A 55-year-old American woman disappeared during a Caribbean cruise tour after stepping off a bus and failing to return, authorities reported on Wednesday.
Ann Evans, a U.S. national, was enjoying her vacation aboard the Holland America ship Rotterdam. On November 20, during a scheduled stop at Port St. Maarten in Philipsburg, she joined an organized island tour, according to Sint Maarten’s Police Force.
“She left the ship at approximately 10:00 a.m. to participate in an arranged island excursion,” the police stated in a missing person alert. “While on the tour, Ms. Evans exited the bus in Marigot, located in French Saint Martin, but did not return to continue the tour or reboard the cruise ship.”
Holland America issued a statement to USA Today, emphasizing their immediate response. “We promptly alerted local authorities and are collaborating closely with them to determine the guest’s whereabouts,” the company conveyed.
The Rotterdam, which set sail from Fort Lauderdale on November 16, is currently on a 12-day Caribbean cruise.
The Rotterdam left Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 16 and is currently on a 12-day cruise through the Caribbean.
Law enforcement officials in St. Maarten are continuing to search for Evans, and are urging anybody with information about the missing woman to come forward.
Evans’ disappearance is the latest cruise-line incident to make headlines.
Earlier in November, the body of 18-year-old Anna Kepner was found under a bed aboard a Carnival cruise ship. Law enforcement sources told CBS News that Kepner’s body was found by a housekeeper under the bed in her stateroom on the ship, which returned to Port Miami on Nov. 8.
Kepner died of “mechanical asphyxia,” according to a death certificate obtained by ABC News.
Authorities have kept details of the investigation under wraps but told the family that Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother was considered a suspect in the death. According to ABC News, the Kepners were told by authorities that the stepbrother was “the only one seen going in and the only one seen going out” from the room, per the security cameras.
And in October, a luxury cruise was canceled mid-trip after an 80-year-old woman was left behind during an island excursion and died on a remote island near Australia.
The woman, identified as Suzanne Rees, was found dead after being left behind on Lizard Island, one of the first stops on the 60-day voyage. The reported $50,000 voyage was scheduled to take passengers around Australia, eventually reaching Western Australia.
CEO of Coral Expeditions, the cruise operator, Mark Fifield, told BBC the remainder of the trip was cancelled due to the “tragic passing of Suzanne Rees and previous mechanical issues.” He added that the company was issuing full refunds and coordinating flights for all passengers.
Rees was reported missing after crew members aboard the Coral Adventurer confirmed she had not returned to the ship. A land and sea search was launched, and her body was discovered on the island a day later.
