St. Maarten Cruise Thriller Ends as Lacking Passenger Positioned Safely

The cruise visitor lacking from Holland America Line’s Rotterdam since November 20 has been positioned safely in St. Maarten.

Whereas Ann Evans had debarked Rotterdam as a part of an organized tour on the morning of Thursday, November 20, she didn’t return to the cruise ship.

Additional investigation famous that she’d left the tour bus at Marigot, French Saint Martin, however didn’t return to the bus at that time and was subsequently thought-about lacking.

Following up on stories, authorities additional traced what they imagine to be Evans’ whereabouts within the space.

“Primarily based on data gathered in the course of the investigation, KPSM has cause to imagine {that a} feminine matching Ms. Evans’ description checked right into a resort on the French facet of the island utilizing her passport. She has additionally reportedly been seen within the surrounding space of that institution,” an interim replace famous.

Following an in depth search and appeals to the general public by way of social media, authorities had been capable of contact the lacking lady and ensure her security, although no additional data can be supplied.

“Following coordination between KPSM and different companions, contact has been made with the person in query. In accordance with the legal guidelines governing privateness and the safety of non-public knowledge, no further data can be launched in regards to the particular person or their circumstances,” the Police Pressure of St. Maartin confirmed.

Ann Evans, a 55-year-old American lady, was aboard the ship’s 12-night Jap Caribbean cruise that departed Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, November 16.

Learn Additionally: What Occurs If You Miss Your Cruise Ship

The latest ship within the Holland America Line fleet, the Pinnacle-class Rotterdam can welcome as much as 4,173 company onboard when absolutely booked.

Regardless of her disappearance, no appeals from members of the family or buddies had been made public, and it’s unknown why Evans might have chosen to depart the ship in St. Maarten and never return.

Not a Authorized Strategy to Journey

It isn’t authorized for cruise company to make use of closed-loop cruises as a method to journey between worldwide locations with no intent to return to the cruise ship.

To take action causes an immense response from authorities when a lacking particular person is reported, as cruise ships should do when a visitor fails to return to the vessel earlier than departure.

This response consists of searches and different emergency actions, similar to information stories and hospital contacts. In some circumstances, cruise ships with a whole lot or 1000’s of company aboard might even be delayed because of the particular person’s actions.

The state of affairs with Evans is considerably much like one other current not-really-missing visitor from a cruise ship. In September 2025, Jessica Collins debarked Carnival Horizon in Bonaire and didn’t return to the ship for the rest of the 8-night Southern Caribbean crusing.

In the course of the search efforts, Collins texted Carnival Cruise Line to allow them to know she was protected however didn’t wish to be positioned or contacted.

Whereas anybody who feels the necessity to begin a brand new life, no matter their private circumstances, might actually generate sympathy and understanding. Emigration needs to be adopted legally relatively than by deceiving a whole lot of crew members, native authorities, and different cruise company, nevertheless.

Moreover, a lot of these conditions might trigger modifications in native procedures that may truly hinder future searches for company who may very well be lacking and in peril.

St. Maarten Cruise Thriller Ends as Lacking Passenger Positioned Safely