MIAMI – What was supposed to be a week-long joy ride to Mexico and the Caribbean reportedly turned into a deadly buzzkill at sea for almost 4,000 gay men from around the world.
On Feb. 8, the RSVP Vacations’ 30th Anniversary Gay Cruise left Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, stopped in the Bahamas and was on its way to Cozumel.
But the ship was forced to make an emergency U-turn and pit stop at PortMiami on Feb. 10 after an American passenger reportedly died of an overdose on the dance floor earlier in the day.
According to a spokeswoman with Princess Cruises, the vessel, its passengers and crew were 80 miles off the coast of Florida when the incident occurred.
Passenger and Miami resident Harvey J. Burstein said, “It’s a shame these incidents happen on gay cruises. Looks like a double OD on the dance floor with one fatality.”
The victim and another American passenger were reportedly taken off the ship in Miami before the Princess Regal headed back to sea on its voyage to Cozumel and Grand Cayman.
The cruise ends Feb. 15 and passengers will disembark at Port Everglades.
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