Netherlands Liam Jones, 23, Scottish National, feared to have fallen over board cruise ship MSC Euribia as liner sailed to Amsterdam, 17 March 2024.

[Panniniclaus]

Anyone other than me find it odd that his new wife was not on the cruise?

I would need to know some more info ... What did he do for work? What does his wife do for work? Who paid for the trip? What was the purpose of the trip & duration? Were other spouses or family members left behind? I do find it odd but maybe some blanks could be filled in that would make it less so.

 

[OrangeCash]

I would need to know some more info ... What did he do for work? What does his wife do for work? Who paid for the trip? What was the purpose of the trip & duration? Were other spouses or family members left behind? I do find it odd but maybe some blanks could be filled in that would make it less so.

This link says Liam was a social work student. They went to celebrate his Mum's birthday and it was for a week

Cruise Ship Passenger Who Fell Overboard Texted Wife About Feeling Seasick Before Going Missing

Liam Jones, a 23-year-old cruise ship passenger who fell overboard and was last seen on March 16, sent a text message to his wife before going missing.

people.com

I don't know about family dynamics etc. or exactly who did and didn't go

'Mcphee had last seen her husband on March 14, when he departed their Dundee, Scotland, home to meet his family in Glasgow before they boarded the cruise in Southampton the following day, she said. The family was taking the cruise to celebrate Jones' mother's birthday.'

He travelled from where he lived in Dundee with his wife, to where his family lives in Glasgow so they could set off to Southampton together the day/night before the cruise the following day. I'm assuming they drove from Glasgow to Southampton which is around an 8 hour drive non-stop, from Scotland all the way to the south coast of England. I don't know how many cars went (if they did drive down that is), maybe the car was full or cramped with people and luggage. Then a week-long, or 'several days' long cruise, depending on your news source, stopping in Denmark, Norway, Germany and Amsterdam, then back to Southampton. Then the drive (?) back to Glasgow and Dundee. Personally, it's not my idea of fun, I'd find all the travel and cramped space too much. Cruises aren't my thing either. This is obviously just how I feel, my own opinion. It could also be that some of the family and partner aren't overly fond of each other and just avoid anything other than polite company every now and then. I have absolutely nothing to suggest that's the case by the way, I have no idea how they do or don't get along, just voicing my thoughts. They could also be really comfortable and open with each other, enough to say no I don't fancy it, have a great time though

MOO

 

[Panniniclaus]

This link says Liam was a social work student. They went to celebrate his Mum's birthday and it was for a week

I don't know about family dynamics etc. or exactly who did and didn't go

'Mcphee had last seen her husband on March 14, when he departed their Dundee, Scotland, home to meet his family in Glasgow before they boarded the cruise in Southampton the following day, she said. The family was taking the cruise to celebrate Jones' mother's birthday.'

He travelled from where he lived in Dundee with his wife, to where his family lives in Glasgow so they could set off to Southampton together the day/night before the cruise the following day. I'm assuming they drove from Glasgow to Southampton which is around an 8 hour drive non-stop, from Scotland all the way to the south coast of England. I don't know how many cars went (if they did drive down that is), maybe the car was full or cramped with people and luggage. Then a week-long, or 'several days' long cruise, depending on your news source, stopping in Denmark, Norway, Germany and Amsterdam, then back to Southampton. Then the drive (?) back to Glasgow and Dundee. Personally, it's not my idea of fun, I'd find all the travel and cramped space too much. Cruises aren't my thing either. This is obviously just how I feel, my own opinion. It could also be that some of the family and partner aren't overly fond of each other and just avoid anything other than polite company every now and then. I have absolutely nothing to suggest that's the case by the way, I have no idea how they do or don't get along, just voicing my thoughts. They could also be really comfortable and open with each other, enough to say no I don't fancy it, have a great time though

MOO

Great info..Then why jump? Million dollar question that I'm sure many families have to answer each year.

 

[Kaykedi]

There's a close friend of Liam on Reddit if anyone's interested

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Great info..Then why jump? Million dollar question that I'm sure many families have to answer each year.

Could he have leaned too far over a railing (he did say he was seasick), and it was an accident? Or sometimes people will actually sit on a railing for "fun" (maybe after consuming alcohol or for a photo) and fall?
Just the other possibilities to consider, IMO.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I hope investigators are being very thorough in this case...

 

[Lucy6226]

I would be surprised if this is anything other than a tragic accident, him being sea sick and going overboard. The poor communication from the cruise company does not help and if there's been so many overboards in the past year, even if the percentage is low, surely 1 is too many, then something needs to be looked at safety wise??

 

[SimplyCass]

A Man Fell From a Cruise Ship. And Survived. (Published 2022) [gift article]

- Railings are required to be 42" tall
- There is sensor technology that can detect when someone goes overboard, but it's not mandatory.
- in 2019, in a sample of 25 incidents, only 9 were recovered
- Alcohol is a factor in 11% of falls.

Things suggested that could help
- Increase railings another foot
- Require installation of MOB (man overboard) sensors on all ships
- Train bartenders be more diligent in not overserving/cutting people off if they've had too much to drink.

While I don't want to sound overly pessimistic, if someone falls overboard, IMO, it's fatal at least 80-90% of the time, even if immediately spotted and reported. As i said above, if it isn't spotted right away, it can be hours before anyone knows. Cruise ships are so massive - the ocean is so massive - literally a needle in a haystack situation.

 

[Quim The Extraordinaire]

Cruise Ship Passenger Who Fell Overboard Texted Wife About Feeling Seasick Before Going Missing

Liam Jones, a 23-year-old cruise ship passenger who fell overboard and was last seen on March 16, sent a text message to his wife before going missing.

people.com

Excerpt from the link above for awareness.

A British man who has gone missing from a cruise ship in Europe texted his wife just moments before falling overboard, she said.

<snipped by me for TOS>

According to Jones' wife, 20-year-old Sophia Mcphee, the social work student had just texted her that he was feeling seasick prior to his disappearance.

 

[StillDiggin]

Hampshire police boarded the vessel when it docked in Southampton.

British passenger missing after going overboard from MSC ship

A 23-year-old British man is feared dead after falling overboard the cruise ship MSC Euribia. Social work student Liam Jones from Dundee was on the ship

www.travelgossip.co.uk

 

[StillDiggin]

Sister of Rangers fan feared dead after falling off cruise ship makes Ibrox plea

Liam Jones was travelling on the MSC Euribia as it sailed from Southampton to Hamburg, Germany, when he went missing on March 16.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

 

[LadyL]

I hope this isn't a terrible thought but I wonder if it's possible he sent that text as a cover story so his wife wouldn't have to wonder why.