holland America Passenger Missing in Caribbean After Disembarking During Island Tour
Philipsburg, Sint Maarten – A 55-year-old Holland America Line passenger has gone missing after leaving the cruise ship during a port visit to St. Maarten on November 20, authorities reported Monday. Ann Evans, a U.S. citizen,was last seen disembarking a tour bus in Marigot,French Saint Martin,and failed to return to the Rotterdam cruise ship.
According to the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM), Evans had departed the ship on an organized island tour at approximately 10:00 a.m. She exited the bus in Marigot but did not rejoin the group or return to the vessel.A missing person alert was issued on November 26 as search efforts continue.
Holland America Line confirmed the incident in a statement, saying the company “notified local authorities immediately and we are working closely with them to confirm the guest’s whereabouts.” The Rotterdam is currently on a 12-day Caribbean sailing that began in Fort Lauderdale on November 16.
Law enforcement on both the Dutch and French sides of the island have been alerted and are actively searching for Evans. The KPSM is asking anyone with information regarding her location to contact them at +1 (721) 542-2222. The French Gendarmerie can be reached at +590 590-29-25-25.
Cruise passenger disappearances, while rare, do occur. according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), fewer than 20 passengers are reported missing annually across the entire cruise industry, which carries approximately 32 million passengers each year. Investigations typically involve collaboration between cruise lines, local authorities, and, when applicable, the U.S. coast Guard.
