3 People Who Disappeared From Cruise Ships With No Trace

By Jennifer A. • Sep 25, 2024

Vanished! Top 3 Infamous Cruise Ship Disappearances-1

Cruise ships are meant to be a floating haven of relaxation and adventure. However, for some unfortunate passengers, these dream vacations end in mysterious disappearances that leave families and authorities searching for answers. Let's take a detailed look at some of the most infamous cruise ship disappearances.

1. Amy Lynn Bradley

In March 1998, Amy Lynn Bradley's disappearance from a Royal Caribbean^® cruise on the Rhapsody of the Seas became one of the most haunting maritime mysteries. Here's what we know about what happened that night, as Amy was en route to Curaçao from Aruba with her family:

Timeline:

Evening of March 23, 1998: Amy, 23, and her brother Brad party at the ship's nightclub, dancing to the band "Blue Orchid" and mingling with crew members.
3:35 a.m.: The siblings return to their cabin. Brad enters first, and Amy follows five minutes later. They briefly chat on the balcony before Brad goes to bed. Amy decides to stay up and smoke a few cigarettes.
Between 5:15 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.: Amy's father sees her sleeping on a lounge chair on the balcony.
6:00 a.m.: No one can find Amy. Her personal items, including her shoes and ID, are found in the cabin.
That same morning: After searching the cruise ship to no avail, the family begs that the crew prevent passengers from disembarking in Curaçao until a thorough search is conducted. The request is ignored, and passengers disembark.
March 24-27, 1998: The crew and the Netherlands Antilles Coast Guard search the ship and nearby waters for four days. No trace of Amy is found — and also no evidence of foul play.

What Happened to Amy?

Abduction: Some people believe Amy was kidnapped by someone on the ship or at the port, possibly for human trafficking purposes. Later in 1999, some reports surfaced, claiming Amy had been spotted in a Caribbean brothel, but these sightings remain unverified.
Accidental Fall: Given that Amy's father saw her sleeping on the balcony at 5:15 a.m., it's possible she accidentally fell overboard.
Voluntary Disappearance Under Duress: Another theory suggests Amy may have committed suicide by jumping off the ship.

Despite various theories and ongoing speculation, the true fate of Amy Lynn Bradley remains a mystery, leaving many questions unanswered.

2. George Allen Smith IV

The disappearance of 26-year-old George Allen Smith IV during his honeymoon on the MS Brilliance of the Seas^® in July 2005 remains a baffling case. George had set sail with his new wife Jennifer on a Mediterranean cruise. But the night they sailed from Greece to Turkey would be their last together. Here's what we know:

Timeline:

Evening of July 5, 2005: George and Jennifer enjoy their honeymoon and gamble in the ship's casino.
Early morning July 6, 2005: Both drinking heavily, Jennifer leaves the casino, while George stays. He is last seen at the ship's bar, partying with four men — Josh Askin, Rusty Kofman, Greg Rozenberg, and Zach Rozenberg.
4:30 am: Jennifer is found passed out in the hallway.
Morning July 6: Blood stains are discovered in George's cabin and on the ship's side.
Later That Morning of July 6: Jennifer reports George missing. The ship's crew conducts an initial search, finding no conclusive evidence.
Later July 6: Authorities begin a search of the surrounding waters, but George's body is never recovered.

What Happened to George?

Accidental Fall: Some speculate George might have fallen overboard while intoxicated. A balcony chair was found with its back against the railing.
Foul Play or Violent Misconduct: Blood stains in the cabin suggest possible violence or foul play occurred. According to the four men, they brought George back to the room around 4 a.m., put him to bed and left. However, neighbors reported hearing loud noises coming from the Smiths' room around that time — they described it as sounding like a college drinking game with high-pitched yelling. Some witnesses claimed they heard an argument on the Smiths' balcony involving at least three voices.

While numerous theories have been proposed and the Smith family believes foul play was involved, the actual circumstances surrounding George Allen Smith IV's disappearance continue to elude investigators.

3. Merrian Carver

Merrian Carver's 2004 disappearance from a seven-day Royal Caribbean cruise remains a perplexing case. While cruising solo on the Celebrity Mercury^® ship from Seattle to Alaska, the 40-year-old divorcee suddenly disappeared. Let's look at the details:

Timeline:

Day 1 of the cruise, July 2004: Without telling anyone, Merrian Carver boards the Celebrity Cruises ship alone for a week-long Alaskan cruise. She settles into her ninth-floor cabin with a panoramic deck view. The ship's steward remembers seeing Carver on the first day of the voyage.
Day 2 of the cruise: The cabin steward notices Carver's bed has not been slept in. He also finds a generous tip, along with all her belongings, including what is believed to be her only shoes. The cabin steward reports Carver as missing to his supervisor.
Days 3-6 of the cruise: The cabin steward continues to alert his supervisor daily that Carver is still nowhere to be found. The supervisor tells him, "Forget it and do your job," according to Listverse.com. No one secures Carver's cabin, collects evidence or files a police report.
Final day of the cruise: Carver's personal items are boxed up and put in the supervisor's locker. Her clothing is donated to charity.
Post-cruise: Carver's 13-year-old daughter becomes concerned when she can't reach her mother by phone. She notifies her father, who contacts the police to report Carver missing.
Five weeks after the cruise: Royal Caribbean finally notifies the FBI and conducts a search of the ship and surrounding areas, but no trace of Merrian is found.

What Happened to Merrian?

Voluntary Disappearance: Some speculate Carver may have disappeared voluntarily, possibly due to personal issues. They theorize that she either committed suicide by jumping off the ship, or she somehow intentionally disappeared to start a new life and identity. The fact that Carver didn't tell anyone — not even her family — about her trip supports this theory; however, this was not the first time she had kept quiet about her travels.
Accidental Fall: There's also the possibility she fell overboard, though no evidence supports this theory.
Foul Play: Another theory suggests potential foul play. This is an especially compelling theory given that neither the supervisor nor the cruise line officially reported her disappearance for a staggering amount of time. However, no conclusive evidence about this theory has ever emerged.

Although several theories exist, Merrian Carver's disappearance remains unsolved, with her whereabouts still unknown.

These troubling cases remind us that even on luxurious cruise vacations, dark and unexpected things can happen. While we may view cruises as the ultimate getaway, the stories of these three victims highlight how safety and human behavior can sometimes collide in unsettling ways.

References: Murder, Suicide, And Tragedy: 9 Of History's Most Mysterious Cruise Ship Disappearances | Top 10 People Who Mysteriously Vanished From Cruise Ships | Where Is Amy Lynn Bradley, Who Disappeared on a Cruise Ship 26 Years Ago? | Timeline: The disappearance of George Smith | Unsolved Mysteries: Whatever happened to Merrian Carver? | The Strange Disappearance of Amy Lynn Bradley: What Happened to Her?