Latest news with #CruiseMapper
New York Post
04-07-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Kentucky doctor, 62, mysteriously vanishes after leaving Norwegian cruise ship for solo hike in Alaska
A Kentucky doctor mysteriously vanished after leaving a Norwegian cruise ship for a solo hike in Alaska, prompting a large-scale search for the missing passenger. Marites Buenafe, 62, was reported missing around 3:18 p.m. Tuesday after she failed to return to the Norwegian Bliss before its 1:30 p.m. departure from Juneau, according to the Alaska State Troopers. The primary care physician, who works at University of Kentucky HealthCare in Lexington, texted her family around 7:30 a.m., saying she was taking the Mount Roberts Tramway to hike Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak. Advertisement 5 Marites Buenafe mysteriously vanished during a Norwegian Cruise in Alaska on July 1, 2025. ALASKA STATE TROOPERS Police said she was last seen on security footage leaving the building at the tramway's top stop around the same time she sent her final text. 'We remain optimistic that we will find Marites alive,' Austin McDaniel, a department spokesperson, told the New York Times Thursday. Advertisement Police launched a multi-agency ground and aerial search for the lost traveler, deploying helicopters, thermal drones, and K-9s along the popular hiking trail — but have so far come up empty. McDaniel said authorities have concentrated the emergency response in the mountains south of downtown Juneau. Buenafe earned her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Ohio and has practiced medicine for over 20 years, according to the healthcare system's website. 5 Norwegian Cruise's Norwegian Bliss sails through John Hopkins Inlet in Glacier Bay, Alaska on July 11, 2019. Bloomberg via Getty Images Advertisement 5 Buenafe works as a primary care physician at the University of Kentucky HealthCare in Lexington. ALASKA STATE TROOPERS She currently works as a family medicine doctor at Albert B. Chandler Hospital. Norwegian Cruise Line, which began the seven-day voyage from Seattle on Saturday, said it is assisting local authorities. 'An active search is ongoing, and we are providing assistance to local authorities as appropriate,' a spokesperson for the cruise line told People. Advertisement 'Our CARE team is providing support to the guest's family and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.' 5 Buenafe currently works at Albert B. Chandler Hospital. ALASKA STATE TROOPERS 5 Norwegian Cruise Line, which began the seven-day voyage from Seattle on Saturday, said it is assisting local authorities. It's unclear whether the nearly 1,100-foot vessel, with multiple scheduled stops in Alaska and Canada, has remained in the state capital — its third stop — during the search. The ship is scheduled to return to Seattle on Saturday, according to CruiseMapper. Norwegian did not immediately respond to The Post's request for comment due to the July 4 holiday.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Yahoo
Cruise passenger vanishes during solo hike in Alaska, prompting urgent search
A Norwegian Cruise Line passenger was reported missing in Alaska. Marties Buenafe, 62, texted family that she was going for a hike in Juneau on July 1, but did not return to the Norwegian Bliss ship for its scheduled 1:30 p.m. departure, the Alaska State Troopers said in a July 2 bulletin. A Norwegian spokesperson said a guest was reported missing after they missed the vessel's all-aboard time. 'An active search is ongoing, and we are providing assistance to local authorities as appropriate,' they told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. 'Our CARE team is providing support to the guest's family and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.' The ship eventually left the port and continued its week-long Alaska cruise sailing that departed from Seattle on June 28, according to CruiseMapper. She told family by text message around 7:30 a.m. that she planned to hike to Gastineau Peak – a mountain in the area – via Gold Ridge, and was going up Mount Roberts Tramway, according to the state troopers. 'Security footage showed her at the top of Mount Roberts Tramway departing the buildings at about 0730 hours,' the bulletin said. 'Searches of the area have been unsuccessful in locating her.' Authorities urged anyone with information or who has had contact with Buenafe to call 907-465-4000 with the reference number AK25063914. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Norwegian cruise guest reported missing after missing all-aboard time
USA Today
03-07-2025
- USA Today
Cruise passenger vanishes during solo hike in Alaska, prompting urgent search
A Norwegian Cruise Line passenger was reported missing in Alaska. Marties Buenafe, 62, texted family that she was going for a hike in Juneau on July 1, but did not return to the Norwegian Bliss ship for its scheduled 1:30 p.m. departure, the Alaska State Troopers said in a July 2 bulletin. A Norwegian spokesperson said a guest was reported missing after they missed the vessel's all-aboard time. 'An active search is ongoing, and we are providing assistance to local authorities as appropriate,' they told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. 'Our CARE team is providing support to the guest's family and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.' The ship eventually left the port and continued its week-long Alaska cruise sailing that departed from Seattle on June 28, according to CruiseMapper. She told family by text message around 7:30 a.m. that she planned to hike to Gastineau Peak – a mountain in the area – via Gold Ridge, and was going up Mount Roberts Tramway, according to the state troopers. 'Security footage showed her at the top of Mount Roberts Tramway departing the buildings at about 0730 hours,' the bulletin said. 'Searches of the area have been unsuccessful in locating her.' Authorities urged anyone with information or who has had contact with Buenafe to call 907-465-4000 with the reference number AK25063914.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Celebrity ship drifts from pier in 'sudden wind squall' during Alaska cruise
Strong winds caused a Celebrity Cruises ship to break from its moorings in Alaska this week. The incident occurred while Celebrity Edge was visiting the capital city of Juneau on June 16. Video footage posted to YouTube shows the vessel floating away from the dock as heavy rain rolls in. 'The ship drifted from the pier due to a sudden wind squall,' a spokesperson for the cruise line's parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. 'Our Captain maneuvered the ship back to the dock where passengers and crew boarded to resume the scheduled itinerary.' There were no injuries, damage to the ship or impacts to its itinerary. Wind speeds in Juneau increased accompanied by rain in the afternoon, with gusts of 30 to 35 miles per hour between 3:30 and 4 p.m., according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill. 'The wind trends show a ramp up period from a sustained wind of 5 mph at 2:05 p.m. to a sustained wind of 26 mph and gust to 35 mph at 3:30 p.m., and an abrupt wind shift from a southwest direction to an east to southeast direction,' he told USA TODAY in an email. 'So, the squall brought with it steadily increasing winds and a sharp change in wind direction.' Skies later cleared and the wind relaxed. Celebrity Edge is currently sailing a week-long Alaska cruise that departed from Seattle on June 13, according to CruiseMapper. While those incidents are relatively rare, it's not the only one of its kind in recent years. Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Epic ship separated from the pier amid strong winds in Catania, Sicily in late May, causing a guest to fall from the gangway into the water. Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Magic also hit a pier in Jamaica during windy weather in February 2024. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Strong winds cause cruise ship to break from moorings in Alaska
USA Today
17-06-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Celebrity ship drifts from pier in 'sudden wind squall' during Alaska cruise
Celebrity ship drifts from pier in 'sudden wind squall' during Alaska cruise Show Caption Hide Caption How to find the best price, perks when booking a cruise Find the cruise that works for your budget with these tips. Problem Solved A Celebrity Cruises ship broke loose from its moorings in Juneau, Alaska, due to strong winds. The ship, Celebrity Edge, drifted from the pier during a sudden wind squall but was maneuvered back by the captain. No injuries or damage were reported, and the ship's itinerary remained unaffected. Strong winds caused a Celebrity Cruises ship to break from its moorings in Alaska this week. The incident occurred while Celebrity Edge was visiting the capital city of Juneau on June 16. Video footage posted to YouTube shows the vessel floating away from the dock as heavy rain rolls in. 'The ship drifted from the pier due to a sudden wind squall,' a spokesperson for the cruise line's parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. 'Our Captain maneuvered the ship back to the dock where passengers and crew boarded to resume the scheduled itinerary.' There were no injuries, damage to the ship or impacts to its itinerary. Wind speeds in Juneau increased accompanied by rain in the afternoon, with gusts of 30 to 35 miles per hour between 3:30 and 4 p.m., according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill. 'The wind trends show a ramp up period from a sustained wind of 5 mph at 2:05 p.m. to a sustained wind of 26 mph and gust to 35 mph at 3:30 p.m., and an abrupt wind shift from a southwest direction to an east to southeast direction,' he told USA TODAY in an email. 'So, the squall brought with it steadily increasing winds and a sharp change in wind direction.' Skies later cleared and the wind relaxed. Celebrity Edge is currently sailing a week-long Alaska cruise that departed from Seattle on June 13, according to CruiseMapper. While those incidents are relatively rare, it's not the only one of its kind in recent years. Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Epic ship separated from the pier amid strong winds in Catania, Sicily in late May, causing a guest to fall from the gangway into the water. Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Magic also hit a pier in Jamaica during windy weather in February 2024. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@
