Cruise expert Professor Ross Klein reports that a NCL passenger went overboard from Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sun shortly after the cruise ship pulled out of the Falmouth shipping pier in Jamaica late Wednesday.
Professor Klein has the most complete list of passenger overboards over the course of the last ten years.
Professor Klein’s website refers to an article in the Jamaica Observer which reports that the Trelawny police responded to an incident late on Wednesday involving a passenger who died after going overboard from the top deck of the cruise ship Norwegian Sun.
The newspaper quotes the head of the Falmouth Police Division, Superintendent Andrew Lewis, stating that he was informed that the cruise passenger was taken from the water by crew members of the vessel, which had turned around after an alarm was raised that the passenger had jumped.
The police reported that the incident occurred 25 minutes after the vessel left the Falmouth cruise shipping pier about 6:00 pm.
The article is confusing, claiming that the passenger allegedly "jumped" while Superintendent Lewis referred to "the man falling in the water."
Yesterday, the Jamaican Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett issued a bizarre statement, expressing regret over the incident but said he stating that "the circumstances has nothing to do the destination."
NCL, which is based here in Miami, has not issued a statement about the incident. The only reports I have seen about the passenger overboard are from Professor Klein who is in Canada, and the newspaper in Jamaica.
The Miami-based cruise lines do a remarkable job keeping these type of incidents under the radar.
Like many overboards, it is less than clear whether the passenger jumped or fell, and if so whether alcohol was involved.
If you were on the cruise or have information, photographs or video regarding the incident, please leave a comment below.
November 4, 2011 Update:.jpg)
Tonight NCL issued the following statement:
"At approximately 7 pm ET on Wednesday, November 2, 2011, a guest traveling on Norwegian Sun was observed jumping overboard from a public area on Deck 12. The ship immediately turned around, launched rescue boats and conducted a search. At approximately 8 pm ET, the guest was located in the water, returned to the vessel and pronounced deceased by the ship’s doctor.
All appropriate authorities have been notified. Out of respect for the family, the company will not be releasing any further details. Norwegian Cruise Line extends its deepest sympathies to the guest’s family and friends during this difficult time.
Norwegian Sun departed Port Canaveral, Florida on October 29, 2011. The ship is sailing a Western Caribbean itinerary and had visited Falmouth, Jamaica on Wednesday."
November 7, 2011 Update:
Several passengers have left comments below. One passenger, Kate, sent us a photograph of one the rescue boats. (The exposure of the photo was adjusted substantially because it was very dark).