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MSC Cruise Director Gene Young Passes Away Unexpectedly in Miami

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of losing yet another dear friend who departed way too soon. Gene Moimoi Young was a cruise director on many MSC Cruises ships, but most of all, he was an outstanding person full of positive energy that he spread among all he met. His passing is something that we are struggling to come to terms with. He passed away unexpectedly in Miami, Florida.

During his time as a Cruise Director, he brought in top ratings, and passengers always had a great time. Gene went out of his way to make everyone's life aboard the ships easier. He was a generous and caring man full of life; many will miss him incredibly. Gene was passionate about working as a Cruise Director, his guests, his team, and the industry. Before joining MSC Cruises, Gene worked for Holland America Line, Victory Cruise Lines and Stiletto Entertainment.

His friend Rebekah Law, shared this post on social media:

"Gutted. In shock. Stupefied. Gene Moimoi Young was a lot of things - a father, a brother, a son, a fiancé, a gifted performer, a celebrity Cruise Director, a friend, a colleague, a comedian, and a jovial, bright light in this world! As part of the vibrant, tightly-knit cruise community, we are definitely having a hard time swallowing this one - we so wish the rumors weren’t true. But…ugh. Just gone too soon. Damn, Gene. So many loved you. My heart aches for his family and all of those closest to him. And it also breaks for the rest of us whose lives he touched. Rest In Peace, buddy."

“This has really hit our cruise ship family hard. 

I worked with him on my first contract as he was in our cast as the male lead singer. He went on to become a great Cruise Director as well.

Sending love and prayers to his immediate family as they deal with his life. 

A life gone way too soon from this earth, may you rest in peace,” said a friend and a colleague.

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• MSC Cruises

Cruise Director Gene Young has passed away

By GPPhilly , February 16, 2023 in MSC Cruises

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The day of his passing they said was Feb 8th. That day he was Introducing the captain at the captains

cocktail reception in the YC. Can anyone confirm from last weeks cruise if he was the cruise director?

Maybe it was someone who looked like him?

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The article says he died on 14th Feb.

cruiselovrs

Absolutely horrible news. He was one of the best cruise directors and a wonderful person.

Some who were on his last sailing reported on another social media forum that he announced his retirement from being a CD to them. They also reported he said he wasn’t leaving MSC but taking another position.  Who knows if that’s accurate. He may have announced he was leaving for his break and nothing else.   

Unfortunately, it appears he passed away on Feb 14, 2023.

depression is a difficult illness for many who suffer from it.  Masking is often used to Hyde the suffering. 

1 hour ago, phissy said: Unfortunately, it appears he passed away on Feb 14, 2023. depression is a difficult illness for many who suffer from it.  Masking is often used to hide the suffering. 

On this sad day, it is a good reminder to take time to check in with loved ones. 

https://www.facebook.com/CrewCenter1/posts/pfbid02pSyfYmAbT2pfR8XbfVuW7G5FjVjeFWKFrnYuCKdZ3YgjzA121QpEg7289axyt4B3l

It appears to be true.  😢   So so sad

Yes, there are lots of tributes on his Facebook page. It’s very sad and he’ll be missed by many.

5 hours ago, styles27 said: Some who were on his last sailing reported on another social media forum that he announced his retirement from being a CD to them. They also reported he said he wasn’t leaving MSC but taking another position.  Who knows if that’s accurate. He may have announced he was leaving for his break and nothing else.     

He launched new ships and acted as a cruise director for the new ships for a couple of months and then went to the office to launch the next new ship.  He just got off the Seascape - such a nice, sweet guy.  So sad, he talked about the sad personal stuff in his life as if they were a joke but  you never know what people are hiding ... so sad

As I posted above, this is the cruise Director. It was an apparent suicide. Very sad.

Whipper Snapper

We are horrified to hear this. Gene directed our first cruise (Viking) and he was so kind and attentive, he made us feel so special.  It wasn't until we'd been on a few more trips that we realized what an amazing CD he was. We have photos of him and we talk so fondly of that trip, and of Gene making the time to sing happy birthday to me during dinner. Oh, Gene. You were really adored. We're just gutted.

10 hours ago, styles27 said: Some who were on his last sailing reported on another social media forum that he announced his retirement from being a CD to them. They also reported he said he wasn’t leaving MSC but taking another position.  Who knows if that’s accurate. He may have announced he was leaving for his break and nothing else. 

Thats quite interesting.    

When we last saw him in February of 2022 onboard Seashore we sat down with him in the Brooklyn Cafe and he told us he was retiring from his Cruise Director role in order to take a shoreside position with MSC.  He told us that it was his last cruise and he appeared to be very excited to start the next chapter in his career.    

We told him how much we appreciated his enthusiasm and multifaceted talents over the years as Cruise Director and wished him luck with his new adventure.    

Of course it appears that he wasn’t able to stay away from the Cruise Director role for long as i think he helped inaugurate World Europa and Seascape.    

Pam and I are both shocked and saddened to hear of his sudden passing.  

9 hours ago, Motegi said: Thats quite interesting.     When we last saw him in February of 2022 onboard Seashore we sat down with him in the Brooklyn Cafe and he told us he was retiring from his Cruise Director role in order to take a shoreside position with MSC.  He told us that it was his last cruise and he appeared to be very excited to start the next chapter in his career.     We told him how much we appreciated his enthusiasm and multifaceted talents over the years as Cruise Director and wished him luck with his new adventure.     Of course it appears that he wasn’t able to stay away from the Cruise Director role for long as i think he helped inaugurate World Europa and Seascape.     Pam and I are both shocked and saddened to hear of his sudden passing.  

I’m so sorry.  Besides being a wonderful person, he was such a great CD. I’m sure MSC loved having him in that role…especially on their new ships as they knew he was loved by so many.  I can’t tell you the name of most of the CD’s we’ve had over the years but Gene definitely stood out to us. He made it his job to speak to as many passengers as he could. He was one of a kind.  Praying he’s at peace now. 

HolySpearit

This is incredibly sad. We had him as a cruise director back in 2020 shortly before the shutdown. He was wonderful. Genuinely sad over this  😓

LESLIE.MCGARRITY

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Gene Moimoi Young Death: Obituary, Cause Of Death, Funeral

The Whole MSC Cruises family is in deep sorrow over the untimely death of a beloved and well-respected cruise director who was found in Miami, Florida. On February 8, 2023, Gene Moimoi Young, also known as Gene Young to his friends, died from what appeared to be suicide.

According to reports, Young passed away after a protracted struggle with depression, a mental ailment that may be fatal if left untreated. The close relatives of the cherished former employee of Royal Caribbean International have not yet disclosed the reason for his death.

There is no information regarding funeral arrangements. Gene Moimoi is sorely missed and is constantly in everyone’s thoughts as they post tributes and condolences to him on social media.

“My sympathies go out to his family, friends, the MSC Cruises community, and fellow travelers and staff members who had the pleasure of knowing him.” All of you are in my prayers and thoughts. A family friend said, ” We plan to see you next weekend.” ”

The cruise director for MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company was Gene Moimoi Young. Young, adored by everyone he ever met, lived in Miami-Dade County, Florida, until his passing.

The cruise director for MSC Cruises was Gene Moimoi Young. At Tides Inn, Young previously served as the director of programming. Many praised Young as a kind and generous person who was always up for a good time.

“Gene Moimoi Young was a loving father, brother, son, fiancé, accomplished performer, well-known cruise director, friend, colleague, comedian, and a bright, blazing light in our world, among other roles. As a part of the thriving, close-knit cruise community, we are undoubtedly finding it difficult to accept this.”

Gene Moimoi Young also had a solid track record at the many companies he worked for, including Stiletto Entertainment/Holland America Cruise Lines, Victory Cruise Lines, and Holland America Line.

Amelia Warner

Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.

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• MSC Cruises

Cruise Director Gene Young has passed away

By GPPhilly , February 16, 2023 in MSC Cruises

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I saw in another forum that Gene passed away this week.  He had just left the Seascape for his vacation.  I know many on this board were very fond of him.  Very sad news. 

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Oh my God that’s terrible news. I’m so sorry to hear this.  May he rest in peace. 

deweytrader

So sad, had him as a cruise director many times.  A very nice man, thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

Oh no, so sad, we had him on Virtuosa last year. Condolences to his family and friends.

So sad.  Enjoyed him as a CD on Carnival three times and twice on MSC.  May he rest in peace.

Two Wheels Only

I met him on Seaside and have seen him on TV specials/documentaries many times. 

Here's a recent clip.....

Very sorry to hear this news.  We had Gene as our CD on our Seaside cruise and just last month on Seascape.

So sad, he was MSC Cruises  Best Cruise Director

2 hours ago, Two Wheels Only said: I met him on Seaside and have seen him on TV specials/documentaries many times.    Here's a recent clip.....    

Life is so precious…puts everything in perspective that’s for sure. He was so young and full of life. Had the pleasure of meeting him on a HAL ship and was hoping to see him again on MSC. 

Life is so very precious, God Bless His Soul....

morpheusofthesea

"That best portion of a man's life are his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love." Wordsworth

Heard from a friend that it is not him but someone aged 79. I know Gene was not that old.

5 minutes ago, sidari said: Heard from a friend that it is not him but someone aged 79. I know Gene was not that old.

I found this....

https://www.miamidade.gov/medicalexaminer/search_results.asp

...is there any other info?

1 hour ago, sidari said: Heard from a friend that it is not him but someone aged 79. I know Gene was not that old.

Definitely not 79. I’d say late 40’s if that.  I hope it’s not him. 

Cruisergal1208

7 minutes ago, styles27 said: Definitely not 79. I’d say late 40’s if that.  I hope it’s not him. 

That article wasn’t about our Gene.  His family and fiancé have confirmed it as well as several MSC crew and staff.  Is such a sad and emotional time for those of us who knew and loved him.  My condolences to his friends and family. 

12 minutes ago, Cruisergal1208 said: That article wasn’t about our Gene.  His family and fiancé have confirmed it as well as several MSC crew and staff.  Is such a sad and emotional time for those of us who knew and loved him.  My condolences to his friends and family. 

Oh no I’m so sorry. I will keep them in my prayers tonight 💕 . I just can’t believe it. 

cruiselovrs

Wrong Gene Young. The man who passed away was 85.

OMG, what terrible news.  Gene was our favorite Cruise Director on any cruise line and the best on MSC by far.  He was so talented and so personable and had a way of making everyone feel welcome onboard.  What a tragedy to lose such a wonderful man who was right in the prime of his life.  Deepest condolences to his fiancee and family.  He will be missed by all.   Here is a photo of the last time we saw him on Seashore in February of 2022.

happy cruzin

15 hours ago, sidari said: Heard from a friend that it is not him but someone aged 79. I know Gene was not that old.

12 hours ago, cruiselovrs said: Wrong Gene Young. The man who passed away was 85.

Sadly it has been confirmed by ship officers, his family and here: https://www.miamidade.gov/medicalexaminer/search_results.asp?fbclid=IwAR1qvL8ldLHuKs6iLdZDkoeKiSabF4cyICnTCyHf6uU4vpSAtznmaDt1KOc

Who Can confirm correct who has past away...

Is it Our Cruise director or not......

ready2cruzagain

22 minutes ago, Preziosa said: Who Can confirm correct who has past away... Is it Our Cruise director or not......  

It was him 

https://snbc13.com/gene-moimoi-young-msc-cruises-director-died-from-suicide-in-miami-death-obituary/

It’s hard to imagine someone who was so full of life and smiling every time we saw him could be suffering from depression.   

What a tragic ending to such a vibrant soul. Praying for him and his family and friends. 

7 minutes ago, styles27 said: It’s hard to imagine someone who was so full of life and smiling every time we saw him could be suffering from depression.    What a tragic ending to such a vibrant soul. Praying for him and his family and friends. 

Absolutely heartbreaking 

I may be mistaken but we were on last week sailing of Seascape and I believe he was at the white party which was Feb 10th.

2 minutes ago, Cruiser21 said: I may be mistaken but we were on last week sailing of Seascape and I believe he was at the white party which was Feb 10th.

From what I read he had just left for his vacation/break

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Watch CBS News

Death Aboard MSC Cruise Ship Investigated As Suicide

December 24, 2021 / 6:30 AM EST / CBS Miami

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Authorities are investigating an apparent suicide aboard an MSC Cruise ship.

MSC Cruises confirmed to CBS4 News that a young man traveling with his family on board MSC Seashore had apparently taken his own life on Wednesday evening.

Ship officials said they immediately notified authorities while their care team assisted the young man's family on board.

MSC Cruises released the following statement:

"All of us at MSC Cruises are heartbroken. The family remains in our thoughts and prayers. Out of respect for the family's privacy, we will not be discussing any additional details."

No other details were made available.

The incident remains under investigation.

If you know someone in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). They are available to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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Julee Cruise, Vocalist of ‘Twin Peaks’ Fame, Dies at 65

In projects for the director David Lynch, she brought an eerie, otherworldly style to “Falling” and other songs.

By Neil Genzlinger

Julee Cruise, a singer who brought a memorably ethereal voice to the projects of the director David Lynch — most famously “Falling,” whose instrumental version was the theme for Mr. Lynch’s cult-favorite television show, “Twin Peaks” — died on Thursday in Pittsfield, Mass. She was 65.

Her husband, Edward Grinnan, said the cause was suicide. He said she had struggled with depression as well as lupus.

Ms. Cruise was building a career off Broadway in the early 1980s when serendipity struck: She met the composer Angelo Badalamenti when they worked on a show together.

“I was in this country-and-western musical in the East Village,” she told The San Francisco Chronicle in 1990. “I was a chorus girl with a big skirt and a big wig, singing way too loud. Angelo was doing the music for the show, and we became friends.”

A few years later, Mr. Badalamenti was engaged by Mr. Lynch, who was still early in his career, as a vocal coach for Isabella Rossellini in the 1986 Lynch movie “Blue Velvet” and ended up writing the score for that film as well. Mr. Lynch and Mr. Badalamenti had written a song for the film that needed a vocalist.

“Angelo asked me to find someone to sing a song for the soundtrack called ‘Mysteries of Love,’ but he didn’t like any of the singers I recommended,” she told The Chronicle. “He wanted dreamy and romantic. I said, ‘Let me do it.’”

Ms. Cruise had always thought of herself as “a belter,” as she often put it (she had once played Janis Joplin in a musical revue called “Beehive”), but the voice she came up with for “Mysteries of Love” was something else entirely, enigmatic and wispy. It suited that and other Lynch-Badalamenti compositions perfectly. One writer called her style “angel-on-Quaaludes vocals.”

The three were soon collaborating on Ms. Cruise’s first album, “Floating Into the Night,” which featured songs by the two men, including “Mysteries of Love” and “Falling.” They also collaborated on a stage production called “Industrial Symphony No. 1,” performed at the New Music America festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in November 1989, with Ms. Cruise performing amid an elaborate set that included an old car.

“Often, Ms. Cruise floated far above the stage, like a prom-gowned, bleached-blond angel,” Jon Pareles wrote in his review in The New York Times. “At one point, her body plummeted to the floor and was packed into the car’s trunk by helmeted workmen; later, she re-emerged to face a video camera and sing ‘Tell your heart it’s me,’ as 10 chorus girls in gold lamé danced next to her image on television screens.”

National exposure came the following April when “Twin Peaks” premiered on ABC, with an instrumental version of “Falling” serving as its theme. Ms. Cruise appeared in the pilot and subsequent episodes as a roadhouse singer.

The show quickly became the talk of television, and in May 1990 it led to an appearance by Ms. Cruise on “Saturday Night Live.” She wasn’t in the original lineup, but the controversial comic Andrew Dice Clay (he called himself “the most vulgar, vicious comic ever to walk the face of the earth”) was the scheduled host, which led to protests from at least one cast member, Nora Dunn, who refused to appear in that episode, and caused the original musical guest, Sinead O’Connor, to drop out at the last minute.

Ms. Cruise was one of two acts summoned to replace her. Mr. Grinnan said in a telephone interview that Ms Cruise, who was still not well known, was working as a waitress at the time and had to skip out on her job. But, he noted, she didn’t call in sick.

“She said that she called in famous,” he said.

Though “Twin Peaks” brought Ms. Cruise wide exposure, Mr. Grinnan said she found a stint touring with the B-52’s in the 1990s to be particularly enjoyable. She replaced Cindy Wilson, an original member, when Ms. Wilson took a break from the band.

“It was probably the happiest performing of her life,” Mr. Grinnan said.

Julee Ann Cruise was born on Dec. 1, 1956, in Creston, Iowa, to Wilma and Dr. John Cruise. Her father was a dentist, and her mother was his office manager.

Ms. Cruise was something of a musical prodigy on the French horn, her husband said, and received a music degree in the instrument from Drake University in Iowa. He said she had applied the delicacy and phrasing of classical French horn to the voice she came up with for the Lynch projects.

But once she graduated, she thought that acting and singing would be more appealing than playing in an orchestra. She went to Minneapolis, a good city for theater, and spent several years performing with the Children’s Theater Company there before moving to New York in about 1983.

After “Twin Peaks,” Ms. Cruise made another album with Mr. Lynch and Mr. Badalamenti, “The Voice of Love” (1993). She also continued acting. Mr. Grinnan said it was her performance in an Off Broadway musical, “Return to the Forbidden Planet,” in 1991 that caught the attention of the B-52’s. Mel Gussow, reviewing that show for The Times, said she stood out.

“Only Julee Cruise invigorates the show with musical personality,” he wrote. “Well remembered for her singing on ‘Twin Peaks,’ she is spunky as well as amusing, although the script unwisely keeps her offstage for most of the first act.”

Ms. Cruise later toured with Bobby McFerrin and worked with electronic musicians like Marcus Schmickler. In 2003 she fulfilled a longtime goal of performing at the Public Theater in New York when she was cast in the musical “Radiant Baby,” about the graffiti artist Keith Haring.

It was a demanding assignment. As The Times wrote , she played “Andy Warhol, Haring’s mother, a demonic nurse and a critic who resembles Susan Sontag.”

Which of the roles was most difficult, a reporter asked?

“The costume changes,” she said. “I’m the oldest person in this cast.”

Ms. Cruise alternated between homes in Manhattan and the Berkshires. In addition to her husband, whom she married in 1988, she is survived by a sister, Kate Coen.

Ms. Cruise reprised her “Twin Peaks” role in “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me,” Mr. Lynch’s 1992 film, and, a quarter-century later, in an episode of Showtime’s reboot of the TV series. In an interview with The Los Angeles Times in 2017, she reflected on her long “Twin Peaks” ride.

“It was so much fun to be part of something that just went ba-boom!” she said. “You didn’t know it was going to do that. What a nice surprise life takes you on.”

Neil Genzlinger is a writer for the Obituaries desk. Previously he was a television, film and theater critic. More about Neil Genzlinger

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Julee Cruise, otherworldly crooner on 'Twin Peaks,' dies at 65

Lars Gotrich

In the '90s, Julee Cruise filled in for The B-52s member Cindy Wilson on tour. The singer is best known for her work with David Lynch on Twin Peaks and Blue Velvet . Ted Town/Toronto Star via Getty Images hide caption

In the '90s, Julee Cruise filled in for The B-52s member Cindy Wilson on tour. The singer is best known for her work with David Lynch on Twin Peaks and Blue Velvet .

Julee Cruise, the singer best known for her collaborations with director David Lynch and The B-52s , died Thursday. Her husband, author Edward Grinnan, confirmed to NPR that Cruise died by suicide, and had struggled with "lupus, depression and alcohol and drug addiction" in the past. She was 65.

"She left this realm on her own terms," Grinnan wrote of Cruise in a Facebook post Thursday evening. "No regrets. She is at peace. I played her [the B-52s song] Roam during her transition. Now she will roam forever. Rest In Peace, my love, and love to you all."

Born Dec. 1, 1956 in Creston, Iowa, Cruise was known for her unusual vocal presence, so intensely calm and collected that it could be unsettling — which found a receptive audience in Lynch and score composer Angelo Badalamenti . For the 1986 film Blue Velvet , the two were looking to mimic the effect of This Mortal Coil's version of "Song to the Siren" by Tim Buckley , whose rights proved too costly to clear. The result of their collaboration was the original track " Mysteries of Love ," in which Cruise's dreamlike vocals are set to a slow-moving fog of romantic synths and strings.

Inspired, the trio worked together again on Floating into the Night , Cruise's solo debut. Released in 1989, the album includes songs from Blue Velvet and others that would be featured in Lynch's concert film Industrial Symphony No. 1 and, most famously, the early '90s touchstone Twin Peaks .

An instrumental version of "Falling" was used as the theme song for the ABC television series, and onscreen, Cruise became a regular feature at The Roadhouse, a home for the show's bikers and crooners. She would return for the series' later incarnations, the feature film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me and the 2017 limited series Twin Peaks: The Return .

"In the ruckus of beers flying through the air at The Roadhouse, we have Julee singing a beautiful, slow-tempo song, and it's so outrageous," Badalamenti shared with the academic journal Series in 2016 . "You would never have that kind of song in a place like that. The songs with Julee serve a two-fold purpose: They contrast the visuals and they set the tone for the show."

Cruise worked again with Lynch and Badalamenti for her 1993 album The Voice of Love , but after that she wouldn't release music again until The Art of Being a Girl (2002) and My Secret Life (2011). Those post-millennium albums, she said, were something of a reaction to time spent in what she called a "boy's club."

"It's not really about David or Angelo," Cruise told Pitchfork in 2018 . "It's about how we're perceived as women and also how we love women. It's about how I watched my predecessors fight: Madonna , Kim Gordon , Kate Pierson — who is a god and a force to be reckoned with. We're not followers, we're front-runners. I came out of the womb with my fists."

In addition to singing, Cruise was also a Broadway actress, a pilot and a dog trainer. In the '90s, she filled in as a touring member of The B-52s while Cindy Wilson — another tough singer drawn to blurring the lines between kitsch and fine art — focused on raising a family. It was "the happiest time of her performing life," Grinnan writes in his post. "She will be forever grateful to them. When she first stepped up to the mic with Fred [Schneider] and Kate she said it was like joining the Beatles. She will love them always and never forget their travels together around the world."

At the end of that Pitchfork interview, Cruise mused about her late father and her family's cemetery plot in Minneapolis. "We have our own great graveyard there," she said, "but I'm not gonna get buried. I'm going to have my ashes mixed in with my dogs. They're gonna spread my ashes across Arizona, and Arizona is going to turn blue."

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (En Español: 1-888-628-9454; Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889) or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

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• Human Interest

Teen Dead After Falling Multiple Floors on Cruise Ship in Suspected Suicide

The incident occurred on an MSC Cruise ship, which was returning to Miami after a five-night trip in the Caribbean and Bahamas

A teenager has died after falling from multiples floors on a cruise ship returning to Miami.

The Miami-Dade Police Department tells PEOPLE that a 15-year-old boy, aboard the MSC Cruise ship, "jumped from a balcony" and landed on one of the decks below. The local medical examiner has ruled the death a suicide.

A spokesperson for the cruise line issued a statement to PEOPLE, saying: "All of us at MSC Cruises are heartbroken. The family remains in our thoughts and prayers. Out of respect for the family's privacy, we will not be discussing any additional details."

The incident took place Wednesday at around 7:30 p.m. local time, according to Fox News and Crew Center , following a five-night trip in the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

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In a statement given to Crew Center, a passenger onboard the ship shared that the vessel's captain made a "man overboard on the port side" announcement over the ship's PA system the night of the incident.

"We just had 3 emergency blasts following captain's announcement 'Man Overboard,'" the unnamed passenger told the outlet at the time. "People started running to the sides to investigate what happen, although it's nighttime."

The passenger also explained that crew members told all guests to return to their rooms and to stay away from public areas around the ship.

"A crew member came to our cabin and instructed us to close the balcony door and draw the blinds. Police will board tomorrow when we return to Miami to investigate this tragic event," they added.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org .

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Julee Cruise, Singer and Frequent David Lynch Collaborator, Dead at 65

• By Emily Zemler

Emily Zemler

Singer Julee Cruise , whose haunting voice made her a favorite of filmmaker David Lynch , has died at 65.

The news was confirmed by her husband, Edward Grinnan on Facebook , per The Guardian . “She left this realm on her own terms. No regrets,” he wrote. “She is at peace.” Grinnan added, “I played her [B-52’s song] ‘Roam’ during her transition. Now she will roam forever. Rest in peace, my love.”

Grinnan later told NPR that Cruise died by suicide after struggling with “lupus, depression and alcohol and drug addiction”; in 2018 Cruise shared on her Facebook page that she was suffering from systemic lupus and was having difficulty walking and standing.

“Deeply saddened by the passing of Julee Cruise today,” actor Kyle MacLachlan, who starred in Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks , wrote on Twitter . “Her angelic voice transported us all to another dimension. Now, she’s floating among the angels. Sending love to her family, friends, and fans today.” David Lynch also paid tribute to the “ great singer, and a great human being .”

Born in Iowa in 1956, Cruise worked with Lynch on several occasions. Her best-known song was “Falling,” released as part of her 1989 debut album Floating Into the Night . The instrumental version of the track, written by Angelo Badalamenti, was used as the theme to Lynch’s iconic 1990 TV series, Twin Peaks . She also appeared as a character on the series, reappearing 2001 spin-off film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and Twin Peaks: The Return ,  a long-awaited third season of the show that premiered in 2017.

Prior to Twin Peaks , Lynch first utilized Cruise’s music for his 1986 film Blue Velvet , which prominently features her Badalamenti collaboration, “Mysteries of Love.” In 1990, the singer appeared alongside Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern as a character named “The Dreamself of the Heartbroken Woman” in Lynch’s avant-garde theater production, Industrial Symphony No 1.

Cruise worked with other filmmakers, as well. In 1991, she covered Elvis Presley ’s “Summer Kisses, Winter Tears” for the soundtrack of Wim Wenders’ Until the End of the World . Her second album, The Voice of Love , was released in 1993. Her third album, The Art of Being a Girl , didn’t come out until 2002.

Besides her own music, Cruise also performed with other artists. She toured with The B-52’s as Cindy Wilson’s stand-in from 1992 to 1999, and performed with Bobby McFerrin’s improvisational vocal group Voicestra/CircleSong.

In 2004, Cruise provided vocals alongside Pharrell on Handsome Boy Modeling School’s song “Class System.” Cruise’s final album was 2011’s  My Secret Life , a collaboration with Deee-lite’s DJ Dmitry.

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In 2018, Cruise released Three Demos,  a collection of three recordings Cruise cut with Lynch and Badalamenti between recording the song “Mysteries of Love” for  Blue Velvet and her debut album. It included include early versions of “Floating,” “The World Spins,” and “Falling.”

Badalamenti recalled how Lynch impacted the success of Floating Into the Night in a 2014 interview with  Rolling Stone . “It was obviously a different sound,” he said of Cruise’s music. “When it came out, radio stations said they had no slots for it. Is it pop? Not really. Is it R&B? Certainly not. What is it? Even the more avant-garde stations found it unusual, so it was difficult getting airplay. But when ‘Falling’ came out as the main title theme of  Twin Peaks , that was a whole different story.”

In the same interview, Cruise noted she had heard her influence in the music that has come in the decades since with female singers. “They sing like sexy baby girls,” she said. “They all have their own personality.”

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Who was Julee Cruise and what was her cause of death?

• Amelia Beamer
• Jude Ephson
• Published : 11:36 ET, Jun 11 2022
• Updated : 11:44 ET, Jun 11 2022

KNOWN best for the theme song of Twin Peaks, singer-songwriter and actress Julee Cruise died on June 9, 2022.

The singer, who also often sang with the band B-52, was 65 years old.

Who was Julee Cruise?

Julee Cruise was born in Creston, Iowa.

She moved to New York City after studying the French horn at Drake University.

In New York, she caught her break, meeting and working with Angelo Badalamenti.

Badalamenti recognized and recommended her voice for a part in David Lynch's film Blue Velvet in 1986.

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Twin Peaks musician Julee Cruise dies aged 65 after health battles

She went on to be signed by Warner Bros. Records and released her first album Floating in the Night.

When David Lynch went on to create Twin Peaks, he used an instrumental version of her song, Floating, as its theme song.

The song won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental.

Cruise also appeared as the singer at the local bar in the show Twin Peaks.

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In the early 2000s, Cruise released her first album, for which she wrote all the lyrics and music herself.

It was titled, The Art of Being a Girl.

In 2011, she released My Secret Life, her fourth album.

In 2017, she returned for the third season of the Twin Peaks series.

Her appearance on the show once again featured her singing The World Spins.

What was her cause of death?

Her husband, author Edward Grinnan , confirmed to NPR that Cruise died by suicide and had struggled with "lupus, depression and alcohol and drug addiction" in the past. She was 65.

Previously, her husband posted the following message on the 5-52's Facebook page :

"For those of you who go back, I thought you might want to know that I said goodby to my wife, Julee Cruise, today," he wrote.

"She left this realm on her own terms."

"No regrets. She is at peace."

"Having had such a varied music career she often said that the time she spent as a B filling in for Cindy while she was having a family was the happiest time of her performing life."

"I played her Roam during her transition."

"Now she will roam forever. Rest In Peace, my love, and love to you all."

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As of her death, her net worth was estimated to be around $2million, according to IDOL NETWORTH.

This comes from four total studio albums, several stints in off-broadway shows, touring with the B-52s, and lending her voice to several other synth and electronic musicians.

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I'm a cruise director for Holland America. Our crew lives in its own little world that passengers don't see.

• Kimberly Wells started working on cruises as a performer in 1987 when she was 20 and fell in love. 
• After a hiatus on Broadway and the Home Shopping Network, Wells returned to cruise work in 2020. 
• She shares the pros of working on cruises: the people, the places, and the cons: no days off. 

This as-told-to essay is from an interview with Kimberly Wells about working as a 57-year-old cruise director. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I sang and danced my way into my first job on a cruise ship at age 20, working as part of the entertainment team in 1987. I fell in love during that first voyage, with a man and with a way of life. After that contract ended, I knew I had to figure out a way to stay aboard. I became a fitness director, then a social hostess.

My biggest passion is the stage, and I couldn't say no when I received the call from Broadway. I worked in New York City for 10 years, before becoming a host on the Home Shopping Network. 

My job with HSN ended a couple years ago, and I wasn't ready to retire. 

I'd stayed in contact with friends and my former bosses in the cruise industry and made some calls. I was quickly connected with Holland America, who flew me out to audition for a cruise director role in April 2020. I got the job but, due to COVID, had to sit through a two-year waiting period before returning to the seas.

Now, as of 2022, I'm the cruise director for Holland America, working aboard several ships, including most recently on Zuiderdam . 

A day in my life as a cruise director 

As the cruise director, I'm the first and last face that any guest sees on any sailing. They serve as the main connection point between ship crew and guests, keeping all passengers up to speed on all available entertainment and goings-on as well as the nuts and bolts of days at port.

My day starts at 6 a.m. I hit the ship's gym, then I'm out on the floor at 8 a.m., grabbing a coffee and chatting with guests before my first meeting at 8:30 a.m. Then I host a coffee chat to meet guests, make my first announcement of the day to all the passengers, and then the day just keeps on – boom, boom, boom – from there.

My superpower is that I can go from zero to full glam makeup in 30 minutes. I do this most nights, hitting the floor right before an event, and greeting guests.

Every night, I give what's called the "today, tonight, tomorrow" talk that recaps the day and let the guests know what to expect for the night and the next day. 

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Then I introduce the show, be it a comedian, magician, or dance show. Then I take down the show. I'll repeat that with every evening performance. Then it's back to my cabin by midnight.

What most people don't realize is that cruise ship workers don't ever have a day off during their contract. We only have hours off. The hardest part of this job is learning to power nap. You also get great at arranging your schedule so that you have downtime. 

Every day no matter how tired I am, I work out, meditate and practice yoga because those things give me strength internally. If I want to recharge further I'll get facials and massages in the ship's spa where the treatments aren't free but are heavily discounted for staff.

I love traveling to new places 

My last three contracts have taken me to Alaska, the Caribbean, and New England.

On my first cruise this season in Alaska, we were touring the Margerie Glacier and saw so many baby seals. We witnessed one seal give birth. I can't wait for my next contract: a 73-day cruise around Africa. 

We start in the Caribbean, pass through the Panama Canal, and go on to spend nearly three months exploring Africa. I've been to Africa before, but this is such a unique opportunity to see so much of it. 

As much as cruising is about the destinations, it's also about the people

I love this aspect of my job because I'm a people person. I live for making magical moments for others. 

One time, at Half Moon Cay, Holland America's private island in the Bahamas, a guest was planning a proposal. I'd arranged for him to ride a white horse down the beach to meet his girlfriend. We'd set everything up and then got a call that he'd forgotten the ring on the ship. 

I had to jump on a tender back to the ship. He gave housekeeping his room number and safe info and they were able to bring the ring to me. I ran down that beach to get it to him just in time. It was amazing to be part of that.

The crew section of the ship is its own world

There's a corridor that runs the entire length of the ship in the crew quarters. Along the hall,  we have barbershops, pop-up shops, massage therapy, girls making jewelry – you name it. We are a city on the sea, with a lot of diversity. My last ship had 55 nationalities on board.

This job keeps me busy, but it's rewarding every day. Just a few weeks ago, my friends from back home in Minnesota shared that they had five feet of snow, and I was on the beaches of the Galapagos. Bigger than the places we see, I love that I make so many friends through this job. I'm still connected to many people I met during my first week on board.

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Cruise passenger who jumped to death from ship id’d as florida resident who argued with dad before leap.

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The  20-year-old passenger who jumped off a Royal Caribbean cruise  last week after an argument with his dad has been identified as a former high school football player and avid hunter living in Florida.

Levion Parker, of North Port, Florida, has been missing since he jumped overboard April 4 in front of his brother and father on the cruise to Cuba and the Bahamas’ Grand Inagua Island, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.

The release of his identity comes shortly after the  Coast Guard called off its search  for Parker. 

Social media posts show Parker often went on hunting and fishing trips. He also played football for North Port High School before he graduated in 2022, according to the Daily Mail .

Parker jumped off the 18-story Liberty of the Seas after reportedly getting into an argument with his father.

Parker’s father was “fussing at him for being drunk,”  fellow passenger Bryan Sims told The Post .

“When we got to them, he said to his dad, ‘I’ll fix this right now.’ And he jumped out the window in front of us all,” Sims said.

“He was pretty drunk,” Sims added.

Sims hung out with Parker and his brother, Seth, 18, in the hot tub in the early hours of April before going their separate ways around 4 a.m. 

After Sims had used the restroom and dried off, he headed toward the elevators.

On his way there, he noticed the two brothers and their dad, Francel Parker, coming out of the sliding doors near the elevators. 

“As we were walking from the hot tub back to the elevators, his dad and brother were walking towards us. His dad was fussing at him for being drunk, I guess,” Sims said of the moment before Parker jumped.  

Royal Caribbean said it “immediately” launched search boats to look for him with help from the US Coast Guard.

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Parker’s father owns an air conditioning company and the family was cruising on the boat as guests of Tropic Supply, a Florida-based air conditioning wholesale company.

Tropic Supply had invited dozens of contractors to mark the company’s 50th anniversary, according to Daily Mail.

The Post has reached out to the family for comment. 

Nearly 400 people have gone overboard on major cruise lines between 2000 and 2020,  according to the Washington Post . 

As many cases are often deadly, many cruise lines have installed surveillance cameras and employed additional safety measures to help reduce risk. 

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.

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Julee cruise, frequent david lynch collaborator, dies at 65.

The instrumental version of Cruise's "Falling" was the title music for Lynch's 'Twin Peaks' series.

By Gil Kaufman, Billboard

Gil Kaufman, Billboard

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Julee Cruise, the alluring pop singer best known for her collaborations with avant garde director David Lynch , has died at age 65. The vocalist’s husband, Edward Grinnan, confirmed the news on Facebook on Thursday , writing, “I said goodby to my wife, Julee Cruise, today. She left this realm on her own terms. No regrets. She is at peace.”

Grinnan said Cruise’s time as a touring member of the B-52’s from 1992-1999 as a fill-in for member Cindy Wilson was the “happiest time of her performing life. She will be forever grateful to them. When she first stepped up to the mic with Fred and Kate she said it was like joining the Beatles. She will love them always and never forget their travels together around the world.”

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As a tribute, Grinnan said he played the Georgia band’s 1989 single “Roam” for Cruise as she transitioned. “Now she will roam forever,” he wrote. Cruise’s best-known work is her single “Falling,” whose instrumental version written by composer Angelo Badalamenti, served as the theme song for Lynch’s belovedly weird 1990 Twin Peaks TV series, later winning a Grammy for best pop instrumental. The singer with the haunting voice also had cameos as a roadhouse crooner in the series and the 1992 spinoff movie, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me ; she sang the closing credits on an episode of the 2017 Showtime TV reboot, Twin Peaks: the Return .

A vocal version of the the song with lyrics written by Lynch became a worldwide hit and was featured on Cruise’s 1989 debut album, the ethereal Floating Into the Night .

Cruise’s long association with Lynch and Badalamenti began in 1986 when Lynch was looking for a song to accompany a scene in his bizarro classic Blue Velvet .

Badalamenti, remembering Cruise from a New York theater workshop production he’d worked on, suggested her for the gig and the song they came up with, “Mysteries of Love,” which was also later featured on the Floating album; other tracks from that collection wound up in subsequent Lynch works, including “Rockin’ Back Inside My Heart,” “Into the Night” and “I Float Alone” in the director’s Industrial Symphony No. 1 .

The versatile actress and Broadway performer was born in Creston, Iowa on Dec. 1, 1956 and her other notable credits included singing the theme song for an episode of the USA Network drama Psych , covering Elvis Presley’s “Summer Kisses, Winter Tears” (produced by Lynch and Badalamenti) for the Wim Wenders movie Until the End of the World and collaborating with former Deee-lite DJ Dmitry on her fourth and final studio album, 2011’s My Secret Life .

Over the years, Cruise also collaborated with everyone from Moby to EDM group Hybrid, Delerium and Prince Paul’s Handsome boy Modeling School, among others.

The singer revealed in 2018 that she was battling systemic lupus , writing on Facebook at the time that she could “hardly walk… and now it’s difficult to stand. I can’t walk Gracie anymore. My spine is crumbling, and pinching on nerves.”

A version of this story first appeared on billboard.com

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Dad Takes Aim at Cruise Staff After 20-Year-Old Son’s Fatal Jump

The dad of Levion Parker , the 20-year-old Florida outdoorsman who drunkenly leaped to his death in front of his family on a Royal Caribbean cruise last week, is now questioning how his son was able to get so drunk despite being underage.

In an interview with his hometown newspaper, The Daily Sun , Francel Parker insisted that his son wasn’t suicidal and that they weren’t arguing before his fatal plunge—a statement that contradicts what others onboard told the New York Post they witnessed.

Instead, Francel told the paper his son’s spontaneous jump was done out of drunken ignorance—something he suggested should have been avoidable.

“We don’t drink,” he told the Sun . “I’d like to know how my son was served so much alcohol.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Levion Parker (@levionparker)

Despite being over international waters at the time of the fatal plunge, roughly midway between Grand Inagua Island and Cuba, cruises that depart and return from U.S. ports are barred from serving alcohol to anyone under 21. Royal Caribbean has released a statement on the incident, but has not addressed witness statements that claimed Levion was drunk.

Parker added that he’s holding out hope his son, an outdoorsman who won a saltwater fishing tournament just last month, is still alive somewhere in the Caribbean—despite Thursday making it a full week since he disappeared into ocean, and two days since the U.S. Coast Guard called off its search.

“As soon as he went off the side, I prayed over him,” he said, adding that his son was a skilled diver. “I was confident the prayers I said over my son were heard. I stand on the word of God. I believe he is alive.”

The tragedy unfolded around 4 a.m. on April 4, on the 11th deck of the massive Liberty of the Seas cruise liner. Witnesses told the Post last week that Levion was hanging out in a hot tub with his brother when he was approached by his dad, who appeared angry that he’d been drinking.

Authorities Identify Son Who Jumped Off Cruise Ship in Front of Family

After what he perceived as being an argument, the witness Bryan Sims told the Post he heard Levion tell his dad, “I’ll fix this right now.” Moments later, he jumped into the dark ocean below—an incident Sims described as being an “impulsive leap.”

Sims added that the ship was moving “pretty fast” and that Francel screamed for staff to alert the captain, which brought the ship to a complete stop within 20 minutes. The vessel launched rescue boats, but to no avail—Levion was nowhere to be found.

Francel told the Sun he flung six life rings off the ship hoping one would reach his son, who he said accompanied him on board along with his younger brother to take a break from his work on a commercial fishing boat.

Social media posts showed Levion graduated from North Port High School, in southwest Florida between Sarasota and Fort Myers, in 2022. He played football there, and regularly posted about fishing and hunting.

In in its lone statement on the incident, Royal Caribbean said last week it was “providing support and assistance” to Levion’s family.

“The ship’s crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort alongside the U.S. Coast Guard,” it said, adding, “For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share.”

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Bruce Kessler, Prolific TV Director and Adventurer, Dies at 88

By Pat Saperstein

Pat Saperstein

Deputy Editor

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• Bruce Kessler, Prolific TV Director and Adventurer, Dies at 88 4 days ago

Bruce Kessler , a prolific TV director as well as a noted yacht designer, died April 4 in Marina Del Rey, Calif. after a brief illness. He was 88.

His brother Stephen confirmed his death.

Kessler started out racing cars at the age of 17 and at 21, he crashed at night during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, bailing out of the car before it burst into flames. He survived two more crashes before retiring from racing at 26 in 1962.

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He later began designing boats, building a yacht, the Zopilote, built on the hull of a fishing trawler and created for marlin fishing. With his wife, actor Joan Freeman Kessler, he cruised and fished around North America. The couple circumnavigated the globe from 1990 to 1993, visiting 34 countries. The Zopilote’s innovative design proved influential and he became an authority on the subject. A model of the yacht is on display at the Del Ray Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey.

Born in Seattle, his family moved to Beverly Hills where he started his racing career among Hollywood celebrities such as James Dean and Steve McQueen.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Joan; brothers Rick and Stephen and many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.

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Son's final 5 words before jumping to death off cruise ship in argument with dad

A 20-year-old Florida sportsman fell to his death overboard the 11th deck of a Royal Caribbean cruise during a drunken spat with his dad.

Levion Parker, of North Port, Florida was identified by Police in Broward County after he was declared missing when the US Coast Guard could not recover his body in the Bahamas waters. Levion, a football player who graduated high school in 2022, and his brother encountered their dad Francel Parker, on the Liberty of the Seas ship as they got out of a hot tub at around 3.30am.

One fellow passenger, Bryan Sims said “His dad was fussing at him for being drunk, I guess. When we got to them, he said to his dad, 'I'll fix this right now.' And he jumped out the window in front of us all.” Bryan recounted the horrific event to the NY Post : ”'It was literally 8 to 10 feet in front of me. It was one of the sliding windows by the soft serve ice cream machine.

“The ship was moving pretty fast cause it was during the night, and we were traveling a long distance. We were screaming and his dad was calling everyone to stop the ship. I do know from what I've heard it takes about a mile to get the ship stopped and turned around.

“Lots of crew were up top and they started launching the smaller boats to search after we got turned around and back to the area I'm assuming.

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Bryan reflected on the evening up until that point, saying the brothers had been chatting in the hot tub just moments before Levion jumped off the deck. He added: “I had hung out with him and his brother in the hot tub until 3.30am.

“It was standing room only. He sat right beside me the whole time. We chatted about different things, and he told me that he worked on yachts and other types of boats in Florida. I would say around 3.30 to 3.45am him and his brother left the hot tub. I just assumed they were headed to bed. Everyone had left the hot tub by 4am and went their separate ways.

“I got out, went to the restroom, dried off, put my shirt on and was walking from the front of the ship to the back elevators to go down to my room. When I got near the back of the ship on the pool deck I noticed him his brother and dad coming out of the sliding doors there near the elevators. They were walking in my direction and his dad had his arm around him and they were talking."

Levion's father had invited dozens of employees on a trip for his air conditioning business to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary. The boat was 57 miles away from the coast of the Dominican Republic when the alarm was raised, with passenger Deborah Morrison saying the crew were “alerted immediately'” by the “yelling” which erupted, as the man's family appeared “beside themselves.”

The ship was stopped and the search began for Levion, but most of the 4,000 passengers were only told of the events the next morning. One passenger wrote on Reddit: “They announced it over the PA system while we were at breakfast at the entire room went silent. Then the rest of the cruise felt oddly casual.”

One passenger Amy Phelps Fouse said the early morning was “definitely somber”. She added: “So many people came out of their cabins to stare at the sea, hoping to be able to aid in finding the person.

Linda Meissner Nuffe wrote: “I was on the ship and when the coast guard arrived and we got under way I couldn't help think how they must be feeling they were leaving their son behind.” Linda believed she was staying in the cabin next door to Levion, and woke to find his room locked and a crew member standing guard outside.

She said: “I saw a person go in that cabin on day one. I thought it was a teen or he could have been 20. My daughter and I were telling him how I sometimes put my deco on other doors the last night to confuse people. He laughed.

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“He was quiet and polite, not someone who seemed like a raging alcoholic like the press seems to be saying. We never heard a noise out of that cabin, no partying, no arguing, no slamming doors. I looked over our balcony at theirs after I saw the lock, there was nothing but chairs there.”

Francel told Dailymail.com that the family is consulting lawyers and is planning to issue a statement. A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said: ''The ship's crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort alongside the US Coast Guard. Our Care Team is providing support and assistance to the guest's family during this difficult time. For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share.''

Waymo will launch paid robotaxi service in Los Angeles on Wednesday

Tech startup Waymo said Tuesday that it would begin offering paid robotaxi rides in Los Angeles beginning Wednesday, as the nation’s experiment with self-driving car technology picks up steam. 

Waymo, a spinoff of Google, had announced details for its service in Los Angeles in January as it sought state regulatory approval and local support. Within the last year, Waymo has offered free "tour" rides in Los Angeles, and last month, it received regulatory approval to expand to a paid service, despite pushback from the Teamsters union and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. Waymo previewed the project in a blog post in 2022.

Waymo said Tuesday that more than 50,000 people were on its waitlist to use the service. The company did not say how many users it would allow to fully use the app starting Wednesday. Last month, the company said it was starting with a Los Angeles fleet of fewer than 50 cars covering a 63-square-mile area from Santa Monica to downtown L.A. Los Angeles County has a population of 9.7 million people. 

The service works similarly to other ride-hailing smartphone apps such as Flywheel, Lyft and Uber, except that Waymo’s vehicles have no human drivers present. Riders follow instructions on the app and through the vehicle’s sound system, though Waymo workers can assist remotely. 

Robotaxis are getting more buzz as the technology advances in fits and starts. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Friday that Tesla would reveal a robotaxi product in August, though he gave no details. Cruise, a General Motors subsidiary that paused its robotaxi service last year after one of its vehicles failed to detect a pedestrian underneath it, said Tuesday that it would reintroduce human-driven vehicles in select cities, including Phoenix, as a step back toward driverless operations. 

Various China-based tech startups are also testing self-driving cars on California roads, drawing scrutiny from lawmakers. 

But for now, Waymo’s only competition is traditional, human-driven car services. 

Waymo’s expansion to Los Angeles will bring autonomous for-profit taxis to the nation’s second-largest city — and to a city long synonymous with car travel. Waymo already operates commercial robotaxi services in San Francisco and Phoenix. 

Chris Ludwick, Waymo’s product management director, called the Los Angeles move a milestone. 

“The reception from Angelenos so far has been exceptional, and we look forward to welcoming more riders into our service over time,” he said in a statement. 

Waymo said it informed its test riders about the change Monday in an email, which someone also posted to Reddit. 

Robotaxis have faced criticism on multiple fronts, from the threat they pose to drivers’ jobs to the mistakes they’ve made blocking city buses or emergency vehicles. Under California law, driverless cars can’t be given traffic tickets, and they could make traffic congestion worse . 

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation said the Waymo expansion was happening too soon, without enough local oversight of autonomous vehicle operations, but in an order last month state officials said that those concerns were unfounded. 

Supporters of robotaxis have countered that human drivers have a terrible safety record , with traffic deaths topping 40,000 a year in the U.S. Waymo has not reported a death or serious injury from its technology, and Waymo vehicles appear to be generally more observant of traffic laws than human drivers are, according to journalists who have ridden in them. 

In San Francisco, the futuristic nature of driverless vehicles has become a tourist attraction. 

Opponents of autonomous taxi expansions, including the Teamsters, have vowed to slow down the growth of companies such as Waymo. A bill pending in the California Senate would give cities and counties authority over robotaxi services — a power that currently resides with state government agencies. A hearing on that bill is scheduled for next week. 

David Ingram covers tech for NBC News.