A 51-year-old passenger traveling with family went overboard from the Norwegian Epic cruise ship late Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred around 3 p.m. while the ship was sailing from Ocho Rios, Jamaica, to Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. The cruise, a seven-night Western Caribbean voyage, had initially departed from Port Canaveral, Florida, on December 21st.

Authorities were immediately alerted, and a comprehensive search and rescue operation was launched. However, after an extensive search proved unsuccessful, authorities permitted the ship to resume its journey. Norwegian Cruise Line stated that support is being provided to the passenger's family onboard. The cruise line expressed condolences and offered prayers for the family during this difficult period.

The Norwegian Epic, built in 2010 and renovated in 2020, boasts 19 decks and can accommodate over 4,000 passengers with a crew of nearly 1,750. The circumstances leading to the passenger going overboard remain unclear, and the individual's identity has not been released.