A 72-year-old British woman has been reported missing from the Marella Voyager cruise ship while the vessel was crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The travel operator, Tui, confirmed the disappearance occurred while the ship was en route to the Caribbean.
Search and Emergency Procedures
Staff aboard the ship discovered the passenger was missing on Tuesday after noticing that her bed had not been slept in. Following the discovery, the crew initiated an emergency search. Tui stated that the US Coast Guard was notified of the situation; however, the agency instructed the cruise ship to continue its voyage rather than turn back to conduct a search.
As reported by the Daily Mail, passengers were required to stop their evening activities, including dining and entertainment, to participate in an emergency headcount. Crew members organized passengers into lines of four and verified the identity of every individual on board by scanning their boarding cards.
The US Coast Guard Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Norfolk, Virginia, has issued an alert to nearby vessels, requesting that they maintain a vigilant lookout for the missing woman. The Marella Voyager, which carries approximately 2,000 passengers and 800 crew members, departed from Malaga on November 4. It is scheduled to reach Antigua this Friday, with subsequent stops in Dominica before concluding the journey in Barbados on Sunday.
Official Statements and Support
A spokesperson for Marella Cruises expressed that the company is “deeply saddened” by the incident. The representative stated that the firm’s thoughts are with the family of the guest and that they are assisting authorities with their ongoing inquiries. Out of respect for the family, the company noted it would not provide further comments at this time.
The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is providing support to the family of the British national. Officials stated they remain in contact with the relevant authorities regarding the case.
This incident follows a separate event in the Pacific Ocean, where a cruise ship employee was rescued after falling overboard. Two fishermen discovered the Royal Caribbean pianist treading water approximately 20 miles off the coast of California on Sunday. Authorities estimated that the man had been in the water for about nine hours before he was found near Catalina Island.
