NCL's Norwegian Jewel. Photo: Bborriss.67, Shutterstock A passenger aboard the Norwegian Jewel, owned by the cruise giant Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), fell into the sea and disappeared.
The tragic incident occurred last week, Monday, October 20, 2025, when the ship was in the Azores region near Portugal. Extensive searches ultimately failed to locate the passenger who was declared missing.
The reason for the fall during the transatlantic voyage from Portugal to Miami is still unknown.
In a statement released following the incident, NCL stated: "We deeply regret to confirm that on Monday, October 20, 2025, a report was received of a passenger who fell overboard during the voyage from Ponta Delgada, Portugal, to Miami. The appropriate authorities were immediately notified, and an extensive search and rescue initiative was undertaken, involving multiple vessels. The search, unfortunately, was unsuccessful, and the ship was released by the authorities to continue its voyage. Our team is assisting the passenger's family at this difficult time, and our thoughts and prayers are with them."
The Norwegian Jewel was built in 2005 and refitted in 2025. The ship is 294 meters long, 32 meters wide, and weighs 93,502 tons. It has a guest capacity of 2,368 (double occupancy) and a crew of 1,069.