By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

THE Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) has called off their search for a 66-year-old woman who went overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas near New Providence, Bahamas.

The incident, which occurred late Tuesday evening while the ship was in transit, was confirmed by video footage from the ship that showed the woman allegedly jumping overboard.

According to SAR Coordinator LCDR Byron McClain, the call came in from the cruise line around 10.30PM. “We got a call from the Allure of the Seas reporting that they had a 66-year-old female woman that jumped from their cruise ship into the water some 17 nautical miles north of New Providence while in transit,” he said.

The SAR coordinator said that the HMBS Madera was dispatched to the area, with the US Coast Guard helping in the search with helicopters and a fixed-wing aircraft; however, despite these efforts, there were no positive sightings.

He offered condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim.

It is unclear whether the 66-year-old woman was a participant of the partial charter cruise organised to capitalise on Taylor Swift fans attending the concert, who booked over 200 rooms for a four-day trip.

The cruise departed on October 21, 2024, following Ms Swift’s “Eras Tour” concert in Miami. Although the cruise was aimed at celebrating her music, Taylor Swift herself was not involved in the event. 

According to reports in the US, roughly 400 people registered for the cruise, which was set to feature karaoke, a dance party and friendship bracelet trading.