missing cruise passenger miami

‘My brother didn't just vanish': Family frustrated after Carnival Cruise passenger disappears

Kevin mcgrath has been missing since monday. carnival officials said he wasn't seen in surveillance footage., by kim wynne • published september 6, 2023 • updated on september 7, 2023 at 12:37 pm.

Danielle McGrath says the past few days have been unnerving for her and her family.

“All of our emotions are up and down right now,” McGrath said. “All of us.”

Her brother, 26-year-old Kevin McGrath, a father of two, has been missing since Monday. He was last seen in his cabin around 7 a.m. Monday morning on a Carnival cruise ship heading back to Port Miami. The trip was a birthday celebration for their father.

“The whole point of the cruise was to celebrate my dad’s 60th birthday, and it was a big group of about 40 people,” she said.

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McGrath said later Monday morning — as the cruise was ending and passengers were disembarking — the family gathered for breakfast, but Kevin never showed up.

“When it’s time to meet up for breakfast, no one can find him,” she said.

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Family members searched all over the cruise ship.

“He wasn’t in the room,” McGrath said. “No one could find him. No one.”

Once they reported him missing, the U.S. Coast Guard was contacted and searched the water by helicopter. Miami-Dade Police are also investigating but have no leads.

“The guest was not detected by surveillance systems, including U.S. Customs and Border Patrol during the debarkation process," a Carnival spokesperson said in part in a statement to NBC6. "Miami-Dade Police eventually cleared the ship to sail. The Carnival Care Team is supporting the guest’s family.”

The Coast Guard announced Thursday that they were suspending their search for McGrath.

“My jaw just dropped,” said friend Mitchell Branch. “I was speechless. I didn’t know what to say.”

Branch said he and Kevin served in the U.S. Army together.

“We were in the same unit, same battalion, same company,” he said.

He and other family members say Kevin would never disappear and was always in good spirits.

“He’s always the light of the room,” Branch said.

“He has this huge personality that will definitely stick out in any room,” McGrath said. “He’s very straightforward, goofy, he’s funny.”

McGrath is urging other passengers who may have seen him that morning to speak up.

“My brother didn’t just vanish,” McGrath said. “Someone knows something. Someone’s seen something. I just want my brother home. My family wants my brother home. Just please, we need him home.”

Family members say Kevin was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, black shorts, and gray sneakers.

Anyone with information should call Miami-Dade Police at 305-715-3300.

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BREAKING: American soldier stationed in South Korea was detained in Russia after traveling on his own, U.S. officials say

Carnival cruise passenger reported missing after ship returns to port in Miami

Police and federal authorities are searching for a man who was reported missing Monday morning after a Carnival cruise ship returned to Miami.

Kevin McGrath, 26, was last seen at 7 a.m. Monday in his cabin as the Carnival Conquest reported back to the Port of Miami, Carnival said in a statement Tuesday. He was reported missing by his family and "was not located on board despite an extensive search."

Miami-Dade police issued a missing person's alert Tuesday morning for McGrath, who was last seen in a black shirt, shorts and gray sneakers. Police said he "may be in need of services" and asked anyone with information to contact authorities.

After McGrath could not be found on board, the Coast Guard was contacted, and Miami police officers arrived to investigate, Carnival said.

"The guest was not detected by surveillance systems, including U.S. Customs and Border Patrol during the debarkation process," the company said.

McGrath's brother declined to comment when contacted by phone Tuesday.

The Coast Guard confirmed that its crews are "actively searching near the Port of Miami and along the South Florida shore" after the missing person's report Monday.

Doha Madani is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Pronouns: she/her.

Watch CBS News

Carnival cruise passenger vanishes after ship docks in Florida

September 6, 2023 / 8:39 AM EDT / CBS News

A man has been missing for over two days after disappearing from a docked Carnival cruise ship in Miami, officials and the cruise line said. 

According to a missing persons poster released by the Miami-Dade Police Department, 26-year-old Kevin McGrath was last seen on board the Carnival cruise ship Conquest early Monday morning. McGrath was reported missing by a family member, Carnival said in a statement to CBS News. 

Police said he was last seen in his cabin aboard the ship at around 2 a.m. local time on Sept. 4. Carnival said that McGrath was "last seen in his cabin at approximately 7 a.m. according to his cabinmate."

That was around the time guests were leaving the ship, the cruise line said. An "extensive search" did not find McGrath on board. 

The U.S. Coast Guard used a helicopter to search the "water in the general vicinity," the cruise line said, and Miami-Dade police officers boarded the ship to investigate and search. McGrath was "not detected by surveillance systems, including U.S. Customs and Border Patrol during the debarkation process," Carnival said. The ship was later cleared to sail on by police. 

McGrath, a Black man with brown eyes and brown hair, was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black shorts and gray sneakers, police said. 

🚨 #MISSING : Kevin McGrath, 26 years old, was last seen in the area of Port of Miami 1015 North America Way. The missing person may be in need of services. Anyone with information is urged to contact @CrimeStopper305 at (305) 471-8477 or by dialing **TIPS. pic.twitter.com/pmAAMpgSgM — Miami-Dade Police (@MiamiDadePD) September 5, 2023

Police said McGrath "may be in need of services." 

The cruise line said they were in contact with McGrath's family through their Carnival Care Team.

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Carnival Cruise passenger reported missing after ship returns to Florida

Kevin McGrath was last seen in his cabin before returning to port.

A guest aboard a Carnival cruise ship was reported missing by family Monday morning, according to the Miami-Dade Police Department.

Kevin McGrath, 26, was on the Carnival Conquest with family and was last seen by his brother in his cabin early Monday, the day the ship arrived back to Port Miami, according to a spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line.

McGrath was supposed to meet with family for breakfast before disembarking the ship, but he never arrived, Miami-Dade Detective Angel Rodriguez said in a statement.

After an extensive search, Carnival crew members were unable to find McGrath on the ship. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Miami-Dade Police Department were later called to investigate and searched the ship and the water for the missing man but failed to locate him.

MORE: Coast Guard searching for cruise passenger who jumped overboard off Florida coast

Surveillance systems and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol did not find McGrath once passengers were disembarking the ship, Carnival said. Miami-Dade authorities also checked security cameras, none of which indicated that he may have gone overboard, Rodriguez said.

McGrath's whereabouts are still unknown.

McGrath is 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds and was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black shorts and gray sneakers.

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Officials are searching for a missing Carnival cruise passenger who was last seen on board shortly before the ship docked in Miami

• A Carnival cruise passenger is missing after he was last seen before the ship docked in Miami.
• Miami-Dade police told Insider that Kevin McGrath, 26, was last seen by his brother in his cabin.
• Coast Guard officials are still searching the Port of Miami and South Florida waters.

Coast Guard officials are searching Florida waters after a Carnival cruise passenger disappeared shortly before the ship returned to PortMiami this week.

Miami-Dade Police Department identified the missing man as Kevin McGrath, 26. A spokesperson with the department told Insider that McGrath was last seen by his brother at approximately 2 a.m. on Monday morning in his cabin.

McGrath was supposed to meet his family for breakfast ahead of the ship's return to port but he never arrived for the meal, authorities said.

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He was reported missing at approximately 7 a.m on Monday, a spokesperson with the cruise line told Insider.

The missing person's report came right as passengers were beginning to disembark in PortMiami following the the four-day Bahamas venture, the cruise line said.

Carnival crew conducted an "extensive" search on board the ship but failed to find McGrath. Miami-Dade police then boarded the ship to investigate. McGrath was not detected by any of the ship's surveillance systems, including security cameras and US Customs and Border Patrol during the debarkation process.

Authorities said the ship's cameras and security devices don't indicate that McGrath went overboard.

A spokesperson with the US Coast Guard told Insider that air and surface crews are still actively searching for McGrath near Port Miami and along the South Florida shore.

Miami-Dade police eventually cleared the Carnival Conquest to set sail again. The ship is currently located in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean on its way to the Bahamas, cruise tracking data shows.

The incident comes just one week after a 19-year-old college student went overboard the largest operational cruise ship in the world , the Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas. Authorities have conducted a lengthy search for the missing man, but he has yet to be found.

A 2020 study from the industry trade group Cruise Lines International Association found that 19 people go overboard cruise ships each year on average.  At least six people have gone overboard in the last three months , promoting debate over whether cruise ships should be required to install man-overboard detection systems.

Watch: Sub taking tourists to see the Titanic goes missing

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Cruise passenger reported missing after ship returns to Florida

Kevin McGrath, 26, was last seen in his cabin before returning to port.

MIAMI -- A guest aboard a Carnival cruise ship was reported missing by family Monday morning, according to the Miami-Dade Police Department.

Kevin McGrath, 26, was on the Carnival Conquest with family and was last seen by his brother in his cabin early Monday, the day the ship arrived back to Port Miami, according to a spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line.

McGrath was supposed to meet with family for breakfast before disembarking the ship, but he never arrived, Miami-Dade Detective Angel Rodriguez said in a statement.

After an extensive search, Carnival crew members were unable to find McGrath on the ship. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Miami-Dade Police Department were later called to investigate and searched the ship and the water for the missing man but failed to locate him.

Surveillance systems and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol did not find McGrath once passengers were disembarking the ship, Carnival said. Miami-Dade authorities also checked security cameras, none of which indicated that he may have gone overboard, Rodriguez said.

McGrath's whereabouts are still unknown.

McGrath is 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds and was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black shorts and gray sneakers.

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Carnival cruise passenger reported missing after ship returns to Miami port

Police and federal authorities are searching for a man who was reported missing Monday morning after a Carnival cruise ship returned to Miami.

Kevin McGrath, 26, was last seen at 7 a.m. Monday in his cabin as the Carnival Conquest reported back to the Port of Miami, Carnival said in a statement Tuesday. He was reported missing by his family and "was not located on board despite an extensive search."

Miami-Dade police issued a missing person's alert Tuesday morning for McGrath, who was last seen in a black shirt, shorts and gray sneakers. Police said he "may be in need of services" and asked anyone with information to contact authorities.

After McGrath could not be found on board, the Coast Guard was contacted, and Miami police officers arrived to investigate, Carnival said.

"The guest was not detected by surveillance systems, including U.S. Customs and Border Patrol during the debarkation process," the company said.

McGrath's brother declined to comment when contacted by phone Tuesday.

The Coast Guard confirmed that its crews are "actively searching near the Port of Miami and along the South Florida shore" after the missing person's report Monday.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com

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Carnival Cruise passenger reported missing after ship returns to Florida

A guest aboard a Carnival cruise ship was reported missing by family Monday morning, according to the Miami-Dade Police Department.

Kevin McGrath, 26, was on the Carnival Conquest with family and was last seen by his brother in his cabin early Monday, the day the ship arrived back to Port Miami, according to a spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line.

McGrath was supposed to meet with family for breakfast before disembarking the ship, but he never arrived, Miami-Dade Detective Angel Rodriguez said in a statement.

After an extensive search, Carnival crew members were unable to find McGrath on the ship. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Miami-Dade Police Department were later called to investigate and searched the ship and the water for the missing man but failed to locate him.

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MORE: Coast Guard searching for cruise passenger who jumped overboard off Florida coast

Surveillance systems and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol did not find McGrath once passengers were disembarking the ship, Carnival said. Miami-Dade authorities also checked security cameras, none of which indicated that he may have gone overboard, Rodriguez said.

McGrath's whereabouts are still unknown.

McGrath is 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds and was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black shorts and gray sneakers.

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26-Year-Old Reported Missing After Cruise Ship Returns to Florida: 'He Never Arrived'

Kevin McGrath was last seen by his brother aboard a Carnival Cruise ship returning from Bimini, Bahamas

Miami Dade Police Department; Getty

Officials in Florida are investigating the disappearance of a cruise passenger who did not return with the vessel once the ship docked.

Kevin McGrath, 26, was aboard a Carnival Cruise from PortMiami to Bimini, Bahamas, over the Labor Day holiday weekend. However, when the Carnival Conquest returned to the United States on Monday, he was not on the ship.

Angel Rodriguez, a detective for the Miami-Dade Police Department, told PEOPLE that “McGrath was last seen by his brother at approximately 2 a.m. at his cabin.” 

The missing passenger “was supposed to meet the family for breakfast prior to disembarking from the ship but he never arrived” as members of the group had planned. After his loved ones were unable to determine his whereabouts, a search was conducted by ship staff and security but their efforts were unsuccessful.

Rodriguez said a search of the ship’s cameras and security devices did not indicate that McGrath went overboard. The detective added that the U.S. Coast Guard also responded to assist with the search yielding negative results.

A spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line told PEOPLE that “the Carnival Care Team is supporting the guest’s family” during this difficult time.

A rep with the cruise company previously told Tampa NBC News affiliate WFLA-8 that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol did not locate McGrath during the debarkation process, adding that “Miami Dade police eventually cleared the ship to sail.”

Fox News Digital also spoke with a representative from Carnival Cruise Line who said the U.S. Coast Guard also performed a helicopter search for the missing man.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Authorities described McGrath as being 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds, and having brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black shorts, and gray sneakers. 

Anyone with knowledge of McGrath’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Miami-Dade police special victims bureau/missing persons squad at 305-715-3300 or Crime Stoppers of Miami-Dade & the Florida Keys either online or at 305-471-8477 (TIPS).

In July, Carnival Cruise Line issued a statement regarding another man who had reportedly gone missing while on one of their ships in Florida. 

"The crew was notified by his traveling companion late in the afternoon about his missing status after he had not been seen all day," Carnival told PEOPLE in a statement on July 24 in regard to 30-year-old Jaylen Hill.

Hill had been traveling on the Carnival Elation as it made its way back to its homeport of Jacksonville after a four-day trip to the Bahamas.

"Sadly, after an exhaustive onboard search and a review of security camera video, it was determined that he jumped," the company said at the time. "Shoreside authorities were notified, and the crew was advised to continue to Jacksonville."

Approximately two months prior to Hill’s incident, a 35-year-old man, identified as Ronnie Lee Peale Jr ., was riding on the Carnival Magic ship when he went overboard in Florida. 

On May 31, the U.S. Coast Guard called off the search after covering more than 5,171 square miles over a span of 60 hours. “The decision to suspend the active search efforts pending further development is never one we take lightly. We offer our most sincere condolences to Mr. Peale’s family and friends," the Coast Guard said in a news release at the time.

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Missing Carnival cruise passenger's last known whereabouts revealed as search intensifies off Florida coast

A cruise spokesperson said the man wasn't seen by u.s. customs and border patrol during the debarkation process.

Passenger details nightmare on cruise ship: 'We felt trapped'

Kathleen Meenan, a passenger on Carnival Sunshine, shares how the ship was battered by 80 mph winds and rough waters on 'America Reports.'

Officials are searching for a Carnival cruise passenger who went missing as the ship arrived in Miami on Monday morning. 

Kevin McGrath, 26, was last seen at his stateroom early Monday morning on the Carnival Conquest, according to the Miami-Dade Police Department. He was last seen in the area of PortMiami, police said.

A spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line told Fox News Digital that the passenger's cabin mate last saw the man at 7:00 a.m., which is around the time that debarkation was beginning.

Cruise employees performed an "extensive" search of the ship, but the spokesperson said the 26-year-old wasn't found.

AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT IDENTIFIED AS PASSENGER WHO WENT OVERBOARD FROM WORLD'S LARGEST CRUISE SHIP

Officials are searching for a Carnival Cruise passenger who went missing as the ship arrived in Miami on Monday morning.  (Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images/Miami-Dade Police)

McGrath wasn't detected by the ship's surveillance systems and wasn't seen by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol during the cruise's debarkation process.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard told Fox News Digital it is "actively searching" near PortMiami and along the South Florida shore for McGrath, but his whereabouts are still unknown.

SEARCH UNDERWAY AFTER PASSENGER ON WORLD'S LARGEST CRUISE SHIP GOES OVERBOARD

McGrath wasn't detected by the ship's surveillance systems, and wasn't seen by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol during the cruise's debarkation process. (Miami-Dade Police Department)

A Carnival Cruise spokesperson said the Coast Guard performed a helicopter search.

Angel Rodriguez, a detective with the Miami-Dade Police Department told Fox News Digital that McGrath was supposed to meet the family for breakfast before leaving the cruise but never arrived.

The detective also said that the ship’s cameras and security devices don't indicate he went overboard.

Key West Florida USA cruise ship Carnival Conquest at dock Mallory Square.  (Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

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The ship was eventually cleared to sail by Miami-Dade police .

McGrath was on a two-night cruise to Bimini, Bahamas.

Adam Sabes is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter @asabes10.

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Family Desperate for Answers After Passenger Mysteriously Vanishes From Carnival Cruise Ship

🚨 #MISSING : Kevin McGrath, 26 years old, was last seen in the area of Port of Miami 1015 North America Way. The missing person may be in need of services. Anyone with information is urged to contact @CrimeStopper305 at (305) 471-8477 or by dialing **TIPS. pic.twitter.com/pmAAMpgSgM — Miami-Dade Police (@MiamiDadePD) September 5, 2023

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WEATHER ALERT

A rip current statement in effect for Coastal Broward and Coastal Miami Dade Regions

Coast guard suspends search off miami for missing carnival cruise ship passenger, kevin mcgrath, 26, was onboard carnival conquest celebrating father’s 60th birthday.

Amanda Batchelor , Digital Executive Producer

Samiar Nefzi , Reporter

MIAMI – The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed Thursday that it has suspended the search for a missing Carnival cruise ship passenger in the waters off Miami.

According to Coast Guard officials, Sector Miami Command Center watchstanders were alerted about the missing passenger around 11 a.m. Monday.

Miami-Dade police said Kevin McGrath, 26, was last seen around 2 a.m. that morning inside his cabin onboard the Carnival Conquest ship.

A statement from the cruise line, however, said his cabin mate actually last saw him around 7 a.m. “around the time the debarkation of guests was beginning.”

“The guest was not located on board despite an extensive search,” the statement read. “The U.S. Coast Guard was contacted and completed a helicopter search of the water in the general vicinity and Miami-Dade police officers came on board to investigate.”

Carnival confirmed that McGrath “was not detected by surveillance systems, including U.S. Customs and Border Patrol during the debarkation process.”

Coast Guard crews searched nearly 3,300 square nautical miles for more than 80 hours.

Miami-Dade police and Fire Rescue and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also assisted in the search.

McGrath’s sister told Local 10 News reporter Roy Ramos Wednesday that her brother was aboard the ship with several relatives, celebrating their father’s 60th birthday.

“He was having a good time, an amazing time, on the cruise ship,” said Danielle McGrath.

Relatives said they know McGrath didn’t get off the ship through the debarkation process because his mother still has all of his personal identification credentials, like his birth certificate and license.

“This is not like him and he would never disappear like this,” Danielle McGrath said. “He is also a father of two kids. He would not disappear.”

Carnival Cruise Lines confirmed to Local 10 News Thursday that their investigation continues, including multiple reviews of closed circuit video footage.

Anyone with information about Kevin McGrath’s whereabouts is asked to call Detective M. Ritch Jr. at 305-715-3300 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

Copyright 2023 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

About the Authors

Amanda batchelor.

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

Samiar Nefzi

Samiar Nefzi joined the Local 10 News team in August of 2023.

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Man, 26, disappears from carnival cruise ship after docking in miami.

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Kevin McGrath, 26, had been aboard the Carnival Conquest for a three-night cruise last weekend to the Bahamas. He was with family members celebrating his father’s 60th birthday, a relative told CNN .

McGrath was reportedly last seen by his brother in his cabin around 2 a.m. Monday.  He failed to join his family for breakfast before the ship’s return to the Miami port, at 8 that morning, and they notified the crew after searching for him.

Miami-Dade police told the Miami Herald that the cruise line says there’s no video or other evidence indicating he went overboard, but the Coast Guard nevertheless searched nearby waters for more than three days.

A week earlier, a 19-year-old Texas man went missing from Wonder of the Seas on a weeklong cruise from Port Canaveral, Fla., to Mexico. Sigmund Ropich is thought to have gone overboard on Aug. 29 near Cuba; he has not been found.

Other recent incidents in which U.S. cruise passengers went missing and are thought to have gone overboard:

• Aug. 11, Hilo, Hawaii. Kenneth Schwalbe, 59, of Costa Mesa, Calif., was reportedly seen on video falling from the Emerald Princess as it neared Hawaii on a cruise out of Los Angeles.

• July 23, Jacksonville, Fla. Jaylen Hill, 30, is said by cruise line officials to have jumped from the Carnival Elation as it returned from a four-day trip to the Bahamas.

• May 29, Norfolk, Va. Ronnie Peale Jr., 35, disappeared from the Carnival Magic as it returned from a five-day trip to the Bahamas. Cruise officials said he fell from a balcony.

In addition, a Louisiana teenager on a graduation trip to the Bahamas went missing May 24 after jumping or falling from a sunset excursion boat.

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Carnival Cruise passenger, 26, reported missing after ship returns to Florida

F lorida officials launched a large-scale investigation after a cruise passenger mysteriously disappeared shortly before the ship returned to Port of Miami on Monday.

The passenger, identified as Kevin McGrath, was aboard a Carnival Cruise from Miami to Bimini, Bahamas, over the Labor Day holiday weekend but was reported missing following an “extensive search” upon the vessel’s docking.

The 26-year-old was set to meet his family for breakfast ahead of the ship’s return, however, his family said that he never showed up for the meal.

His family reported him missing at approximately 7 a.m. on Monday, a spokesperson told NBC News .

After being unable to locate McGrath, the cruise company contacted the Coast Guard and Miami police, Carnival told the outlet.

“The guest was not detected by surveillance systems, including US Customs and Border Patrol during the debarkation process,” a company spokesperson added.

The ship’s security cameras did not indicate that McGrath went overboard, the Miami Herald reported .

Miami-Dade Police issued a missing person’s alert Tuesday, saying McGrath was last seen in a black shirt, shorts and gray sneakers at around 2 a.m. Monday.

The Post has reached out to Carnival Cruise Line, Miami-Dade police, and the Coast Guard for comment.

Authorities described McGrath as being 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds, and having brown hair and brown eyes.

He “may be in need of services” and police have asked anyone with information to contact authorities.

The Coast Guard also performed a helicopter search for the missing man, according to Fox News .

McGrath’s disappearance comes just one week after a  19-year-old college student fell overboard  on the world’s largest cruise ship, the Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas.

Sigmund Ropich toppled into the waters off the coast of Cuba during a vacation with friends and has yet to be found.

It follows another missing person report from July, when 30-year-old Jaylen Hill disappeared while aboard a carnival cruise ship in Florida.

The Coast Guard dispatched the 87-foot cutter Tarpon from St. Petersburg, a Hercules aircraft based out of Clearwater, and a Miami-based Ocean Sentry aircraft to search for Hill.

The crews covered more than 1,347 square miles — an area nearly the size of Long Island — while looking for Hill, but their efforts yielded no results and the search was called off.

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Man reported missing after carnival cruise ship returns to miami port, kevin mcgrath, 26, was last seen in his cabin early monday.

The Miami-Dade Police Department is searching for Kevin McGrath, who was last seen by his brother in his cabin around 2 a.m. Monday on the Carnival Conquest ship.

The ship docked at PortMiami later that day. A relative reported the man missing when he did not show up for breakfast.

Carnival said his cabin mate saw him around 7 a.m. as passengers were disembarking, according to Local 10 News .

“The guest was not located on board despite an extensive search,” the cruise liner said in a statement. “The U.S. Coast Guard was contacted and completed a helicopter search of the water in the general vicinity and Miami-Dade police officers came on board to investigate. The guest was not detected by surveillance systems, including U.S. Customs and Border Patrol during the debarkation process. Miami-Dade police eventually cleared the ship to sail. The Carnival Care Team is supporting the guest’s family.”

McGrath’s family told Local 10 News he and other relatives were celebrating his dad’s 60th birthday and that he could not have disembarked the ship because his mother still had his identification materials.

McGrath was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black shorts and gray sneakers. He’s described as 5’9″ and 170 pounds with brown hair and eyes.

Cruise passengers have died multiple times in 2023. In April, a woman aboard a Virgin Voyages cruise ship fell 10 stories from a balcony onto a lower deck. In May, a man fell from his stateroom balcony on the Carnival Magic into the water on the Carnival Magic about 200 miles from Florida.

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• Cruise News

Carnival Ship Passenger Missing after Miami Cruise

Andrea Santillan

• September 6, 2023

A Carnival ship passenger has been reported missing after Carnival Conquest returned to PortMiami on Monday morning with one less guest.

Local authorities continue to search the vicinities of Port Miami and the South Florida shore for 26-year-old Kevin McGrath.

The news comes a week after a passenger went overboard on the world’s largest cruise ship.

Carnival Ship Passenger Missing

McGrath’s brother was the last to see him on Monday at 2 a.m. He was reportedly inside his cabin onboard Carnival Conquest.

They reported McGrath missing when he failed to meet his family for breakfast at 7 a.m. the next day. The missing person’s report came in while passengers began to disembark at PortMiami after a four-day sailing in the Bahamas.

After an extensive onboard search was unable to locate him, and there were no signs that he debarked, the cruise line reached out to the U.S. Coast Guard and Miami police.

A Carnival Cruise Line representative said, “The guest was not detected by surveillance systems, including U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, during the debarkation process.” 

Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard deployed a helicopter to search nearby waters. Miami-Dade police boarded the ship for an investigation.

READ MORE : What Happens When Someone Goes Overboard

Though local authorities eventually gave Carnival Conquest clearance to leave for its next voyage, the search for McGrath was ongoing as of Tuesday.

The Miami-Dade police department’s Special Victims Bureau was also involved in the investigation since officials said the missing passenger may need special services.

McGrath has been described as five feet and nine inches tall. He weighs 170 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. He was last spotted wearing a black shirt with black shorts and gray sneakers.

19 People Go Missing From Cruise Ships Every Year

The Maritime Injury Guide reports that 19 people go missing from cruise ships yearly. While that may not sound significant, it adds up to 400 people over the last 20 years. This includes accidental falls overboard, suicides, and disappearances during port visits.

In July, a passenger went overboard from Carnival Elation , followed by a string of others across Princess and Royal Caribbean.

Anyone with information that can help should contact Detective M. Ritch Jr. at (305) 715-3300 or Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).

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Family of missing cruise ship passenger awaits answers

The family of a missing Port St. Lucie man who disappeared from a Carnival cruise ship on Monday is speaking with WPTV a day after the U.S. Coast Guard suspended their search.

"She pointed him out on TV and was like, 'That's my dad,'" Addison Thomas told WPTV while holding her 3-year-old daughter.

It's been five days since Thomas' two kids have heard from their dad, Kevin McGrath, 26, of Port St Lucie.

"It just hurts because it's like, I didn't have my dad much growing up, and I want her to have that experience when she gets in school," Thomas said. "I'm trying not to get too emotional about it."

McGrath's family said he was on the Carnival Conquest cruise ship that left Miami on Friday, stopped in the Bahamas over the weekend and returned to Miami on Monday.

"My family was supposed to meet for breakfast at 7:30 on the cruise ship, 7:30 in the morning," Danielle McGrath, Kevin's sister, told WPTV.

She said that's when the family first noticed Kevin was missing.

"The last time his card was used was around 3:30 in the morning, like to enter the room," Danielle said. "So anytime between then and breakfast time, he disappeared somewhere, and there's no trace of him."

Danielle told WPTV he left behind all of his belongings on the ship, including his IDs and passport.

"It was like he didn't pack up any of his belongings or anything like that," Danielle said.

🚨 #MISSING : Kevin McGrath, 26 years old, was last seen in the area of Port of Miami 1015 North America Way. The missing person may be in need of services. Anyone with information is urged to contact @CrimeStopper305 at (305) 471-8477 or by dialing **TIPS. pic.twitter.com/pmAAMpgSgM — Miami-Dade Police (@MiamiDadePD) September 5, 2023

In a statement released by the U.S. Coast Guard, they said, "Crews searched nearly 3,300 square nautical miles, a combined crew total of over 80 hours" before they suspended the search on Thursday.

In a statement released Thursday, the cruise line said "Our investigation continues, including multiple reviews of closed circuit video footage."

"The guest was not detected by surveillance systems, including U.S. Customs and Border Patrol during the debarkation process," a Carnival spokesperson said in part in a statement sent to NBC 6 in Miami. "Miami-Dade Police eventually cleared the ship to sail. The Carnival Care Team is supporting the guest's family."

So, for now, Kevin's family is left with more questions than answers.

"The last time I saw him, he was in good spirits, packing for the cruise," Danielle McGrath said. "Today is the fifth day, and it just keeps making me even more and more and more miserable that we don't even know if he's even OK. Is my brother OK, is he alive?"

"Praying he's alive. Praying for the best, the best outcome," Thomas said. "I'm not trying to think of the worst, but then you have to have those what-ifs in your mind, and I don't want to think of those what-ifs."

The Miami-Dade Police Department is the lead agency investigating the case.

If you have information that could help, contact Detective M. Ritch Jr. at (305)-715-3300.

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Breaking news, 11-day nude cruise ready to set sail — but there’s one time everyone has to cover up.

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You can pack light for this high-seas adventure.

An 11-day nude cruise is scheduled to set sail from Miami to the Caribbean next February — and you won’t even need an overstuffed suitcase.

Bare Necessities is partnering with Norwegian Cruise Line for the flesh-flashing event, which will see clothing-averse customers travel on board the Norwegian Pearl.

The 968-foot vessel, which can accommodate up to 2,300 passengers, has been renamed “The Big Nude Boat” for the journey.

“As always, it’s our pleasure to provide you with the luxury of deciding what NOT to wear,” a message on the Bare Necessities site reads.

The cruise will make stops in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and St. Maarten, but customers will have to cover up if they disembark the ship to do any sightseeing.

Passengers are also subject to strict rules on board — most notably, they will be required to wear clothing while inside the vessel’s indoor dining rooms.

However, there will be a “large buffet area for nude outdoor dining.”

In order to maintain hygiene, nudists will also need to put a towel down before sitting “in the stateroom, pool deck and buffet area” if they’re baring their bottoms.

Bare Necessities also makes clear that “fondling or inappropriate touching is prohibited.”

Prices for the nude cruise start at around $2,000, but cashed-up nudists can fork out upwards of $33,000 for a deluxe three-bedroom villa.

Bare Necessities has already chartered more than 75 nude cruises in the past, with one prior passenger speaking out about the experience in a recent Reddit post.

“Cruises seem to be for people who like to eat and lie around, so there were a lot of large people,” the 67-year-old man admitted.

“Also, most people don’t seem to be comfortable being nude in public until later in life so the crowd was older. I’d say 20% attractive, 20% average, 60% unattractive,” he added.

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• Travel Updates

Body is found after a man went overboard on a cruise ship just outside Sydney Harbour

A grim update has emerged in the search for a cruise ship passenger who went overboard in waters just outside Sydney.

‘Roaming’: Chilling cartel theory emerges

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A man’s body has been pulled from the water after going overboard on a cruise ship.

P & O’s Pacific Adventure was due to dock in Sydney Harbour at 6am on Monday at the end of a three-day Elvis-themed cruise.

But after a male passenger went overboard in the early hours, the ship remained in the waters just off the city’s Eastern Suburbs while a huge search was underway.

Police have now confirmed a man’s body was retrieved from the water at 10.30am, 10 nautical miles off Sydney Heads.

The development comes after images revealed the “very rocky and windy” conditions in the waters this morning.

P&O’s Pacific Adventure was cleared by NSW Police to return to port shortly before midday.

The ship was hosting an Elvis-themed voyage called ‘Tribute to The King’, promising a long weekend of “themed parties, karaoke, trivia and much more”.

One passenger on board the P&O ship, Kel, said that when the alarm sounded on board the ship she lept out of bed.

“We jumped out of bed so fast,” she wrote.

“Was hectic! Been circling in the same spot for over 5hrs now.”

The Carnival Cruise ship Carnival Splendor was also at sea during the search despite being due in port this morning.

It is understood this ship has been towed into the harbour and docked at Circular Quay at 10.30am.

One passenger on board showed just how turbulent the waves were at sea.

On board Splendor, the passenger, who goes by @auscruisecouple on TikTok, shared a selfie of the conditions.

“We have been offshore since about 4 o’clock this morning unable to dock due to an emergency situation,” she said.

“We are witnessing the helicopter searching and search and rescue boats as well … it is as you can see, quite choppy.”

@auscruisecouple man over board from P&O search and rescue off Sydney since 4am 6 May 2024 #auscruisecouple #carnivalsplendor #pacificadventurer #news #manoverboard #Australia #searchandrescue ♬ original sound - Aus Cruise Couple

Andres Vargas sent images of the P&O ship to news.com.au.

He said at the time conditions were “very rocky and windy.”

Another passenger on board, who asked not to named, told news.com.au earlier today that the situation at sea was “scary”.

“We’re docked out at sea and aren’t allowed in yet due to the search and rescue,” he said before 8am on Monday.

“An announcement came out for us at 7am saying that an emergency rescue operation was being conducted and we weren’t allowed to enter the channel into the harbour.

“We are maybe 20km out from land and will stay here until we get permission to head back in.”

It is understood that Splendor had been on standby to assist in the search

“I don’t think many people know that there is a passenger overboard nearby. We had heard a rumour,” he added.

One man who was supposed to pick up passengers from the Pacific Adventure told 2GB he was told “don’t rush” because “the ship’s stopped outside the head and somebody’s gone overboard.”

A passenger told 2GB’s Ben Fordham they were woken up by a “man overboard call”.

“We got woken up with the man overboard call and from there it’s been all on for a couple of hours now,” he said.

More Coverage

P&O said Pacific Adventure’s next voyage, a 4-night trip to Queensland due to depart White Bay this afternoon, has been delayed until Monday night.

“We thank guests for their care, understanding and patience on what’s been a distressing day for guests and crew,” a spokesperson said.

“Our thoughts are with the family of the guest at this difficult time.”

New details on the Aussie surfers killed in Mexico have emerged after the bodies of Perth-born Jake and Callum Robinson were found down a hidden well.

A man on board a nearby ship where search and rescue efforts are underway to find a missing passenger described the scene is “scary”.

After a desperate search for two Aussie brothers missing on a surf holiday in Mexico with an American friend, the families have been given the worst news.

Nude cruise to set sail from Florida next year: Here are the starting costs, itinerary

The "Big Nude Boat" cruise, which allows passengers to bare all − yes, even at the buffet − is set to sail from Florida next year.

The "11-day adventure" to the Caribbean is set for the first two weeks of February on the Norwegian Pearl, according to the Bare Necessities Tour & Travel website.

"Bare Necessities’ newest nude cruise is a private island double-dip with a brand new travel partner!" the company wrote on its website.

The trip which embarks from Miami, includes "an exclusive visit to an idyllic private island" in The Bahamas as well a another exclusive stop on the way back to the Port of Miami.

"Two opportunities to enjoy a new slice of Bare-adise, coupled with a beautiful selection of Eastern Caribbean island stops, will make this a can’t miss Big Nude Boat experience," the travel company posted.

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Big Nude Boat cruise sailing dates and destinations:

The ship departs from the Port of Miami on Feb. 3 and returns to the same port on Feb. 14.

The itinerary includes stops at the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Dominica, Martinique and St. Lucia.

How much does the Big Nude Boat cruise cost?

Rates for an inside cabin start at $2,000 per person.

They stretch as high as $33,155 for the top room on the ship: a Haven three-bedroom garden villa.

Laws of the land (and sea)

Guests are encouraged to park their bare behinds on towels provided on board in areas including the pool deck and the buffet area, according to the website.

"Passengers can easily follow our rule on nudist etiquette by always placing a towel down before sitting," it reads. "Remember to pack a swimsuit; not all excursions are clothing optional."

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.