A 72-year-old British woman is missing from TUI's Marella Voyager during an Atlantic crossing. The US Coast Guard has asked nearby vessels to look out for her.
A 72-year-old British woman has gone missing from TUI's Marella Voyager while the ship was crossing the Atlantic, the travel operator TUI has said.
The woman was last seen on board on Monday. Staff realised she was missing on Tuesday after a cabin steward noticed her bed had not been slept in. A full search of the ship was carried out and the matter was reported to the authorities.
The US Coast Guard's rescue coordination centre in Virginia has urged other vessels in the area to look out for the woman. By the time her absence was noticed, the ship had sailed roughly 550 miles from the estimated location where she may have fallen, according to reporting by Metro citing the Daily Mail.
Passengers were asked to gather at muster stations so crew could scan boarding passes for a full headcount. Metro reported that a crew member told a guest "unfortunately we do have a missing person." The captain, Silviu Mitrea, confirmed the following day that the woman was still missing and thanked guests for gathering.
TUI said in a statement: "We're deeply saddened to confirm that a guest was reported missing on board Marella Voyager while the ship was crossing the Atlantic. 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."
A TUI spokesperson told the Daily Mail: "A guest has gone missing on board the ship, but nothing suggests weather played a part in the guest's disappearance."
The UK Foreign Office 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."
The Marella Voyager left Malaga last Wednesday bound for the Caribbean, carrying about 2,000 passengers and 800 crew. The ship has 14 decks and 956 cabins and joined TUI's fleet in 2023. It is due to arrive in Antigua before finishing its voyage in Barbados on Sunday.
Some passengers said the crossing had been hit by a powerful storm. TUI said there is nothing to suggest that the weather was a factor in the disappearance.
The woman has not been identified, and it has not been publicly confirmed that she went overboard. TUI's statement says only that a guest was reported missing. The distance the ship travelled before the alarm was raised underlines the difficulty of locating someone in open water after a delayed report.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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