Coast Guard Searching For Missing Cruise Ship Passenger Off S. Fla.
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a 21-year-old Tennessee women who reportedly fell overboard off a cruise ship 47 miles east of Fort Lauderdale on Sunday night.
According to Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, the Allure of the Seas was sailing to Nassau, Bahamas on a seven-night voyage to the Caribbean when a guest witnessed the woman going overboard.
The ship's Captain immediately stopped the ship, turned around, and alerted the U. S. and Bahamian Coast Guard.
A search for the woman on the ship turned up empty and a review of the ship's closed-circuit camera footage observed the 21-year old female guest going overboard. She's said to be from Bartlett, Tennessee.
Two other ships that were close by at the time, the Carnival Fascination and Majesty of the Seas, assisted Allure of the Seas with the search until cleared by the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard search area spans approximately 320 square miles.
"Royal Caribbean's Care Team is providing support to the guest's family and our thoughts and prayers are with them," said a statement from the cruise line.
The Coast Guard asked that anyone with information on the missing person contact the 7th Coast Guard District search and rescue coordinators at 305-415-6800.
