A CRUISE ship company has said investigations are continuing into the death of an 85- year-old passenger on a Tilbury-bound cruise.

James Swinstead, 85, of Eight Ash Green, near Colchester, was on the Marco Polo, on February 14, when a freak wave crashed through a dining room window.

A spokesman for Cruise and Maritime Voyages said: “We recognise the distress to the family of Mr Swinstead.

“The company has made contact with the widow to express condolences on behalf of the management and the master and crew.”

The spokesman clarified that Mr Swinstead’s widow, Helen, was offered a 25 per cent discount off a future cruise – as were all the passengers on the ship.

Passengers were also credited with £150 per cabin after an outbreak of the airborne norovirus during the 42-day trip to the Amazon.

The ship was on its way back to the Thurrock terminal following the cruise, when the wave hit it off the coast of Cornwall.

A 70-year-old woman was taken to hospital following the incident, and 14 other passengers also suffered minor injuries.