Body of Missing Cruise Passenger Recovered in Alaska

The body of a woman who went missing during an Alaska cruise has been recovered.

Last week, Marites Buenafe failed to return to the Norwegian Bliss while the ship was docked in Juneau. The 62-year-old woman from Kentucky had told her family in text messages that she planned to ride a tram, then go for a hike. She said she planned to trek from Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak, a roughly 4-mile hike not far from downtown Juneau.

Security footage showed her leaving the top of the Mount Roberts Tramway at around 7:30 a.m. last Tuesday. She was reported missing after she missed the ship’s 1:30 p.m. departure time.

Rescuers found her body last Thursday morning about 1,700 feet below the ridge line of Gold Ridge.

The Norwegian Bliss was making a 7-day roundtrip voyage from Seattle.

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