Personal Injury Law

Cruise ship passenger murdered during port call in Antigua

By Lipcon, Margulies & Alsina, P.A.

A 30-year-old American woman sailing in the Caribbean this week on a Star Clippers cruise ship was murdered during a port call in Antigua.

In a statement issued today to USA TODAY, Star Clippers confirms several reports in small Caribbean news outlets that the woman, identified as Nina Elisabeth Nilssen, was attacked and killed on Tuesday after she went ashore from the 227-passenger Royal Clipper.

"According to Antiguan police officials, Nilssen's body was discovered around 5 p.m. on a secluded trail at Windward Bay, near Pigeon Point Beach," the statement says. "Authorities have a description of the alleged assailant, but have not made an arrest."

A story in the Antigua Sun says Nilssen's body was found with what appeared to be a stab wound to the neck and was partially unclothed.

The murder is just the latest serious crime against tourists in Antigua. A 38-year-old Australian man visiting the island last year on his yacht was shot dead while walking with his girlfriend and daughter, and in 2008 the island was the scene of a double murder of a honeymooning British couple -- incidents that have raised questions about the safety of visiting the island. The British couple were shot in their room at Antigua's Cocos Hotel.

Antigua's tourism industry also suffered a black eye in September when six Carnival cruise passengers were arrested after a brawl with local police. Carnival announced shortly after the incident that it was ending most cruises to Antigua. The Carnival Victory's last stop on the island took place earlier this month.

Star Clippers says Nilssen's family disembarked Royal Clipper Tuesday evening and received assistance from both Star Clippers and the Antiguan government with accommodations, flights home and arrangements to return Nilssen's body to the United States.

"Star Clippers CEO Mikael Krafft has expressed his heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the members of Ms. Nilssen's family," the line's statement says.

"Star Clippers also is cooperating with Antiguan authorities in their ongoing investigation and search for the assailant."

A spokesperson for Star Clippers says the line hasn't decided whether the Royal Clipper will return to the island. The ship normally visits every two weeks.

Full post as published by Cruise Ship Law on January 22, 2010 (boomark / email).