A 77-year-old woman is missing after falling overboard from a cruise ship on New Year’s Day during a Caribbean voyage, authorities confirmed.
The incident took place on January 1, 2026, aboard the Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam, which was sailing in the eastern Caribbean Sea near Cuba. The woman reportedly went overboard while the ship was underway, though officials have not disclosed how or why she fell into the water. The identity of the passenger has not been released.
Following the report of the overboard passenger, the ship’s captain and crew immediately initiated search and rescue procedures. The U.S. Coast Guard, along with the cruise ship’s personnel, launched an extensive search effort. The operation included deployment of Coast Guard vessels and aircraft, and crews scoured roughly 690 square miles of open ocean for nearly eight hours in hopes of finding the woman.
Despite the exhaustive search, no sign of the missing passenger was found. Late Thursday, Coast Guard officials announced that they had suspended active search operations until new information becomes available, a common practice when prolonged efforts yield no results.
As a result of the search, the Nieuw Statendam canceled a scheduled port call in Key West, Florida that had been planned for January 2. The cruise had departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on December 27 as part of a seven-day eastern Caribbean itinerary.
Holland America Line expressed its deep sadness over the incident and said its family assistance team is supporting the woman’s loved ones during this difficult time. Both the cruise line and the Coast Guard continue to cooperate as the situation remains under review.
The suspension of the search leaves the 77-year-old’s fate unknown, underscoring the dangers passengers can face at sea and the challenges involved in overboard rescue efforts in open waters.