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A Melbourne man has gone missing after falling overboard from the Disney Wonder cruise ship in the Tasman Sea.

Despite extensive search efforts the man from Moonee Ponds has not been found and is presumed dead.

Passengers were alerted after the captain announced that a man had gone overboard in the early hours of Saturday morning. The 73-year-old reportedly went into the water at around 4:30am while the ship was en route to Auckland.

The vessel, which can carry 1,700 passengers, immediately reversed course to begin a rescue operation.

Crew members deployed thermal imaging cameras and spent nearly five hours scouring the waters. The captain later confirmed that the search had been unsuccessful. Authorities said they would prepare a report for the coroner.

Launched in 1999, Disney Wonder was on one of its final voyages in Australian waters – a five-night sailing from Melbourne to Auckland. The incident has delayed the ship’s arrival in New Zealand by a day, with passengers now expected to dock in Auckland on Wednesday.