A 44-year-old Salvadoran woman went overboard from Royal Caribbean’s cruise ship Odyssey of the Seas on the early morning of October 9, 2026, while the vessel was sailing southwest of the Greek island Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea.
The woman remained adrift for approximately 20 hours before being rescued in the early hours of October 10, 2026. She was found conscious inside an orange lifebuoy equipped with a light, which aided visibility during the night.
Search and Rescue Operation
The rescue effort involved coordinated resources including patrol vessels deployed by the Hellenic Coast Guard, a Super Puma helicopter from the Hellenic Air Force, the
crew of Odyssey of the Seas, and several nearby commercial ships. Notably, the cargo ship MSC Rossella III located the passenger in the water while assisting in the search.
Passenger Recovery and Condition
After the cargo ship crew spotted the woman floating inside the lifebuoy, a Greek Coast Guard patrol vessel recovered her. She was conscious at the time of discovery and received first aid aboard the rescue vessel. The lifebuoy’s attached light played a key role in her detection during night hours.
Circumstances of the Incident
A Greek Coast Guard spokesperson stated that the woman told rescuers she had jumped into the sea voluntarily because she wanted
to disembark the ship. Authorities have not disclosed any additional details about the incident’s circumstances.
Medical and Investigative Follow-up
Following the rescue, the woman was taken to the port of Katakolo and then transferred by ambulance to a hospital in Pyrgos, Greece, for medical examinations and observation. A local prosecutor ordered a psychiatric evaluation as part of post-rescue assessments. The Katakolo Port Authority has launched an investigation into the incident.
Royal Caribbean confirmed the passenger overboard event and stated it immediately launched a search and rescue operation in cooperation with Greek authorities. The cruise line’s Care Team is providing support to the passenger’s family.
Odyssey of the Seas, a 1,138-foot vessel with capacity for 4,198 guests, departed from Civitavecchia, Italy, on October 4, 2026, on a week-long Mediterranean cruise scheduled to return on October 11, 2026.
