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MIAMI — The Norwegian Jewel returned to Port Miami on Monday morning, one week after a passenger went overboard in the middle of a transatlantic crossing, prompting an hours-long search at sea.
The ship, carrying roughly 2,300 guests, had been en route from Portugal to Miami when the incident occurred in the early hours of Oct. 20. While the exact circumstances remain under investigation, several passengers reported witnessing a young couple arguing in the vessel’s casino earlier that night. According to those accounts, the man appeared distressed and was losing money before the pair left for their cabin, where other guests later heard a loud confrontation.
At approximately 2:30 a.m., an announcement alerted passengers that someone had gone overboard. “A 27-year-old guy had a fight with his girlfriend, and he jumped overboard,” recalled passenger Jerry Cohn, who said the mood on board shifted instantly as public areas were closed and crew members mobilized.
Video recorded by a guest shows the moment the announcement was made, with passengers falling silent as they listened for details. Another traveler, Valentin Kragelj, said he saw the man’s girlfriend return to the casino distraught and pleading for help. “She was saying, ‘He fell.’ At first we thought someone had fallen inside the casino,” he said. “Then she pointed toward the windows. That’s when we realized it was a man overboard.”
Crew members deployed a small search-and-rescue craft to comb the waters west of the Azores. The effort continued for roughly 12 hours but yielded no sign of the missing passenger. Authorities ultimately released the vessel to continue its voyage.
In a statement, Norwegian Cruise Line said: “The search was unfortunately unsuccessful, and the ship was released by authorities to continue its voyage. Our team is attending to the guest’s loved ones during this very difficult time, and our thoughts and prayers are with them.”
The investigation into the circumstances leading up to the incident is ongoing.
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