Search For Missing Passenger Called Off

Cruise vacations offer the opportunity to experience activities we haven't tried before, but balcony-hopping isn't one of them.

Sadly, Norwegian Cruise Lines says a 46-year old female passenger was apparently trying to climb between balconies on the Norwegian Dawn when she lost her footing and plunged into the ocean. The incident happened at about 7:50pm last Sunday night as the ship, bound for Bermuda from New York City, was off the Atlantic City, NJ coast.

Norwegian Dawn immediately began a search and rescue operation and called the U.S. Coast Guard. After seven hours of searching for the woman, Coast Guard helicopters from Atlantic City and Massachusetts called off their search late on Monday due to heavy winds and rain.

While NCL hasn't disclosed the woman's identity, Louise Jordan of Bordentown has informed the media that the missing passenger was her daughter, Mindy Jordan. She said her daughter's boyfriend and cruise companion, Jorge Caputo of Pine Hill, notified the family from the ship.

Norwegian Dawn is due to arrive in Bermuda today.