OFFICIALS searching for a missing American cruise passenger have revealed an odd twist – and shared a CCTV photo.
Jessica Collins, 47, failed to return to her trip aboard the Carnival Horizon during a stop in the Caribbean.
She had been sailing on Carnival Horizon, but did not return to the ship following its September 17 stop in Bonaire[/caption]
Authorities announced on Saturday that they were looking for the Carnival Cruise Line passenger who went missing in Bonaire.
In a press statement, Bonaire officials said the ship departed on the evening of September 17.
But “one passenger, Jessica Collins, 47, American, did not return to the ship.”
They added, “Some of her luggage and personal belongings are still on board.
“She did, however, take all her identification with her.
“The goal is to find Ms. Collins quickly and safely. The situation is being closely monitored.
“Local authorities are working with the Public Entity of Bonaire, the Port Authority, Tourism Corporation Bonaire, Carnival Cruise Line Security, the ship’s security chief, and other partners.
“They are also in direct contact with Carnival Corporation and the US authorities.”
The government officials also released the ship’s surveillance pics of the missing woman, showing her leaving the vessel for the final time.
In the CCTV photos she was wearing a Hawaiian-style T-shirt with denim shorts. She had a grey backpack on her back.
But, in an update on her sudden disappearance, a bizarre twist has now emerged.
A spokesperson for Carnival told US Today that Collins apparently “did not want to be found.”
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“While we are cooperating with local authorities, this guest appears to have taken deliberate action to be alone and on her own,” it added.
There was no mention of where she has gone, or why she had quit the holiday, which costs hundreds of dollars.
The statement said that Collins herself replied to a concerned crew member who had tried contacting her.
She texted the employee to confirm “she was safe and did not want to be found or contacted again.”
It added that Collins had removed “all her belongings in her backpack and left a cash gratuity for the stateroom attendant with a thank you note.”
The U.S. Sun has contacted Carnival for more details.
Can you end your cruise early, at any port on the itinerary?
Passengers rarely end their cruises before completion, unless there is an emergency situation
However, technically, the answer is yes, you can disembark early from your cruise, according to Fodors Travel.
But, it’s “a little more complicated than you may think,” it warns.
U.S. law allows Americans to set sail and then disembark at a foreign port, after leaving a U.S.-based port.
However, it would pay to check the laws of the country you have disembarked in – to avoid legal complications.
In some countries, laws prohibit cruise passengers from permanently disembarking.
It would also pay to peruse the policies of the cruise company you are booked with.
For example, the Royal Caribbean’s rules state it “no longer allows cruise passengers to pre-plan early debark or late embarkation for any of our ships.”
There is a safety net, though, for those in certain situations.
The Cruise Industry Passenger Bill of Rights states that passengers have the right to quit a docked ship if “essential provisions such as food, water, restroom facilities, and access to medical care cannot adequately be provided on board.”
But, Fodors warns, even under this bill of rights, there are still exceptions for the safety and/or any immigration requirements at the port of disembarkation.
The cruise ship arrived at its home port in Miami, Florida, on Sunday.
According to CruiseMapper, the eight-day round trip visiting the southern Caribbean was priced from $739.
