A 41-year-old man, whose identity has not been disclosed, is missing after reportedly going overboard from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Vision of the Seas.
The incident took place roughly 127 miles east of Charleston, South Carolina. It was first reported to the U.S. Coast Guard at 7:17 p.m. on Saturday, December 23, 2023.
The man, a passenger on the “8 Night Bahamas & Perfect Day Holiday Cruise,” embarked from Baltimore, Maryland. The cruise’s route included the Bahamas, with a planned return to Baltimore. Upon learning of the overboard incident, Royal Caribbean immediately notified local authorities and initiated search and rescue operations.
In response, the Coast Guard deployed two C-130 Hercules aircraft from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and Clearwater, Florida. Despite an extensive search over 1,625 square miles lasting eight hours, the Coast Guard suspended the search the next morning.
Passengers aboard the Vision of the Seas recounted their experiences. Jake Utzinger, a 21-year-old film student from New Jersey, described hearing the captain’s announcement and his disbelief. Passengers, including Utzinger, gathered on the pool deck to aid in the search as observers.
Colin Schappi, another passenger, recalled the emergency announcement “Oscar! Oscar! Oscar! Starboard!” signaling an overboard situation. Following this, the ship stopped, launched a strobe lamp, and searched for about six hours before resuming its voyage at 2 a.m.
The Vision of the Seas, with a capacity for 2,000 passengers, continued its journey, heading next to Port Canaveral, Florida.
