Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed that a passenger who did not reboard Carnival Horizon in Bonaire last week deliberately chose not to return, rather than being a missing person in distress.
The guest, identified as 47-year-old Jessica Collins, left the ship on Wednesday, 17th September 2025 while the vessel was docked in Kralendijk, Bonaire, during an 8-night Southern Caribbean sailing.
According to Carnival, Collins left the ship with all her belongings in a backpack, even leaving behind a gratuity and thank-you note for her stateroom attendant.
She later texted a member of Carnival’s Care Team to say that she was safe and did not wish to be contacted again.
While local authorities continue to treat the case as a missing person report, the evidence strongly suggests Collins had no intention of returning.
Carnival Horizon continued her A-B-C itinerary to Aruba and Curaçao as scheduled, returning to Miami on time before beginning her next voyage.
Standard Procedures Followed
As with any guest who does not return by the posted all-aboard time, announcements were made to attempt to locate Collins on board before the ship departed.
Security photos show her dressed in casual attire with a fully packed bag, which at the time did not raise suspicion as many guests carry similar bags for long excursions or beach days.
After her initial disappearance, the photos were circulated online as guests and other cruise fans were concerned for her wellbeing, especially after some recent incidents on cruise ships (albeit in other destinations) where guests had gone missing while hiking, and ended up in medical distress or even passing away.
However, this latest confirmation shows that apparently Collins is well, and took this action deliberately to leave the ship.
Carnival is continuing to cooperate with the authorities in Bonaire, though the cruise line reiterated that this was not an accidental disappearance but rather a deliberate action.
Emigration Considerations
Choosing to abandon a cruise ship is not a legitimate or legal way to emigrate to another country.
While Collins’ motivations are unknown, the decision highlights questions around long-term stays on Caribbean islands.
In Bonaire, US citizens may enter without a visa but must apply for a residence permit to stay beyond the short-term limit.
Permits are typically valid for one year and renewable for up to five years.
Longer-term residency or Dutch citizenship requires meeting strict conditions such as language knowledge, financial independence, and renouncing other citizenships.
The incident serves as a reminder that while cruise holidays can spark a desire to relocate, official procedures must always be followed.
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