A number of newspapers in Australia are reporting that police in the Northern Territory of Australia are investigating the death of a 24-year-old woman aboard a cruise ship which docked in Darwin today.
Commander Richard Bryson of the Crime and Specialist Support Command said the woman’s body was found in her cabin. "The woman was a staff member on a cruise ship which is currently moored in Darwin Harbour," he said.
"A crime scene was established as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident continue."
The newspaper articles state that the police refuse to release further information, such as even the name of the cruise ship.
Ship tracking services indicate that the Seven Seas Voyager operated by Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) is in Darwin today. The Seven Seas Voyager has a crew of 447 serving some 700 passengers.
Needless to say, the death of a young woman is unusual.
The death of this young woman comes at a time when members of the International Cruise Victims (ICV) organization are petitioning the government of Australia for legislation to protect passengers and crew members who sail into Australian ports. ICV Australia Director Mark Brimble lost his wife on a cruise after she was given a date rape drug.
An on-line cruise community says that the crew member in question was the lead female singer on the cruise ship, although this has not been confirmed.
February 3 2012 Update:
A news station in Australia has video showing a Regent Seven Seas cruise ship as the location of the incident.
The young woman was a talented performer for Jean Ann Ryan Productions which employ dancers and singers on cruise ships.
She apparently worked aboard the Seven Seas Voyager for a relatively short period of time after performing on other Regent cruise ships like the Navigator and Mariner.
Rest in Peace Jackie Kastrinelis.
February 4 2013 Update:
A newspaper in Australia quotes police saying that they do not believe that a crime occurred. A coroner will prepare a report.
We received information that the crew member had an accident the preceding day during a rehearsal where she hit her head and had been given medicine by the ship doctor.
A news station in Australia has a video tribute to Ms. Kastrinelis below.
March 31, 2016 Update: "What killed Jaquelyn? Family says 3 years after daughter’s death, many questions unanswered."