Key Aspects:
- An elderly Vietnamese couple tragically drowned at Sarakiniko Beach on Milos, Greece on Friday, August 8.
- The couple had likely been sailing aboard Celestyal Journey on a 7-night Idyllic Greece itinerary.
- Strong winds caused the couple to fall into the water, rough conditions that are not uncommon on Milos.
Even a wonderful cruise vacation to idyllic destinations can be fraught with peril, even leading to life-threatening dangers no matter how beautiful the landscape may look.
Few port destinations are as beautiful as Milos, Greece, with its smooth white cliffs, natural stone arches, and stunning aquamarine waters.
Yet high winds created devastatingly dangerous conditions on the island on Friday, August 8, 2025, ultimately costing a Vietnamese cruise couple their lives.
According to Greek Reporter, the incident happened at Sarakiniko Beach on the island’s north side, where white rocks and turquoise waters meet. The winds reached as high as 50 miles per hour, well into gale force strength.
The 64-year-old female guest was trying to take a selfie (what cruise tourist hasn’t?) when she was unbalanced by the strong winds and fell into the water. Her 65-year-old husband tried to rescue her but was also pulled into the water.
Sadly, both guests drowned. The local conditions initially made recovery challenging, but both guests were eventually located by a private boat and diver. Multiple private boats assisted with search efforts.
In order to safeguard their privacy and that of their families, the couples’ identities have not been released.
While the cruise ship the guests were from has not been confirmed, the only ship visiting Milos on Friday was Celestyal Cruises’ Celestyal Journey, formerly Holland America Line’s Ryndam.
The ship is homeported from Piraeus (Athens) and was on a 7-night itinerary through the Greek Isles and including Ephesus, Turkey. Milos was the last port visit before Celestyal Journey returned to Athens.
There is no word about whether or not the ship experienced any delays in her return, but the 55,800-gross ton vessel has already departed on her next itinerary.
Weather Risks Not Uncommon at Ports of Call
Strong winds are not unusual at Sarakiniko Beach, which has gotten its ethereal “lunar” landscape features through a combination of wind and wave erosion of the white volcanic rock.
The lack of vegetation and the exposed north shore make the beach particularly vulnerable to strong winds and rough waves. Ferries in the region are often impacted by the weather conditons.
Even on beautiful, clear days, weather can be a risk to cruise ships. In the Bahamas, for example, cruise ships occasionally have to cancel visits to private islands due to tendering or docking risks from ocean swells.
Unexpected geologic events can also have potentially catastrophic impacts on cruises. For example, the tsunami warnings on July 29 caused Pride of America to abruptly leave Hilo, Hawaii with hundreds of guests still ashore.
Earthquakes and volcanoes can cause similar disruptions in geologically active areas, and every cruiser knows the risks of hurricane season, particularly in the Caribbean.
Read Also: Cruising During Hurricane Season – What You Must Know!
Cruise lines take every possible precaution to safeguard their guests and crew members, but tragic incidents can still occur.
When visiting a port of call, cruise guests should always remain alert to potential hazards. This could be as simple as stepping cautiously on uneven or slippery surfaces, keeping well away from high ledges, or not overestimating one’s swimming skills while snorkeling.
