74-Year-Old Cruise Ship Passenger Goes Missing, May Have Fallen Overboard Accidentally

An elderly man’s first-ever cruise trip became his last journey and is missing from the cruise ship he traveled.

According to cruise news, Goh Hai Peng, a 74-year-old retired electrician from Malaysia has gone missing from the Genting Dream cruise ship.

Dream Cruises, the operator of the ship has confirmed that elderly Goh is missing.

Goh boarded the cruise ship under a cruise deal package on August 4 that was bound for Singapore. The four-day cruise also visited islands of Penang and Langkawi in Malaysia.

Goh’s absence came to the notice of the cruise ship crew on Aug 7, when other passengers disembarked in Singapore and he did not turn up to claim his passport.

Cruise liner confirms missing

According to his son, Adrian Goh, employees of Dream Cruises returned his father’s belongings. He said his family is deeply distressed by his father's disappearance and they cannot believe that he is dead.

“For all we know, our father could still be alive and adrift somewhere in the Malacca Strait, and it seems as if he had been left for dead.”

The younger Goh told Chinese newspaper Lianhe Wanbao that the ship's surveillance footage indicated his father checked into his cabin at about 7 pm on Aug 4. Thereafter, Goh never appeared on any video footage.

The junior Goh said he was told that surveillance cameras had captured the figure of a whitish figure falling into the sea at about 3 am on Aug 5.

He said he cannot believe his father could fall off the balcony.

“My father was supposed to go on the trip with my mother, but because she had to look after their grandchild, he went on his own,” junior Gog bemoaned.

Junior Goh complained that the family was not given access to information concerning the search process and rescue operation or the ship's surveillance footage.

However, a Dream Cruises spokesman, said crew members have reported to the Singapore police that Goh is missing. The officers also boarded the ship to conduct investigations.

The matter was then reported to the Malaysian authorities.

“Dream Cruises offers its heartfelt thoughts and sympathies to the family members of the missing person in this time of difficulty,” the spokesman said.

A police spokesman also confirmed they are looking into the matter.

Millennial youngsters turning to cruise trips

Meanwhile, a report by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said the fascination for cruise trips is up among youngsters.

It said one in four Millennials has taken a cruise in the past three years and a bigger percentage of millennials are planning a cruise shortly.

CLIA Australasia's managing director, Joel Katz said this is not surprising as brilliant marketing and onboard comforts by cruise operators are luring younger passengers.

He said cruise liners have become innovative and there is a higher focus in providing contemporary design, modern food, craft beverages, advanced onboard experiences, and engaging excursions onshore to impress young travelers.