“I am so sorry for his family and also for the staff and crew members on that ship,” one user wrote on TikTok. Another added, “Thoughts to his family. I worked with his wife on Princess back in the day. So very tragic for this family.”
A Life at Sea — and a Legacy Left Behind. Bartolomei, who lived in Canada and trained at nautical schools in Italy, was described by close friend Dave Wallensky as “a legend on the sea” who adored his family and enjoyed fishing in his downtime.
“I’m absolutely shattered,” Wallensky wrote. “He was one of the best things that happened to me and Lesleigh [another captain] and we spent the night last night sobbing. And laughing about what we did together. And sobbing again.” Traumatic loss such as this often calls for chronic grief therapy, mental wellness counseling, and even long-term support for post-traumatic stress management, depending on insurance coverage and family history.
The cruise line extended its condolences not only to Bartolomei’s loved ones but to the wider Princess community. “We also stand in support of the Diamond Princess crew and all team members across our fleet mourning this loss,” the company said. Fleet-level corporate wellness plans, often included under group policies, may now be activated to assist grieving employees.
As with all major liners, the Diamond Princess is equipped with an onboard morgue — typically a stainless steel, refrigerated room located on the lowest deck — designed to hold up to 10 deceased individuals if necessary, according to The New York Times.
These facilities comply with international health regulations, and are supported by emergency repatriation insurance policies that help with body transport and death-related expenses. Our thoughts go out to the Bartolomei family as well as the passengers and crew on board.
