(MOBILE, Ala.) June 16 - A passenger on the Carnival cruise ship Holiday reported hearing a splash before a woman went missing on the ship Monday night, Carnival said in a statement released Tuesday.
Tuesday afternoon, rescue crews were still searching for the missing woman, identified as Michelle Vilborg, 50, of Bay Minette. A family member said Vilborg was using the cruise to celebrate her 50th birthday.
Another guest on the ship reported hearing a splash sound in the water around 11 p.m. Monday, a Carnival representative said in a statement. The ship was in the water about 70 miles south of Pensacola. A search and rescue mission began immediately and lifeboats were used to search the water while a cabin-by-cabin check was conducted onboard the ship, the Carnival statement said. That's when it was discovered that Vilborg was missing.
The Holiday departed from Mobile Monday on a five-day cruise. The ship is due to return Saturday.
Carnival said it was providing support to Vilborg's family. "Our thoughts and prayers are with this individual and their family and friends," the Carnival statement said.
So far, Coast Guard vessels have searched about 1,214 sq. miles, looking for Vilborg. That's an area larger than the state of Rhode Island.
