The cruise community is mourning the sudden death of Captain Michele Bartolomei, who passed away unexpectedly onboard Diamond Princess while the ship was docked in Keelung, Taiwan.
The 52-year-old captain was at the helm of a 19-night sailing through Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China on 19 May when a medical emergency occurred in the early morning.
Passengers recalled being awakened around 2 a.m. by a ship-wide call for the medical team.
The announcement of the captain’s passing was made over the ship’s public address system, stunning passengers and crew.
In a letter to guests onboard the ship, Princess Cruises wrote, “Captain Bartolomei was a respected leader, whose decades of service at sea exemplified professionalism, dedication, and care for both guests and crew. Our hearts are with his family during this incredibly difficult time.”
The voyage continued under the command of Captain Salvatore Macera.