A 44-year-old woman from El Salvador fell overboard from the Odyssey of the Seas cruise ship in waters approximately 70-72 nautical miles southwest of Zakynthos, Greece. The incident occurred early Friday, October 9 or 10, 2026, while the Bahamas-flagged QUANTUM ULTRA class Royal Caribbean International ship with capacity for about 4,200 passengers was sailing from Mykonos to Naples.
Search and Rescue Operation Southwest of Zakynthos
The rescue operation involved two Greek Coast Guard vessels and a patrol boat, a Greek Air Force helicopter, merchant vessels, and the Odyssey of the Seas itself. A passing freighter crew spotted a flashing light on the lifebelt the woman was wearing,
which enabled her location in the early hours of Saturday, October 10. The woman was found conscious by the Greek Coast Guard and taken aboard their rescue vessel.
Post-Rescue Care and Medical Evaluation
After being rescued, the woman received first aid onboard the Greek Coast Guard vessel before being transported to Katakolo port in western Peloponnese, Greece. She was then taken to a hospital in the nearby town of Pyrgos for medical observation, tests, and psychiatric evaluation.
Impact on Odyssey of the Seas Itinerary
The Odyssey of the Seas spent several hours circling the search area and canceled its scheduled port call at Naples. The ship adjusted its itinerary to recover lost
time and complete its voyage at Civitavecchia near Rome.
Official Statements
A Greek Coast Guard spokesperson told AFP the woman had been in the water for about 20 hours and had jumped because she wanted to disembark. The Greek Coast Guard confirmed she was located conscious early Saturday and received first aid before transport to medical facilities. The exact circumstances of how she ended up in the water and how she obtained the lifebelt remain unestablished.
