Cruise & Cruise Line

Cruise Passenger Reported Overboard in South Pacific

Image: PHOTO: Carnival Spirit cruise ship in Sydney, Australia. (photo via moisseyev/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)
Image: PHOTO: Carnival Spirit cruise ship in Sydney, Australia. (photo via moisseyev/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)
Patrick Clarke
by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 1:30 PM ET, Sat March 30, 2019

UPDATE: Sunday, March 31 at 9:20 a.m. ET

According to Seatrade Cruise News, CCTV footage confirmed that the male passenger who went overboard from the Carnival Spirit during a cruise in the South Pacific this past week did so intentionally.

The ship turned around to conduct a search but recovery efforts were eventually suspended and Saturday's scheduled call at Noumea, New Caledonia was canceled.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the guest's family at this difficult time," Carnival Australia said in a statement "We are providing close support to the guest's traveling companion."


A 25-year-old man reportedly went overboard from the Carnival Spirit cruise ship as it was approaching Noumea, New Caledonia in the South Pacific early Friday morning, according to Cruise Law News.

Several passengers took to Twitter to report the sad news.

The incident was reportedly caught on surveillance.

"Person reported overboard near the coast of Noumea 1 AM cruise ship had to return to the middle of the ocean to search at 4 AM. No one found. 25-year-old middle eastern man. Surveillance of man falling," one passenger wrote in an email to Cruise Law News.

Carnival Spirit departed from Sydney, Australia on Wednesday and was scheduled to arrive in Noumea, New Caledonia Saturday at 8 a.m. local time.

The ship was scheduled to call on ports in Vanuatu and New Caledonia before returning to Sydney on April 7.


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Patrick Clarke

Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher

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