Passenger jumps overboard from Carnival Cruise ship before California port stop

A passenger jumped overboard from a cruise ship bound for Southern California from Mexico, prompting the vessel to turn around and launch a search Saturday.

The incident happened aboard the Carnival Panorama, operated by Carnival Cruise Line, as the ship was sailing from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to Long Beach, a Carnival Cruise spokesperson confirmed to The California Post.

“Carnival Cruise Line confirmed Saturday that a male guest aboard Carnival Panorama jumped overboard while the ship was sailing from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to Long Beach, California,” the cruise said in a statement to The Post.

“When notified of a missing guest, the ship’s team initiated search and investigation procedures, including reviewing CCTV footage and notifying both the US and Mexico Coast Guards,” he added.

TMZ, citing a passenger aboard the ship, reported that the missing man was traveling with family and that relatives initially searched for him before contacting guest services.

“Carnival is providing support to the family who was traveling with the guest, and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved ones,” the spokesperson added.

The passenger reportedly was paged at around 10:30 a.m.

Surveillance footage later showed that the man had gone overboard, according to the report.

The Panorama then turned around at about 2 p.m. and searched the surrounding waters before eventually resuming its voyage to Long Beach at roughly 4:30 p.m.

The passenger’s status remained unknown as of Sunday, and his identity has not been released.

Carnival said it was supporting the man’s relatives who were traveling with him as the search continued.

A video shared on Facebook by another passenger aboard the ship captured an announcement to those on board about the ongoing search.

“We have yet to locate the missing guest. Our fleet operation in Miami and appropriate authorities have been notified,” a cruise official appears to say in the video. “In the meantime, we continue for the family and friends. Our search efforts continue and we will keep you informed. Thank you again for the cooperation.”

The announcement appeared to ask passengers for their continued cooperation as the cruise line coordinated with authorities and continued searching for the missing passenger.

Another video shared to Facebook by passenger Misty Hernandez showed fellow passengers coming together to remember the man, with a small memorial display covered with handwritten messages, prayers and other tributes for his family and friends.

The display included dozens of small cruise-themed items, including rubber ducks and teddy bears, along with brown paper bags carrying handwritten messages of support and prayers for the passenger’s loved ones.

“Last night, passengers on this ship came together in a quiet but powerful way,” Hernandez wrote alongside the video.

“A small remembrance wall was created for the passenger who went overboard, giving people a place to leave prayers, messages, and words of love for him and for the family and friends who are carrying an unimaginable loss,” she added.

Hernandez said many of the passengers had never met the man but were nevertheless affected by the tragedy unfolding aboard the ship.

“Most of us never knew him. We may never know his story. But for a few days, we were all on the same ship, sharing the same moments, and now we share the heaviness of knowing that someone who boarded this ship will not be going home,” she wrote.

She said the memorial became a way for passengers to show support while the cruise continued.

“Watching strangers stop to write a message, say a prayer, or simply stand there in silence reminded me that even in the middle of tragedy, people can come together with compassion,” Hernandez posted.

“This little wall may seem small, but the love behind it is anything but.”

She ended the post by asking for prayers for the man’s loved ones: “Praying for his family, his friends, and everyone whose hearts have been touched by this tragedy. May they feel surrounded by love and carried by God through the days ahead.”

The Carnival Panorama was continuing its journey to Long Beach after the search effort, with the circumstances surrounding the man’s disappearance still under investigation.

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