An international search effort is underway after a cruise guest went missing during a Mediterranean sailing aboard AIDAluna, prompting urgent appeals from family and friends across social media.
The missing woman, identified as Qin Dong, is a Chinese citizen and German resident who was travelling alone on a five-night cruise.
She boarded the AIDA Cruises ship in Palma de Mallorca on 10th December 2025, but was no longer onboard when the vessel returned to the Spanish port on Monday, 15th December.
AIDAluna’s itinerary included calls at Marseille, Palamos and Barcelona, with a sea day on Thursday, 11th December. The ship arrived in Marseille at around 8am on Friday, 12th December, which is the last confirmed day Dong was known to be onboard.
Disappearance Linked to Marseille Port Call
Cruise officials have confirmed that Dong boarded the ship in Palma de Mallorca shortly before midday on 10th December and did not officially disembark at any point during the voyage.
“Mrs. Dong has not officially disembarked from the ship since 10 December, as verified,” AIDA Cruises confirmed.
Onboard records indicate that Dong did not register an official disembarkation in Marseille. However, friends reportedly exchanged text messages with her at close to 8pm on 12th December, around two hours after AIDAluna had departed the French port.
This has led authorities to believe that Dong was not left behind ashore in Marseille, but instead went missing while still onboard the vessel later that evening.
No Emergency Alerts Reported Onboard
There have been no reports of emergency overboard alerts or onboard search operations during the voyage. It remains unclear whether Dong may have gone overboard, and there has been no confirmation of any incident triggering a ship-wide response.
Onboard account records show that Dong had minimal activity during the cruise, with only a single drink charged to her account. That purchase was an orange juice, with no alcohol recorded.
Since the ship’s return to Palma de Mallorca, family members and friends have been using social media to appeal for information from anyone who may have seen or interacted with Dong, particularly on 12th December.
“Even the smallest clue or memory could be crucial!” the appeals state.
Three Countries Involved in the Investigation
The case now involves authorities in three countries. French officials have been notified as the disappearance occurred while the ship was docked in Marseille.
Chinese authorities have been informed due to Dong’s citizenship, and German authorities have opened a case because AIDA Cruises is a German cruise line and Dong was residing in Germany.
AIDAluna continued its itinerary as planned, with no reported delays or route changes. The Sphinx-class ship has capacity for approximately 2,100 guests and around 600 crew members. It is currently operating cruises from Palma de Mallorca across the Mediterranean and to the Canary Islands, depending on sailing date.
Recent Cruise Disappearances Provide Mixed Comparisons
Dong’s disappearance comes amid several recent cases involving cruise guests initially reported missing, but later found.
In November 2025, a woman disappeared during a shore excursion in St Maarten while sailing aboard Holland America Line’s Rotterdam. In September 2025, another guest vanished in Bonaire during a cruise on Carnival Horizon.
Both individuals were later located after failing to return to their ships, with no foul play suspected, and neither wished to be contacted further.
However, there is a key difference in Dong’s case. Unlike those incidents, Dong did not officially disembark the ship, and there has been an immediate and coordinated effort by family and friends to locate her.
As the search continues, authorities are urging anyone who may have seen Dong onboard AIDAluna or has relevant information from the Marseille port call to come forward, as investigations remain ongoing.
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