Passenger Missing After Going Overboard From Norwegian Cruise Ship Bound For Miami

A passenger has been reported missing after going overboard from the Norwegian Jewel while the vessel was sailing from Portugal to Miami, Norwegian Cruise Line has confirmed.

The incident occurred on Monday, 20 October 2025, while the cruise ship was en route from Ponta Delgada in the Azores to Florida.

The Norwegian Jewel had departed from Barcelona, Spain, on 15 October for a 12-night transatlantic voyage, scheduled to conclude at PortMiami on 27 October.

According to the cruise line, the guest was reported overboard while the ship was in the Atlantic Ocean. Authorities were immediately informed, and a large-scale search and rescue operation involving multiple vessels was launched.

Despite extensive efforts, the search was unsuccessful, and the ship was later cleared to continue its voyage. The identity of the passenger has not been disclosed.

A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line stated that the company was deeply saddened by the incident and that its team was providing support to the guest’s loved ones.

Several passengers on board recounted being awakened during the early hours of 21 October when a coded announcement, commonly used in the maritime industry to indicate a person overboard, was broadcast throughout the ship.

Guests reported hearing what they believed to be a “Code Oscar” alert over the public address system, followed by an update from the captain confirming that the vessel was conducting a search and rescue operation.

According to passengers, the ship circled the area for several hours before the crew called off the search. Data from Cruise Mapper showed that the Norwegian Jewel had indeed slowed and manoeuvred in the mid-Atlantic for about ten hours before resuming its course toward Miami.

One traveller shared online that they were surprised by the length of the search but said it was understandable given the vessel’s position in international waters, far from any national coastguard assistance.

The Norwegian Jewel, launched in 2005, is one of the older vessels in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet. The vessel measures 965 feet in length and has a gross tonnage of 93,502.

It can accommodate up to 2,376 passengers at double occupancy. The cruise line has announced plans for the ship to begin offering voyages from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, starting in April 2026.

Norwegian Cruise Line reiterated that it was cooperating fully with relevant authorities and that its thoughts remained with the missing passenger’s family.

References: nbcmiami, cbsnews

Source: Maritime Shipping News