A crew member was reported missing from the Carnival Cruise Line ship Carnival Dream on Friday, August 9. Carnival confirmed that a female team member went missing while the ship was en route from Cozumel, Mexico, to Galveston, Texas. She is now presumed missing at sea.
Carnival released a statement shared by Cruise Radio and Cruise Hive, stating:
“The U.S. and Mexican Coast Guards have been notified, and the Carnival Care Team is in contact with her family and supporting colleagues on board. Carnival Dream arrived in Galveston as scheduled on Saturday morning and is now on her next cruise. Our thoughts remain with our team member, her family, and her friends and colleagues on board.”
The crew member was reported missing after she failed to report to work, and the crew was unable to locate her during a search of the ship. The cruise line has not disclosed her nationality or the department she worked in.
Mexican news outlets report that Carnival Dream departed Cozumel on Thursday, August 8, at 4 p.m. The incident occurred during the night and early morning while the ship was sailing through the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, prompting an extensive search operation.
According to preliminary reports, the crew member fell into the sea around 2:30 a.m. on Friday. The overboard report was received by the Regional Harbor Master's Office in Progreso, Yucatan, and Frigate Captain José Antonio Solano Claustro, head of the office, is leading the coordination efforts to locate the missing person.
The coordinates provided by the Captaincy indicate that the incident occurred approximately 81.9 nautical miles northeast of Rio Lagartos. These coordinates have been crucial in focusing search efforts on the most likely areas where the person might be found.
The maritime and fishing communities have been urged to actively participate in the search. Authorities have emphasized the importance of reporting any findings immediately to the Harbor Masters so that necessary measures can be taken and the recovery of the missing crew member can be coordinated.
Search and rescue operations will continue until more information is obtained. Meanwhile, authorities remain vigilant and hope for continued support from the maritime community during this sensitive situation.
