A toddler suddenly passed away on a 7-night Mediterranean cruise aboard Costa Toscana, the Italian line's newest ship that debuted in 2021.
The ship was en route from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, to Savona, Italy, when the child collapsed mid-play in front of his parents, Italian publication Notizie reported. Costa Toscana departed from Civitavecchia on May 17 and arrived in Savona by 8:30am on the 18th.
Attempts to revive the two-year-old were unsuccessful. The parents, who were from France, stayed with their son's body until Costa Toscana arrived in Savona.
Although cruise ships are equipped with life-saving equipment like cardiac monitors, oxygen, and defibrillators (AEDs), reports suggest the child passed away from a pre-existing heart condition that he'd previously had surgery for.
His parents shared that their son seemed healthy during the cruise, leading them to assume his recovery was going smoothly and he was stable enough to travel.
To protect the grieving family's privacy, Costa Cruises hasn't identified the family beyond the child's age. Additionally, while they're Chinese, they reside in France.
The boy's body will be repatriated to France
Following the toddler's unexpected passing, the parents were given a private place to stay with their son's body until Costa Toscana arrived in Savona, Italy, around 8:30am on May 18, 2025.
Local authorities boarded the 185,010 gross registered ton (GRT) ship to interview the parents, medical team, and other witnesses. While likely difficult for the parents, the interviews were part of a standard investigation procedure following deaths at sea.
Then, the boy's body was removed from the vessel. He will be repatriated to France and laid to rest.
No delays to the 7-night Mediterranean voyage
In Europe, many ships allow guests to begin and end their cruise at different ports along the itinerary, not just the main turnaround port. This means that passengers embarked on a 7-night cruise in Civitavecchia on the 17th and in Savona on the 18th.
The 7-night Western Caribbean cruise from Civitavecchia didn't experience any delays resulting from the tragic incident aboard Costa Toscana.
Following its departure from Savona, the ship continued its scheduled itinerary, heading toward Marseilles, France, and Barcelona, Spain.
News came hours after it was reported that a cruise captain suddenly died mid-voyage in Asia
Captain Michele Bartolomei suddenly passed away during a 19-night cruise around Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China while aboard Diamond Princess.
Guests reported being awoken by a late-night announcement around 2:00am, requesting for the medical team to report to the medical center on Deck 4.
It was later confirmed that Captain Bartolomei passed away as the Diamond Princess arrived in Taipei, Taiwan.
Read more: Passengers told cruise ship captain suddenly died during sailing
"It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Captain Michele Bartolomei, who died onboard Diamond Princess earlier of a sudden medical emergency," a letter delivered to guests reads.
"Our hearts are with Captain Bartolomei's family during this incredibly difficult time, and we extend our deepest condolences to them. We also stand in support of the entire Diamond Princess crew and all employees across our company who had the honor of working alongside him."
Captain Bartolomei began working for Princess Cruises in August 1995 and was approaching his 30th anniversary with the company.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
