to study the epidemiology of passenger mortalities on cruise ships.during six years (April 1995 to April 2001) deaths aboard two similar cruise ships (A & B) were registered and studied. Each ship had an average of approximately 800 passengers with median age about 65 years. Twenty five passengers died: 9 men and 3 women on ship A and 10 men and 3 women on ship B. There was an average of one death every six months per ship. More men than women died, although there were more female passengers on both ships (P<0.05). Eleven passengers were found dead in their cabins. Five deaths outside the medical centers were witnessed; four of them had asystole and one ventricular fibrillation when medical staff arrived. Nine patients died after 1/2 to 52 hours of intensive care in the medical centers aboard.