Panic spreads after a woman goes overboard on Taylor Swift-themed Caribbean cruise

On October 22, a harrowing incident unfolded aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Allure of the Seas, which was hosting a cruise themed around Taylor Swift. Passengers were anticipating a fun-filled time with events like karaoke, trivia contests, and friendship bracelet swapping when the atmosphere turned somber after a passenger fell overboard.

TikTok user @ashleytravels715 shared her experience, explaining that an announcement was made over the ship’s loudspeaker, repeatedly calling “Oscar Oscar Oscar,” a code indicating a man overboard situation. As the ship came to a halt, another cruise ship approached with its lights on, presumably to assist in the search.

In her video, Ashley captured the scene, highlighting the ship’s spotlights shining into the ocean—a rare occurrence. She noted that the passenger, later identified as a 66-year-old woman, had allegedly jumped into the water after using her cellphone to shine a light. The Utopia of the Seas, another cruise vessel, was part of the search and rescue efforts, actively scouring the nearby waters.

As the situation unfolded, Ashley recorded the crew using binoculars and passengers gathering on the balconies to watch the search operation. In a follow-up video, she reported that the Coast Guard arrived around 2 AM to assist, but the woman remained missing. Despite the somber atmosphere, Ashley mentioned that the ship’s itinerary wasn’t significantly impacted, though regular activities were paused.

Local media later revealed that the incident occurred shortly after the Allure of the Seas had departed from Florida, with the woman falling into the waters surrounding the Bahamas around 9:30 PM. A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean confirmed the launch of a search and rescue effort, stating that they were also supporting the woman’s family during this difficult time. As of now, the search continues, and officials report that the woman is still missing.