Royal Caribbean passenger rescued after 20 hours in Ionian Sea

A 44-year-old Salvadoran passenger was rescued from the Ionian Sea after spending approximately 20 hours in the water. The woman went overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas on the morning of October 9, 2026, while the vessel was traveling from Mykonos, Greece, to Naples, Italy.

The search operation involved the Hellenic Coast Guard, utilizing patrol vessels, military aircraft, and helicopters. The passenger was eventually spotted in the early hours of October 10 by the crew of the cargo ship MSC Rossella III, who identified her flashing lifebuoy light. After being pulled from the water, she received first aid on the cargo ship before being transferred to a mainland hospital for observation.

Reports indicate the passenger claimed she jumped from the ship because she “wanted to disembark.” The Katakolo Port Authority is currently investigating the incident.