Elderly couple disappear from cruise ship

[Dennis Donovan]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28704127/

updated 2 hours, 10 minutes ago
LONG BEACH, Calif. - A missing elderly couple likely fell off a Carnival Cruise ship between Long Beach and Mexico, company officials said Friday.

A 90-year-old man and his 79-year-old wife were aboard the Carnival Paradise when it departed Monday from Long Beach, but they could not be found when it returned Friday morning.

Miami-based Carnival said the couple's cabin door was double-locked from the inside with a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the handle. Their belongings remained inside, and the door leading from the cabin to the private balcony was unlocked.

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said the couple was last seen Tuesday night near their cabin.

She said federal agents were interviewing passengers and crew and processing evidence.

The Coast Guard has been searching for the missing couple since Friday morning, said Petty Officer 2nd Class Prentice Danner. The search is being conducted by plane, not boat, because the area is so large, he said.
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This reminds me of one of my favorite songs:

The Way by Fastball

They made up their minds
And they started packing
They left before the sun came up that day
An exit to eternal summer slacking
But where were they going
Without ever knowing the way?
They drank up the wine
And they got to talking
They now had more important things to say
And when the car broke down
They started walking
Where were they going without ever knowing the way?

Anyone could see
The road that they walk on is paved in gold
And it's always summer, they'll never get cold
They'll never get hungry
They'll never get old and gray
You can see their shadows
Wandering off somewhere
They won't make it home
But they really don't care
They wanted the highway
They're happy there today , today

The children woke up
And they couldn't find 'em
They Left before the sun came up that day
They just drove off
And left it all behind 'em
But where were they going without ever knowing the way?

[TwilightGardener]

1. I always liked that Fastball song. I don't think the couple "fell"--I think they jumped.

[Dennis Donovan]

6. I wonder if they jumped, too...

:shrug:

[TwilightGardener]

8. Might have been something more sad/sinister, like the husband threw his wife

overboard and then jumped himself. When they interview family members, I wouldn't be surprised if there's some terminal illness or Alzheimers going on with one of them.

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. what's with all these people disappearing from cruise ships

[TwilightGardener]

3. I'm wondering that too. A lady disappeared off a ferry a couple days ago, too.

It's really not that hard to stay on a boat.

[lebkuchen]

11. and getting sick

I hopped a cruise ship from LA to SF....24 hours, and the most boring time of my life.

[babylonsister]

4. Jeeze.

I saw the title of this and my heart jumped. Dad and his girlfriend (in their 80s) are on a cruise at this very moment. :scared:

But they left out of Florida. Phew!

[Dennis Donovan]

5. I'm sorry - I should've put "NOT babylonsister's Dad" in my thread title...

:D:hi:

I'm glad to hear your Dad is well and travelling!:thumbsup:

[babylonsister]

7. LOL!

You cracked me up! And yes, it's all good, and will be better when they return and check in so I know they're safe. :hi:

[Critters2]

9. I guy from town here fell off a cruise ship. He owned a bar,

and had no will. It's been quite a mess getting everything settled with creditors, etc. And the investigation as to how he fell to his death is ongoing.

Don't those things have railings?! :shrug:

[lonestarnot]

10. Poor things. It must have been the end of the line and they knew it.

[Peregrine Took]

12. I've heard its not unusual for people to die while on cruises but they keep it

quiet for obvious reasons.

Some people deliberately go on cruises when they know they are terminal. I guess they think its a "neat" way to go - away from home, maybe less painful for family members.

[book_worm]

13. Yep, they must have decided to go together into that great unknown

I doubt it was a murder/suicide. I'll bet they both decided to go together.