Passenger goes overboard on Norwegian Cruise Line voyage

The search for a Norwegian Cruise Line passenger who went overboard has been called off, according to a spokesperson for the cruise line. The 51-year-old man went overboard from Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic late Thursday afternoon as the ship was sailing from Ocho Rios, Jamaica to Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

The passenger was on the cruise with his family, and the cruise had departed from Port Canaveral, Florida on Dec. 21 for a seven-night Western Caribbean voyage. The cruise line quickly notified authorities and initiated search and rescue efforts, but unfortunately, the search was unsuccessful.

After an extensive search, the ship was released by the authorities to continue its voyage. The passenger’s loved ones on board are being attended to and supported during this difficult time. The man has not been identified, and it is unclear what caused him to go overboard.

The Norwegian Epic, which was built in 2010 and refurbished in 2020, has 19 decks and can accommodate 4,070 passengers with double occupancy of its cabins. It also has 1,724 crew members on board.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of the passenger during this challenging situation. Story tips and ideas can be sent to sarah.rumpf@fox.com and on Twitter: @s_rumpfwhitten.