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The United States Coast Guard has announced the suspension of the search for a 77-year-old woman who fell overboard from a Holland America Line cruise ship near Cuba on New Year’s Day.
The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was reported missing approximately 40 miles northeast of the Sabana-Camagüey archipelago, according to a statement from the U.S. Coast Guard Southeast.
In a post made on the social media platform X, the Coast Guard stated, “The USCG has suspended its search efforts for the missing 77-year-old woman who went overboard from the cruise ship Nieuw Statendam on Thursday, pending any new information.”
The agency further noted that both cruise ship personnel and Coast Guard teams conducted searches for roughly eight hours, covering an area of about 690 square miles.
The Nieuw Statendam, which is part of the Holland America Line fleet, was photographed departing the cruise terminal in Lisbon, Portugal, on June 3, 2022. The ship was near Cuba on New Year’s Day when the incident occurred. (Photo credit: Horacio Villalobos/Corbis via Getty Images)
The Coast Guard said its cutter William Trump and MH-60 helicopter crews from Air Station Clearwater had participated in the search.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm that while sailing in waters north of Cuba, a guest on Nieuw Statendam went overboard earlier today. The captain and crew initiated search and rescue procedures and worked closely with the U.S. Coast Guard, which deployed a cutter and helicopter to assist,” the Holland America Line told Fox News Digital in a statement.
“After a daylong search, efforts were suspended at sundown. Our family assistance team is supporting the guest’s family, and our thoughts are with the guest’s loved ones during this difficult time,” it added. “As a result of the search, the ship’s planned call to Key West, Florida, January 2 was canceled.”
The Nieuw Statendam can hold around 2,700 passengers. (Horacio Villalobos/Corbis via Getty Images)
The Nieuw Statendam has a capacity of around 2,700 guests.
It departed Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Dec. 27, before making stops in the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and the Dominican Republic, according to the website CruiseMapper.
The Holland America Line cruise ship Nieuw Statendam is seen traveling near South Queensferry, Scotland, on May 29, 2025. (Ken Jack/Getty Images)
The Nieuw Statendam was heading to Key West at the time of the woman’s disappearance.
