An American woman is missing after she did not return to her cruise ship during a stop in the Caribbean.
Jessica Collins, 47, did not return to the Carnival cruise ship, where it had docked in Bonaire on September 17, and reportedly texted a cruise ship employee that she was safe but did not want to be found, Carnival Cruise Line said.
Newsweek reached out to Bonaire’s government, police and Carnival Cruise Line via email on Tuesday for comment.
Why It Matters
Collins has not yet been located, and authorities in Bonaire say they are working to find her as quickly and safely as possible.
Her case has drawn attention not only because an American tourist is missing, but also because of the cryptic message she sent to cruise staff, stating that she did not want to be contacted.
What To Know
Collins was traveling on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship, which departed from Miami on September 13 and made several stops in the Netherlands Antilles in the Caribbean. When the ship docked on the island of Bonaire, Collins disembarked and did not return. Photos of her leaving the ship show her carrying a large backpack.
Carnival Cruise Line told USA Today that Collins “debarked with all her belongings in her backpack and left a cash gratuity for the stateroom attendant with a thank you note.” A September 20 statement from Bonaire’s government said that Collins took all of her identification with her but left some of her luggage and personal belongings on board.
Carnival Cruise Line told the outlet that after disembarking the ship, Collins texted a member of their care team who had been trying to reach her to say “she was safe and did not want to be found or contacted again.”
The case has drawn comparisons to the unsolved disappearance of Amy Lynn Bradley, a 23-year-old American who vanished from a Royal Caribbean ship in 1998 while it was en route to Curaçao, another island in the southern Caribbean.
Bradley’s case has recently sparked fresh interest after a recent Netflix documentary, Amy Bradley Is Missing, revisited the mystery.
What People Are Saying
Carnival Cruise Line told USA Today: “While we are cooperating with local authorities this guest appears to have taken deliberate action to be alone and on her own.”
Bonaire’s government said in a press release, which has been translated from Dutch: “The goal is to find Ms. Collins quickly and safely. The situation is being closely monitored. New information will be shared as soon as it becomes available.”
What Happens Next
Authorities in Bonaire say they are continuing to investigate and are in contact with Carnival and U.S. authorities. The government has urged anyone with information to call its local tip line.
