Key Aspects:
- Ann Evans, previously believed missing in St. Maarten, has been located and appears to have disappeared intentionally.
- Evans debarked Rotterdam on November 20 and initially disappeared from an organized bus tour.
- Intentionally going “missing” from a cruise ship is not a legal way to emigrate and can be a massive waste of local resources.
The cruise guest missing from Holland America Line’s Rotterdam since November 20 has been located safely in St. Maarten.
While Ann Evans had debarked Rotterdam as part of an organized tour on the morning of Thursday, November 20, she failed to return to the cruise ship.
Further investigation noted that she’d left the tour bus at Marigot, French Saint Martin, but did not return to the bus at that point and was therefore considered missing.
Following up on reports, authorities further traced what they believe to be Evans’ whereabouts in the area.
“Based on information gathered during the investigation, KPSM has reason to believe that a female matching Ms. Evans’ description checked into a hotel on the French side of the island using her passport. She has also reportedly been seen in the surrounding area of that establishment,” an interim update noted.
Following an extensive search and appeals to the public via social media, authorities were able to contact the missing woman and confirm her safety, though no further information will be provided.
“Following coordination between KPSM and other partners, contact has been made with the individual in question. In accordance with the laws governing privacy and the protection of personal data, no additional information will be released about the individual or their circumstances,” the Police Force of St. Maartin confirmed.
Ann Evans, a 55-year-old American woman, was aboard the ship’s 12-night Eastern Caribbean cruise that departed Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, November 16.
Read Also: What Happens If You Miss Your Cruise Ship
The newest ship in the Holland America Line fleet, the Pinnacle-class Rotterdam can welcome up to 4,173 guests onboard when fully booked.
Despite her disappearance, no appeals from family members or friends were made public, and it is unknown why Evans may have chosen to depart the ship in St. Maarten and not return.
Not a Legal Way to Travel
It is not legal for cruise guests to use closed-loop cruises as a means to travel between international destinations with no intent to return to the cruise ship.
To do so causes an immense response from authorities when a missing person is reported, as cruise ships must do when a guest fails to return to the vessel before departure.
This response includes searches and other emergency actions, such as news reports and hospital contacts. In some cases, cruise ships with hundreds or thousands of guests aboard may even be delayed due to the person’s actions.
The situation with Evans is somewhat similar to another recent not-really-missing guest from a cruise ship. In September 2025, Jessica Collins debarked Carnival Horizon in Bonaire and failed to return to the ship for the remainder of the 8-night Southern Caribbean sailing.
During the search efforts, Collins texted Carnival Cruise Line to let them know she was safe but did not want to be located or contacted.
While anyone who feels the need to start a new life, regardless of their personal circumstances, may certainly generate sympathy and understanding. Emigration should be followed legally rather than by deceiving hundreds of crew members, local authorities, and other cruise guests, however.
Furthermore, these types of situations could cause changes in local procedures that might actually hinder future searches for guests who may actually be missing and in danger.
