremely rare given that the ships are the size of small towns. A year ago a young woman was found dead aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship off Florida, and a family member was arrested and charged with murder.
This story is part of the Maritime Briefing of 11 November 2026.
