Cruise Passenger Murdered

Nina Elisabeth Nilssen, a thirty year old passenger on Royal Clipper, has been reported murdered in Antigua.

Ms Nilssen, along with other passengers, was visiting Antigua when she was apparently attacked and killed. Antiguan police officials said Nilssen's body was found on a secluded trail at Windward Bay, near Pigeon Point Beach and also say that they have been given a description of the alleged assailant, but as yet they have not made an arrest. The local paper, the Antigua Sun, claims Nilssen's body was found with a stab wound to the neck and was partially unclothed.

Her murder is simply the latest in a series of serious and violent crimes against cruise passengers in Antigua. Last year an Australian man whose yacht was moored at the marina was shot dead while walking near the port with his family, and two years ago a British couple on honeymoon were murdered in their hotel room. It raises further questions about security for cruise passengers in some parts of the Caribbean, especially Antigua, where Carnival Cruise Line had passengers arrested after brawling just a few months ago which led to the line deciding to end port calls to Antigua for most of their Caribbean itineraries.

In a statement, Star Clippers CEO Mikael Krafft expressed his heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the members of Ms. Nilssen's family. The statement also says that ‘Star Clippers … is cooperating with Antiguan authorities in their ongoing investigation and search for the assailant.’ However the line also says it hasn't decided whether the Royal Clipper will return to the island on its next fortnightly visit.