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73-Year-Old Passenger Missing After Going Overboard From Disney Wonder; Crew Searched for Hours

05:40 AM, 11/24/2025
73-Year-Old Passenger Missing After Going Overboard From Disney Wonder; Crew Searched for Hours

A 73-year-old man went overboard from the Disney Wonder at about 4:30 a.m. on Nov. 22 while the ship was en route from Melbourne to Auckland. The vessel turned back and crew searched for roughly five hours but could not find him. Police believe the man jumped and do not treat the incident as suspicious; a coroner's report is being prepared. The ship is expected to arrive in Auckland a day late.

A 73-year-old man is missing after going overboard from the Disney Wonder in the early hours of Saturday, Nov. 22, while the ship was sailing from Melbourne, Australia, to Auckland, New Zealand. Victoria Police say the incident occurred at about 4:30 a.m., and authorities believe the man jumped into the Tasman Sea.

The cruise ship reversed course and crew members conducted an extensive search for roughly five hours but were unable to locate him. Authorities have not released the man's name; local reports indicate he lived in the Melbourne suburb of Moonee Ponds.

"The captain came on and updated the boat and basically stated that there was someone, a passenger had fallen overboard ... [but] that they were unable to find them," passenger Mitch Talbot recalled.

Talbot described the mood on board as sombre. "It was quite sombre, and it was a bit eerie the rest of the day. A lot of the staff kind of took some time," he said.

Police have said the death is not being treated as suspicious and a coroner's report is being prepared. The Disney Wonder resumed its voyage and is now expected to reach Auckland a day later than planned. Authorities and the cruise line were contacted for comment.

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