FBI opens homicide investigation on MSC Seascape
The vessel returned to Galveston with a suspect in custody before resuming its Caribbean route on Monday.
By Nia Foster ·
The MSC Seascape, a massive cruise ship based in Galveston, Texas, returned to port unexpectedly on Monday after authorities reported a suspected murder aboard. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed it is investigating the incident, which has placed one person in custody.
The ship, which departed from Galveston for a Caribbean itinerary, accommodates nearly 5,900 passengers and employs more than 1,600 crew members. It features 2,270 cabins. The FBI stated it is awaiting notification to the victim's family before releasing the suspect's name. The agency did not indicate whether formal charges have been filed.
MSC Cruises said company officials cooperated fully with investigators. In a statement, the company noted that authorities instructed them to return to the home port after the passenger incident was reported. The line added that it is providing support to affected individuals while the investigation proceeds.
The vessel resumed its scheduled journey on Monday afternoon. MSC Cruises moved the ship's home base from Miami to Galveston in November 2025. The ship currently operates five and seven night voyages to the Caribbean from the Texas coast.
Homicide investigations on cruise ships are relatively rare. Earlier this year, a teenager faced murder and aggravated sexual abuse charges following the death of an 18 year old stepsister on a Carnival cruise that departed from Florida.
