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The United States Coast Guard has announced the suspension of its search efforts 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 remains undisclosed, disappeared roughly 40 miles northeast of the Sabana-Camagüey archipelago, as reported by the U.S. Coast Guard Southeast.
In a statement on X, the Coast Guard conveyed, “We have suspended the search for the missing 77-year-old woman who went overboard from the cruise ship Nieuw Statendam on Thursday, pending any new developments.”
The statement further noted that both the cruise ship crew and Coast Guard personnel collectively searched an area spanning approximately 690 square miles for about eight hours.
The Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam, pictured departing a Lisbon cruise terminal on June 3, 2022, was in the vicinity of Cuba during the unfortunate overboard incident. (Photo by Horacio Villalobos/Corbis via Getty Images)
In the search operation, the Coast Guard deployed its cutter William Trump, along with MH-60 helicopter teams from Air Station Clearwater.
“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.
