Columbo: “Troubled Waters” (1975)

Lt. Columbo’s wife wins a raffle with a Mexican cruise as the prize. Well, we know that where Columbo (Peter Falk) goes, murder is sure to follow. This time the prime suspect is Hayden Danziger (played by Robert Vaughn), a wealthy car magnate who is accompanying his 104 dealers—and “their ladies”—on an incentive trip. He’s also carrying on an affair with a lounge singer on the ship, who he shoots to death after she threatens to blackmail him. Despite a debilitating case of seasickness, Columbo—raincoat and all—is put on the case.

While a murderer, Danziger is also a solicitous host who is determined his dealers will have a good time on the cruise. He begins to assist Columbo in his investigation when Columbo suggests that with Danziger’s help, he won’t have to disturb any of his dealers. Being that close to Columbo is never a good idea for a murderer, and with a feather and a pair of surgical gloves for clues, Columbo brings Danziger’s incentive to an unhappy end.

The ship used for this Columbo episode was Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess, which has since been renamed the New Flamenco and is operated by Cruise Elysia.