A 44-year-old female passenger from El Salvador fell overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas early on October 9, about 72 nautical miles southwest of Zakynthos, Greece. She remained adrift for nearly 20 hours before being located by rescuers in the Ionian Sea.
Search and Rescue Operation
The Greek Coast Guard was notified of the incident by the cruise ship on the morning of October 9. The search involved two Coast Guard vessels, an Air Force helicopter, merchant ships in the area, and the Odyssey of the Seas, which altered course during its journey from Mykonos to Naples to assist the effort.
A
cargo ship participating in the search detected a flashing light on a lifebelt worn by the woman and alerted the Coast Guard, enabling her discovery about 70 nautical miles southwest of Zakynthos in the early hours of October 10.
Rescue and Medical Treatment
The Greek Coast Guard recovered the woman conscious and provided first aid aboard a rescue vessel. She was transported to the port of Katakolo on Greece’s western Peloponnese before being taken to a hospital in Pyrgos for medical evaluation. The local prosecutor ordered a psychiatric assessment as part of her hospital stay.
Passenger reports noted she was treated for hypothermia but
was ambulatory upon arriving ashore.
Cruise Itinerary and Operational Impact
The incident occurred during the final leg of a seven-night Greek Isles cruise that began on October 4 in Civitavecchia, Italy. The itinerary included scheduled stops in Santorini and Mykonos, Greece; Kusadasi, Turkey; and Naples, Italy. The overboard event took place as the ship sailed from Mykonos to Naples.
Following the rescue, Odyssey of the Seas canceled its planned Naples stop and sailed directly to Civitavecchia.
Official Statements and Passenger Account
Royal Caribbean Group stated it launched a search and rescue operation collaborating with authorities and providing support to the passenger’s family through its Care Team. The Greek Coast Guard
confirmed the woman was conscious when rescued and that first aid was administered before her hospital transfer.
A Greek Coast Guard spokesperson stated, “She was 20 hours at sea.” The rescued woman reportedly told authorities she “wanted to disembark,” according to the spokesperson.
Background Information and Industry Context
The precise circumstances surrounding the passenger entering the water or acquiring the lifebelt remain unclear. Odyssey of the Seas is a 1,138-foot-long vessel with a maximum capacity of 4,198 guests offering seasonal cruises in the Greek Isles.
The incident underscores cooperation between cruise operators and maritime authorities in conducting search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea.
