Search occasion launched as pensioner falls overboard on Disney cruise
An elderly passenger is missing at sea after falling overboard from the Disney Wonder cruise during a voyage, sparking a frantic search.
The 73-year-old man is said to have fallen from the ship about 4.30am on Saturday as it travelled towards Auckland, New Zealand. Victoria Police said the OAP was from the north Melbourne suburb of Moonee Ponds.
Crew spent around five hours searching the water – including with thermal imaging cameras – before announcing the man could not be located. The ship was forced turned around in the Tasman Sea. Passengers first noticed the change in course around midday.
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) that they were unable to find them.
(Image: GC Images)
“It was quite sombre and it was just a bit eerie for the rest of the day. A lot of the staff kind of took some time.”
The Disney Wonder has since returned its journey and is expected to reach New Zealand a day later than scheduled, arriving on Wednesday. The five-night Melbourne-Auckland trip is among the final local cruises Disney will operate in Australia.
The ship carries up to 1,750 passengers across 11 decks. Disney Cruise Line previously announced it will not run voyages from Australia in the 2026/27 season.
(Image: GC Images)
The company said in August: “While Disney Wonder will not return to Australia and New Zealand for the 2026-27 season, we want to reassure you that sailings from this region remain a strong consideration for future itineraries.
“The response from guests during our local seasons has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are looking forward to a fantastic upcoming season starting on 19 October 2025.”
The final local cruise from Disney will leave from Sydney on January 30 next year after which the ship will head to Honolulu.
(Image: Getty Images)
The tragedy comes just a month after a Disney fan fell to her death at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Summer Equitz, 31, was found dead on October 14 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort hotel, where she died of multiple blunt force impact injuries.
Equitz, from Illinois, was said to have flown to Florida and gone to Disney World without telling anyone.
And in June, a five-year-old girl fell 50ft from a Disney Cruise ship into the sea below. Her dad jumped into the water to save her and broke his back in the process.
The young girl lost her balance while standing in front of the porthole as she and her mum and dad were travelling on the Disney Dream cruise ship.
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