Cruise ship emergency as ‘man overboard’ sparks desperate search | World | News

A a cruise ship filled with British holidaymakers declared an emergency after a passenger allegedly “passenger went overboard”, according to one traveller.

The Norwegian Jewel, currently sailing from Barcelona to Miami, reportedly woke its passengers at 2am with the maritime distress signal “code Oscar starboard” sounding from the speakers, indicating a person overboard.

This afternoon, a passenger claimed that the crew confirmed someone had indeed “gone overboard” and the ship was now in “search and rescue mode”, circling the Atlantic Ocean.

The Norwegian cruise liner embarked on its journey from Barcelona on October 15, 2025.

One British passenger, who wished to remain unnamed, said: “I was asleep in the cabin. The captain put out an announcement ‘code Oscar starboard’.

“As it was transmitted into our rooms also. I thought it might be serious and googled it to find that Oscar means person overboard.

“We have just in the last 10 minutes had an announcement to confirm someone is overboard, and that is why we have been and still are circling.”

Norwegian Cruise Line has been contacted for a comment.