- Details regarding the 77-year-old passenger who went overboard near Cuba
- The extensive assets and timeline of the Coast Guard search operation
- The decision to suspend the search after fifteen hours at sundown
- Operational changes to the ship itinerary including the Key West cancellation
On Thursday, January 1, 2026, the United States Coast Guard announced the suspension of search efforts for a passenger who went overboard from a Holland America Line cruise ship. The individual is a 77-year-old woman whose name has not been released to the public. She was traveling aboard the Nieuw Statendam when the incident occurred approximately 40 miles northeast of Sabana, Cuba, during the morning hours. Upon discovering the situation, the ship’s captain and crew immediately initiated search-and-rescue protocols and contacted federal authorities for assistance.
The Coast Guard deployed multiple assets to the region, including the cutter William Trump and helicopters dispatched from a station in Clearwater, Florida. According to official reports, the search operation covered an expansive area of more than 690 square miles. Despite these extensive efforts involving both the cruise line and the Coast Guard, the search was suspended at sundown after approximately 15 hours. Holland America Line issued a statement expressing deep sadness and confirmed that their family assistance team is currently providing support to the guest’s loved ones.
As a result of the emergency operations, a scheduled port call in Key West, Florida, set for Friday, was canceled. The Nieuw Statendam had departed from Fort Lauderdale on December 27 for a seven-day cruise through the Eastern Caribbean. The vessel has been in service since 2018 and has the capacity to carry over 2,600 passengers. At this time, no further details have been provided regarding the specific circumstances of how the woman went overboard or which deck she fell from.
