A post-mortem is due to take place on a woman who is thought to have fallen overboard P&O Cruises ship Oceana on Sunday.
The woman, 67, who has not been named, was reported missing by her husband early on Sunday morning as the 2,272 passenger ship was approaching Southampton after a two-day cruise to Zeebrugge, Belgium.
Her body was found near Cowes, Isle of Wight, later in the day.
A spokesman for P&O Cruises said: “We can confirm that a person was reported missing from their cabin just prior to daybreak yesterday morning as Oceana was approaching Southampton.
“Our missing persons procedures were immediately put into action and this included notification of the coastguard. After a search, a person was recovered from the water but was unfortunately pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital. A police investigation is underway with which we are co-operating fully.”