Search for Missing Passenger from Marella Voyager Suspended

A 72-year-old woman, a passenger on the Marella Voyager cruise ship, is presumed to have gone overboard while the vessel crossed the Atlantic Ocean. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) suspended its search efforts due to various challenges, including poor survival odds. The woman was last seen on board on November 9.

The ship’s crew became aware of her absence upon discovering her untouched cabin and initiated their missing-person protocol. According to electronic records, she last accessed her cabin around midday on November 9. The report was filed with the Coast Guard on the evening of November 10.

The USCG promptly started a search, involving coordination among several international rescue centers and maritime entities. Complications arose due to the delay between her last sighting and the report to rescue authorities. The Marella Voyager, operated by TUI Group’s Marella Cruises, also faced logistical challenges, such as insufficient fuel to return to the reported search area, which was approximately 500 nautical miles away.

The search effort concluded at 3:47 p.m. local time on November 11. The decision was based on a low likelihood of finding the missing person alive, a vast search area, and no positive results from maritime alerts.

A spokesperson for Marella Cruises expressed deep sadness over the passenger’s disappearance. They stated that the cruise line is supporting the relevant authorities and the woman’s family, and will not provide further comments at this time. PEOPLE’s request for comment from Marella Cruises went unanswered.

The Marella Voyager embarked on an 11-night cruise, starting from Malaga, Spain, on November 4 and planned to reach Barbados on November 15. The itinerary includes stops in St. John’s, Antigua, and Dominica. The ship, which commenced service in June 2023, features 14 decks, 956 cabins, and accommodates around 2,000 passengers with 900 crew members.