Norwegian Dawn Cruise Ship Docks in Boston With 2 Dead Passengers Aboard
Having ruled out foul play, investigators have been seeking to uncover what caused the death of two passengers found dead aboard a Norwegian Dawn Cruise ship Friday.
The passengers, identified as a 67-year-old woman from Tiverton, R.I., and a 23-year-old man from Littleton, N.H., were discovered when the cruise ship docked at the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal in Boston, Mass.
The woman reportedly died early Thursday afternoon, while the man passed away in the evening. Officials are said to be treating their cases as two separate incidents.
While the police are investigating the mysterious deaths, passengers have expressed shock at learning of the news, none of them apparently aware that the dead bodies had been aboard the cruise ship.
"I'm shocked. I’m completely shocked to tell you the truth. There was no indication of any wrong doing at all," said passenger Lee Ward, according to WDHT-TV.
Ward noted, however, that the trip was "fantastic."
According to media reports, police believe the woman may have died of natural causes stemming from a chronic illness. The deceased's names have not yet been made public.
In a statement, the Suffolk County district attorney's office said the cause of the man's death is still under investigation, according to United Press International (UPI).
"The decedents were among separate parties and their deaths were not related to one another," the office said in the statement. "In the absence of criminal charges, no further details will be released."
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to both families during this difficult time,” the company said in a statement, according to the Boston Globe.
The Norwegian Dawn Cruise ship returned to Boston from a week-long cruise to Bermuda.
The Dawn Cruise ship is 965 feet long, can hold 2,224 people (plus 1,073 crew members) and maintains a doctor and nurse aboard, as with every other Norwegian Cruise Lines vessel, according to the company's website.