British passenger reported missing during Atlantic cruise crossing
A 72-year-old woman was last seen aboard the Marella Voyager on Monday as the ship travelled towards the Caribbean, according to travel operator Tui.
By Amit Ricci ·
A British woman aged 72 has been reported missing from a cruise ship making an Atlantic crossing to the Caribbean, travel operator Tui has confirmed. She was last seen on Monday aboard the Marella Voyager, which was sailing from Malaga towards a series of Caribbean destinations.
Crew members became aware of her absence on Tuesday after noticing that her bed had not been slept in. Tui said staff raised the alarm and conducted a search. Hundreds of miles could have separated the ship's position when the passenger was last seen from its location when she was reported missing.
The US Coast Guard is understood to have been notified of the disappearance. It reportedly instructed the vessel to carry on with its transatlantic journey rather than turn back to search for the woman. The BBC said it had approached the Coast Guard for comment.
An emergency count of everyone aboard took place on Tuesday evening, according to the Daily Mail. The newspaper reported that passengers were asked to leave their meals, drinks and entertainment while crew members checked who was present. Holidaymakers lined up in rows of four, and staff scanned their boarding cards to establish each person's identity.
The Daily Mail also reported that the Coast Guard's Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Norfolk, Virginia, had alerted vessels in the surrounding area and asked them to watch for the missing passenger. The Marella Voyager has about 2,000 passengers and 800 crew members aboard. It departed Malaga on 4 November and is scheduled to reach Antigua on Friday, visit Dominica and conclude the voyage in Barbados on Sunday.
A Marella Cruises spokeswoman said the company was deeply saddened and that its thoughts were with the passenger's loved ones. She said the operator was assisting the authorities with their enquiries and would make no further comment at this stage out of respect for the woman and her family.
The UK Foreign Office also confirmed its involvement. A spokesperson said it was helping the family of a British national reported missing from a cruise ship in the Atlantic and remained in contact with the relevant authorities.
In a separate incident, two fishermen found a Royal Caribbean pianist treading water near Catalina Island on Sunday, about 20 miles off California. According to CBS News, the BBC's US news partner, officials believe the employee may have spent nine hours in the Pacific after falling overboard.
