UPDATE: Woodlands resident reports on missing passenger from cruise sailing to Cozumel

UPDATE:

GALVESTON, Texas - The Carnival Liberty arrived back in Galveston early Monday morning minus one passenger, Samantha Broberg, 33. A video surveillance camera showed her falling overboard from the 10th deck around 2 a.m., approximately 200 miles southeast of Galveston. She was not reported as missing until Friday noon.

That ship left Galveston Thursday for a four-day cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. The ship's guests were confined to their quarters while an initial search took place for the missing woman. Guests were allowed to leave their statesrooms after the video film footage could be obtained and revealed Broberg falling overboard as she sat on the railing of the ship.

U.S. Coast Guard crews from Corpus Christi, TX, and Mobile, AL, used planes to search a combined area of more than 4,300 square miles, but have called off the search has severe weather moved through the Gulf.

Carnival says no foul play is suspected at this time, but standard procedure requires the FBI's involvement. In the meantime, Carnival has issued the following statement...

"On Friday, May 13, 2016 a 33-year-old female guest on the cruise ship Carnival Liberty was reported missing by traveling companions. A ship-wide search was conducted along with a review of the ship’s camera footage. The camera footage indicates that the guest was sitting on a deck railing and fell backwards into the water. Authorities were notified including the U.S. Coast Guard which has been conducting search and rescue efforts in the area the ship was located when the individual was last seen. Carnival’s CareTeam is providing support to the guest’s traveling companions and family. We are keeping our guest and her loved ones in our thoughts during this difficult time."

UPDATE:

In a statement, Carnival says Samantha Broberg was initially reported missing by her traveling companions. Crew members were unable to locate her during an extensive ship-wide search, and surveillance camera footage appears to show the woman going overboard around 2:00 a.m.

The 33-year-old woman went overboard on a cruise ship Friday, according to officials at Carnival Cruise Line.

The U.S. Coast Guard has been actively searching off the coast of Galveston, where she is believed to have gone overboard.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

GALVESTON, Texas - The Carnival Liberty cruise ship is missing a passenger after setting sail from Galveston for Cozumel, Thursday, May 12. On board is Woodlands resident and acclaimed shark diver/photographer, Paul Spielvogel, who reported on his Facebook page that a woman was reported missing, and they’ve been unable to locate her after a full search of the ship.

“The crew is still looking for her, but as of this writing she has not been found,” posted Spielvogel. “VERY SAD situation!!! If I had to guess, since they have not been able to find her, I can only imagine that she fell overboard.”

A real estate attorney with American Title Company - The Woodlands by day, and a underwater photographer who specializes in photographing sharks on his personal time, Woodlands Online readers may be familiar with the periodic articles about Spielvogel and his shark diving adventures.

Spielvogel reported that all guests had been confined to their state rooms until a full investigation had been completed.

Spielvogel then posted... “The search is not completed and she has not been found! We are now released from our stateroom...My hope is that a miracle takes place and she is found safe and sound.”

The 5-Day Western Caribbean cruise is an anniversary cruise for Paul and his wife, Janet. Typically Spielvogel’s travels are with other divers from Shark Diver Magazine, who specialize in interaction with all species of shark. Spielvogel’s role on the dives is to capture images of the divers as they swim and interact with the sharks.

To follow Spielvogel on his diving trips and this most recent adventure, follow him on his Facebookpage. Also see related links:

Resident shark diver/photographer dives with largest shark species

Discovery Channel's 'Zombie Sharks' explores tonic immobility

Local Attorney Swims with Sharks

Shark diver, photographer offers himself up as bait