A 72-year-old British woman went missing from the Marella Voyager on Monday while crossing the Atlantic, leaving crew members to discover her empty cabin a day later.
The ship’s crew raised the alarm and launched a search of the vessel, according to operator Tui.
Holidaymakers were instructed to abandon dinners, drinks, and entertainment for an emergency headcount on Tuesday evening, the Daily Mail reported. Passengers stood in lines of four while staff scanned boarding cards to verify the identity of everyone on board.
The ship had endured severe weather earlier in the voyage, with one passenger telling the Daily Star they had never experienced rough seas like it in 20 years of cruising. Passengers aboard Marella Voyager were ordered to muster stations last night while the captain declared a ‘Code X-Ray’, the signal used when a person is suspected of going in water.
One passenger said: “We were on deck 11 sitting inside as it was pouring down.” Another passenger added: “We heard this huge bang as if we had hit something. The ship started to go onto its side and we could see the water through the windows.” However, Tui said that nothing suggests the weather played a part in the disappearance, according to News.com.au.
The vessel could have traveled 550 miles between the time the woman was last seen and when staff reported her missing, Daily Star reported. Because of this distance, the US Coast Guard asked the ship to continue its crossing rather than reverse course to search for her.
The USCG Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Norfolk, Virginia, issued an alert urging nearby ships to keep a sharp lookout for the woman, according to Daily Star. The ship carries around 2,000 passengers and 800 crew members, Daily Star reported.
A Tui spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British National reported missing on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean and we are in touch with the relevant authorities.” Tui first sailed the Marella Voyager in 2023.
“We’re deeply saddened to confirm that a guest was reported missing on board Marella Voyager while the ship was crossing the Atlantic,” a Tui spokesperson said.
“As soon as the alarm was raised, the crew carried out a full search of the ship and we contacted the relevant authorities straight away. Our thoughts are with the guest’s loved ones at this very difficult time,” the spokesperson added.
The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is providing assistance to the family of the missing British national.
The Marella Voyager left Malaga on November 4 and is scheduled to arrive in Antigua on Friday before visiting Dominica and ending its voyage in Barbados on Sunday, according to Daily Star.
- When was the passenger last seen? She was last spotted aboard the Marella Voyager on Monday while the ship was crossing the Atlantic.
- The US Coast Guard advised the captain to press on with the planned route because the ship had already traveled 550 miles since she was last seen, Daily Star reported.
- The voyage is scheduled to finish in Barbados on Sunday after stops in Antigua and Dominica, Daily Star reported.
The BBC has contacted the USCG for comment.
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