Odyssey’s missed Naples call was a justified cost of the rescue

A flashing light attached to a life ring helped a cargo ship’s crew find a woman who had spent about 20 hours in the Ionian Sea. That small piece of equipment proved decisive in the rescue of a passenger from Royal Caribbean International’s Odyssey of the Seas.

The search cost the cruise ship its final planned port call, at Naples. I regard that as an entirely justified disruption. A passenger was still out there, and the overnight effort ended with her being recovered alive.

Greek authorities said the 44-year-old Salvadoran woman was conscious when found early Saturday, October 10, approximately 70 nautical miles southwest of Zakynthos. The cargo ship MSC Rossella III located her after its crew spotted the flashing light. A Hellenic Coast Guard rescue vessel then recovered her, provided first aid and brought her to the mainland port of Katakolo.

An overnight search, then an investigation

Authorities received the overboard alert early Friday, October 9, when the Bahamas-flagged Odyssey of the Seas was approximately 72 nautical miles southwest of Zakynthos. The ship turned back and circled the area to help locate the passenger. Two Coast Guard vessels, a helicopter and merchant ships joined the operation, coordinated by the Hellenic Coast Guard’s Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Center.

“We immediately launched a search and rescue effort,” Royal Caribbean Group said in a statement issued before the rescue was confirmed. The company said its Care Team was assisting the passenger’s loved ones and declined to provide further details, citing the family’s privacy.

A Coast Guard spokesperson told AFP that the woman said she had jumped because “she wanted to disembark.” The Katakolo Port Authority is investigating. Authorities have not confirmed how she came to have the flotation device.

After reaching Katakolo, she was transferred to a hospital in nearby Pyrgos for medical observation and testing. A local prosecutor also ordered a psychiatric evaluation. No further details of her medical condition have been confirmed.

The final port call was lost, but disembarkation plans were unchanged

Odyssey of the Seas was nearing the end of a seven-night Greek Isles cruise that departed Civitavecchia, Italy, on October 4. It had left Mykonos and was heading toward Naples when the emergency began.

After the search, the scheduled October 10 Naples visit was cancelled and the ship headed directly for Civitavecchia. The Quantum Ultra-class ship accommodates approximately 4,200 guests at double occupancy, though the number aboard this sailing was not disclosed.

Scheduled disembarkation on Sunday, October 11, remained unchanged. No disruption has been announced to the next seven-night Greek Isles voyage, due to depart that day.

Historical figures compiled by G.P. Wild (International) Limited for Cruise Lines International Association recorded 212 overboard incidents involving passengers and crew worldwide between 2009 and 2019. During that period, 48 people were rescued.

Twenty hours was not too late to find this passenger alive.