Captain Michele Bartolomei, a beloved and respected cruise ship captain commanding Diamond Princess, suddenly passed away in the early morning of May 19, 2025. The cause of death has not been revealed. He was just 52 years old.
At approximately 2 am, passengers on Diamond Princess awoke to hear a call for a medical team broadcasted over the ship’s PA system. The team was told to report to the medical center on Deck 4.
Diamond Princess was docked in Keelung, Taiwan at the time of Captain Bartolomei’s death. The ship is on a 19-day cruise that began in Yokohama, Japan. Staff Captain Salvatore Macera has since assumed command.
In a letter to passengers, Princess Cruises said the following:
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. Captain Bartolomei was a respected leader, whose decades of service at sea exemplified professionalism, dedication, and care for both guests and crew.
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.
At this time, Captain Salvatore Macera is now in command of Diamond Princess. Please be assured that our commitment to your safety and the smooth operation of this voyage remains our utmost priority. Our highly experienced and professional bridge team is fully capable and will ensure the remainder of our journey continues as planned.
Thank you for your understanding and compassion during this challenging time. We appreciate your continued trust in us.
Kind regards,
Captain Salvatore Macera
Master, Diamond Princess
A Respected Leader
Michele Bartolomei was born in Italy and later lived in British Columbia. His career with Princess Cruises spanned nearly 30 years. Before that, he studied at Marina di Carrara and La Spezia, and in 1991, he worked on a private motor yacht. Captain Bartolomei also gained experience working for Stargas and Sidermar before transitioning to the cruise industry (and Princess Cruises) in August 1995.
Captain Bartolomei was a respected leader in the maritime industry. Tributes are pouring in praising his kindness, quiet confidence, and skills as a mariner. It’s clear that Captain Michele Bartolomei will be missed by everyone who knew him.
Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.
The Parting
It’s not common for ship captains to die mid-voyage, but it does sadly happen.
In April 2024, Royal Caribbean’s Captain James MacDonald suffered a fatal heart attack on Harmony of the Seas and later died in a shoreside hospital. Queen Mary’s first master, Commodore Sir Edgar T. Britten, was found unconscious in his cabin in October 1936 and later passed away. Famously, Captain Robert Renison Willmott of the Morro Castle died under mysterious circumstances before his ship caught fire in September 1934.
Then there was Commodore Sir James Charles of Aquitania. As his retirement neared in 1928, however, he began to have a premonition that he would die at sea. Commodore Charles even went so far as to buy a burial plot before his last voyage aboard “The Ship Beautiful.” As Aquitania neared Europe in July 1928, the Commodore murmured, “I never realized how hard the parting would be” to his staff captain.
Commodore Robert G. Thelwell, a junior officer on that fateful voyage, describes what happened at Cherbourg, France on July 15, 1928:
[Sir James] was obviously unwell but refused the pleas of his officers and the doctor to leave the bridge. He docked the ship but immediately had a severe internal hæmorrhage. On the short passage from Cherbourg he became worse and he was carried down the gangway unconscious at Southampton with only a few hours to live.
None of us knows when the end is going to come. It could be tomorrow or it could be 20 years from now. As Marcus Aurelius wrote, “Life is short. That’s all there is to say. Get what you can from the present—thoughtfully, justly. Unrestrained moderation.”
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