DIAMOND PRINCESS

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Latest news

Captain died during cruise

On May 19, 2025, the Italian Captain Michele Bartolomei, 52, of the 'Diamond Princess' has died on board the ship after a sudden medical emergency. The cruise ship was now under the command of Captain Salvatore Macera. Passengers were woken upat 2 a.m. to a ship-wide announcement calling for the medical response team to report to the medical center on Deck 4. The 'Diamond Princess was on a 13 stage cruise arriving and departing from Tokyo, when Bartolomei died near Taipei. He was about to celebrate his 30th anniversary with the cruise company with him starting in August 1995. News of the captain's death came as the 'Diamond Princess' was docked in Keelung, Taiwan, midway through a 19-day Southern Islands Explorer voyage that began in Yokohama. The announcement, made over the ship’s public address system, left passengers and crew in stunned silence. After sailing from Yokohama on May 16, the itinerary included visits to Ishigaki and Naha, as well as an overnight call to Keelung, before returning to Yokohama for a ten-night circumnavigation cruise of Japan on May 25. Report with photo: http://crew-center.com/captain-michele-bartolomei-dies-aboard-diamond-princess

Injured crew member medevaced off Northland

On Jan 30, 2025, a crew member of the 'Diamond Princess' suffered a serious eye injury and needed urgent hospital specialist treatment. The cruise ship was en route from Brisbane to Auckland and sailing about 37 kilometres east of Matauri Bay when the accident occurred. A helicopter hoisted the patient off the Northland coast amid good conditions with favourable weather, daylight and a competent crew aboard the ship. The victim was transported to shore for further medical care on a higher level. Report with video: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/dramatic-winch-rescue-off-northland-coast-as-cruise-ship-worker-injured/ZJX3R4FCBZAXHJG5K7PJBFJWTY/

Pilot fell into the water and died

In Nagasaki the port pilot fell into the water on May 5, 2023, at around 05.30 a.m., while boarding the 'Diamond Princess' which was about to enter Nagasaki. The 69-year old man was recovered by a rescue boat of the cruiseship, but two hours later he has been declared dead. The cruise ship docked at the port, leaving the same day bound for Yokohama.