British woman missing from cruise ship in Atlantic Ocean
Travel operator Tui reported that the 72-year-old passenger was last seen on Monday while the vessel was en route to the Caribbean.
A 72-year-old British woman has gone missing from the Marella Voyager cruise ship while it was crossing the Atlantic, according to BBC News.
The passenger was last seen on Monday while the vessel was travelling to the Caribbean. Staff realised she was missing on Tuesday after noticing her bed had not been slept in, prompting an alarm and a search, Tui said in a statement.
The US Coast Guard (USCG) Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Norfolk, Virginia, has issued an alert asking nearby ships to keep a lookout for the woman. The USCG reportedly asked the ship to continue its crossing rather than reversing course to search.
The Marella Voyager, which carries approximately 2,000 passengers and 800 crew, left Malaga on 4 November. The ship is due to arrive in Antigua on Friday, before calling at Dominica and finishing the voyage in Barbados on Sunday.
A spokeswoman for Marella Cruises said the company is deeply saddened and is supporting authorities with enquiries. A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said they are supporting the family of the British national and are in touch with relevant authorities.
The Daily Mail reported that passengers were told to abandon dinners and entertainment on Tuesday evening so crew could carry out an emergency headcount by scanning boarding cards.