A 44-year-old woman passenger fell overboard from Royal Caribbean International’s cruise ship Odyssey of the Seas about 70 to 72 nautical miles southwest of Zakynthos, Greece, early on October 9 or 10, 2026. She was rescued after being adrift for nearly 20 to 24 hours in the Ionian Sea.
Search and Rescue Operation Details
The rescue effort was led by the Hellenic Coast Guard and included two Coast Guard vessels, an Air Force helicopter, merchant ships, and the Odyssey of the Seas itself, which circled the area for several hours. A merchant vessel crew spotted a flashing light attached to the lifebelt worn by the
woman and located her early Saturday morning.
Passenger Condition and Medical Response
The woman, a Salvadorian national, was found fully conscious and received first aid aboard a Greek Coast Guard rescue vessel. She was then transported to Katakolon port in the western Peloponnese and transferred to a hospital in Pyrgos for medical observation, further examinations, and a psychiatric evaluation ordered by a local prosecutor.
Impact on Cruise Ship Itinerary and Official Statements
The Odyssey of the Seas, a Quantum Ultra-class ship with a capacity of approximately 4,200 passengers sailing from Mykonos to Naples at the time, canceled its scheduled port of call in Naples due to the search operation. The ship later adjusted
its itinerary to recover lost time and completed the voyage at Civitavecchia/Rome.
The Greek Coast Guard confirmed the rescue and stated the woman spent 20 hours in the sea. A spokesperson said she jumped into the water because she wanted to disembark. How she obtained a lifebelt and the precise circumstances leading to her entering the sea remain unestablished.
