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Holiday booze cruises offer an escape filled with sun, sea, and nonstop partying, but beneath the surface and the loud music lies a more troubling reality.
For Nakita Colville, a pirate-themed boat trip turned into a tragedy when her father, Peter, died. Instead of quickly returning to shore, staff informed his devastated daughter, “he’s dead, he’s gone,” covered his body with a towel, and proceeded with a scheduled foam party.
Peter Colville tragically passed away during a boat trip in Turkey while his family looked on in horror.
Nakita Colville with her sister Tasha on holiday in Turkey before their father's tragic passing.
The boat, which cost the family £200, where Peter Colville sadly passed away.
In her first exclusive interview since her father's devastating death just nine weeks ago, on July 27, she shared with The Sun how the staff on board appeared “unconcerned and oblivious” as her father passed away in front of his children and grandchildren.
She also cautioned that this might not be the last tragedy at sea involving unregulated party boats with poor safety standards.
She stated, “I don’t think people realize how dangerous it can be until something like this affects your family.
“Unless changes are made, I fear this will not be the last death.”
Despite thousands of tourists participating in boat parties and excursions annually, what was once an exciting novelty has become a perilous activity, with a dangerously thin line between enjoyment and risk.
The risks intensify once you venture outside UK waters, where regulations may be inconsistent and enforcement lax. Unlimited drink offers and crowded conditions create a perfect storm of danger.
During a boozy stag-do party cruise, rowdy “banter” resulted in a tragic incident.
Nish, the best man and cherished friend, was thrown from a yacht into the River Tagus in November 2019, hitting his head on a railing before plunging into the frigid water.
The coroner’s finding was clear – it was “horseplay that ended in tragedy.”
Dr. Fiona Wilcox concluded it was a misadventure, stating, “This was an utterly tragic accident that could not have been reasonably anticipated.”
Maritime chief Malaquais Dominguez remarked that “it was a foolish joke among friends.”
“He was pushed and went overboard. He vanished beneath the surface. I have no doubt they will carry this terrible moment with them for the rest of their lives,” Dominguez added.
This incident reflects the rising concern surrounding stag and party boat culture abroad – where cheap thrills, bravado, and ritualized pranks can culminate in disaster.
In another case, Neil Stewart’s fiancée organized a surprise weekend in the Dutch capital, claiming it to be “the happiest time of his life.”
However, by the end of a night on a party boat, Stewart was lost, swallowed by the dark waters of the Noordzeekanaal after what witnesses believe was a reckless act.
The coroner’s inquest revealed that Stewart had consumed cocaine and other substances before boarding the boat for the Bounce Til I Die event.
Post-mortem tests later confirmed both drugs in his system, along with traces of cannabis from a “space cake” eaten earlier at a café.
A witness reported seeing Stewart “deliberately jump” from the deck, initially assuming it was “a silly prank” – especially as he appeared to be laughing in the water before he drowned; Stewart’s body was recovered two weeks later.
A foam party on a tourist boat near Oludeniz beach in Fethiye, Turkey.
Neil Stewart, 30, from Newcastle, tragically died on a party boat in Amsterdam.
