Tragedies involving cruise guests who accidentally fall from, or intentionally jump off, their ships usually happen at sea, but that was not the case in Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, on February 6, 2026.

In what appears to have been a deliberate act, an unidentified adult man apparently leapt from Costa Cruises’ Costa Smeralda as the ship was docked at the port.

Local media reports indicate that the incident unfolded around 2 p.m. that day, as the 5,224-guest ship was embarking and disembarking guests. Like other European lines, Costa Cruises’ ships that sail 7-night voyages allow guests to join or leave the ship at each port of call, as the vessels sail a continual rotation of port destinations.

It is unknown whether the man who jumped and was pronounced dead at the scene had just embarked the ship or was scheduled to continue on the voyage. He was identified only as a German national.

In an unusual turn of events, first responders were already on the scene at the port’s Pier 12 when the man jumped. They had been called to the port earlier to assist in the medical evacuation of another cruise guest.

The responders, identified as Red Helmets — local firefighters, along with representatives of the ship’s medical team, immediately attempted to aid the man, who had fallen an estimated 98 feet. Their efforts were in vain.

Published reports from local sources indicate that Port of Civitavecchia police and the Italian Coast Guard investigated the case and found the man’s actions were likely a “voluntary gesture.”

Costa Cruise Line issued a statement following the tragedy and the investigation, which kept the ship in port until about 8:30 p.m. that day.

“It is with deep sadness that we confirm the death of a German guest today at the port of Civitavecchia,” said a statement from Costa Cruises. 

“According to an initial reconstruction, the guest voluntarily jumped onto the quayside while the ship was in port for normal operations. The captain and the company are fully cooperating and offering all possible support to the guest’s family,” the cruise line added.

Read Also: What Happens During a Cruise Ship Overboard Alarm?

Costa Smeralda, an Excellence-class ship that entered service in 2019, continued on her way, calling at Savona and Palermo, Italy; Marseille, France; Barcelona; and La Goulette, Tunisia.

Tragic Action Not The First Deliberate Jump in 2026

The tragedy onboard Costa Smeralda was at least the third time this year that a guest has gone overboard from a cruise ship in actions that appear to be deliberate.

On January 1, 2026, a 77-year-old woman was reported missing from Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam as the ship sailed north of Cuba. The ship’s crew conducted a search operation, but the guest was not located.

A second apparent suicide happened on January 19, 2026, aboard Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze, which was sailing in the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia.

In that case, a 66-year-old man reportedly jumped off the ship after a marital dispute. The guest, an American, apparently leapt from the vessel at around 2 a.m. A search by the ship and local authorities was unsuccessful.

Costa Smeralda Guest Dies While Ship Was Docked in Civitavecchia