An American woman has been reported missing after she failed to return to her cruise ship during an excursion in Sint Maarten. The missing person alert was issued for Ann Evans, a 55-year-old passenger aboard the Holland America Line vessel, the Rotterdam, on November 26, 2023. Evans had embarked on a 12-day Caribbean cruise that began on November 16.
According to local officials, Evans went missing after participating in an “organized island tour” on Sint Maarten. She departed the Rotterdam at approximately 10:00 a.m. on the day of the tour but did not return to the bus or the cruise ship afterward. It remains unclear when exactly her absence was first reported to authorities.
Sint Maarten, a territory of the Netherlands, shares the island with the French-controlled northern side, Saint Martin. Both law enforcement agencies from the Netherlands and France are collaborating in the search for Evans. This stop in Sint Maarten was only the second of seven planned stops during the cruise, which costs around $1,000 per passenger, according to CruiseMapper.
The day prior to her disappearance, passengers enjoyed leisure activities on the beaches of Half Moon Cay, a Bahamian island owned by Carnival Cruise Line. The Rotterdam, which can accommodate over 2,600 passengers at double occupancy and up to 4,173 when fully booked, departed from Puerto Rico on November 25 and is scheduled to return to Fort Lauderdale on November 28.
In a statement, Holland America confirmed that it has “notified local authorities immediately” and is “working closely with them to confirm the guest’s whereabouts.” It is not yet known if Evans was traveling alone or with others during the cruise.
The search for Evans continues as both local authorities and the cruise line seek to determine her location and ensure her safety.
