In a tragic turn of events, a 41-year-old passenger is missing after falling into the Atlantic Ocean from a Royal Caribbean cruise to the Bahamas.
The incident occurred on 23 December, approximately 100 miles off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, prompting an immediate response from the Coast Guard.
Coast Guard’s Intensive Search Yields No Traces
The Coast Guard initiated an extensive aerial search covering more than 1,625 square miles for eight hours, but unfortunately, the efforts were in vain, leading to the suspension of the search.
The unnamed passenger’s disappearance occurred during Royal Caribbean Group’s “8 Night Bahamas & Perfect Day Holiday Cruise,” which departed from Baltimore, Maryland, on 21 December.
A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean Group confirmed the incident, stating, “The ship and crew immediately reported the incident to local authorities and launched a search and rescue mission. Out of privacy for the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share.”
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Passenger Missing Overboard on Royal Caribbean Cruise to the Bahamas
Fellow passenger Jake Utzinger, who was on board during the tragic event, recounted the moment when the captain announced the passenger falling overboard.
Utzinger described the collective shock and efforts of passengers rushing to the pool deck to assist in spotting the missing individual. Despite the liner stopping for six hours for a desperate search, they were unable to locate the passenger.
The cruise ship, Vision of the Seas, is set to continue its journey with stops in Port Canaveral, Florida, before proceeding to the Bahamas and ultimately returning to Baltimore on 30 December.
With a total capacity of 2,000 passengers and 700 crew members, the incident has cast a somber shadow over what was meant to be a holiday voyage. The tragic incident raises concerns about cruise safety and highlights the challenges of responding to emergencies at sea.
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