Amy Bradley disappeared 27 years ago from Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas near Curaçao, sparking ongoing theories and heartbreak from her family who believe she’s still alive. The 23-year-old vanished while vacationing with her parents and brother, leaving behind many unanswered questions.
Her father’s last memory of her was early morning, lying on the balcony chair. Shortly after, Amy wasn’t there anymore. Debate surrounds whether she fell or jumped overboard, but experts argue ocean currents would have brought her body to shore if she had fallen.
The Netflix series Amy Bradley is Missing dives into these mysteries and introduces new perspectives, though Amy’s family dismisses the overboard theory.
Social media discussions often mention the lack of safety measures on ships against persons going overboard, hoping for wider use of detection alarms.
Some cruise lines, like Disney and MSC, have installed automatic man overboard alarms using radar, thermal imaging, and AI to detect falls quickly and alert crew. The Ambassador Cruise Line also uses a sophisticated AI system called ZOE.
These systems scan the ship’s perimeter and analyze data with high accuracy, providing video clips and assistance to rescue teams.
Despite rare incidents—about 19 annually worldwide—improved technology is crucial to increase safety on cruises.
Early laws requiring such tech were delayed due to unreliable systems, but new standards and technologies are changing the landscape.
Amy Bradley’s disappearance remains unsolved, but growing ship safety measures aim to prevent similar cases in the future.
