FBI Investigates Suspected Homicide on MSC Seascape in Galveston

The FBI is investigating a suspected homicide aboard the MSC Seascape after the vessel returned to Galveston overnight. The ship had departed on Sunday afternoon but turned back to port before dawn Monday. The Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the victim is a woman and scheduled her autopsy for Tuesday.

Federal officials stated that an FBI Maritime Liaison Agent from the Texas City Resident Agency is leading the inquiry. They are coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Port of Galveston Police Department, Customs and Border Protection, and MSC Cruises. The FBI noted that it is the primary federal agency authorized to investigate potential crimes on the high seas. Investigators said they cannot provide additional details while the case remains ongoing.

Passengers on the ship told reporters that authorities took crime scene bags and multiple individuals in handcuffs off the vessel. Jeremiah, a passenger who posted on social media on November 9, said the group was stuck in port while authorities conducted their investigation. Another passenger, Carl HTX, noted that police were involved in the incident and the boat was already back in Galveston without a confirmed new departure time.

The crew informed passengers that they were cleared to depart again on Monday afternoon. The original itinerary included stops in Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel. It remains unclear how the delayed start to the trip will impact the overall schedule. MSC Cruises has not yet responded to requests for comment from news outlets.

The Port of Galveston has seen increasing federal activity in recent years. In 2025, the FBI’s Texas City office told local reporters that investigators boarded cruise ships nearly every week to examine crimes committed in international waters. Data from the port showed that the previous two years marked the highest passenger volumes in its history.