Missing Cruise Passenger Was Celebrating Birthday

Holiday Cruise The son of a missing cruise ship passenger tells News Five his mom was celebrating her birthday.

by Jessica Taloney

Published: Tue, June 16, 2009 - 5:11 pm CST

The U.S. Coast Guard will search through the night to find a Bay Minette woman, who reportedly went overboard on the Holiday cruise ship.

Michelle Vilborg, 50, was reported missing around 11 p.m. Monday after another passenger on the ship reported hearing a splash.

"You kinda want to believe she's in the ship somewhere," said Erik Vilborg, the missing passenger's son. "We try to think of it that way but knowing deep down inside she's missing."

Michelle Vilborg and her husband, Sven, decided to go on the cruise just a couple weeks ago, according to their son. They have been married for 30 years and this was their first cruise. The couple was celebrating Michelle's birthday.

Erik Vilborg, who has spoken to his dad several times from the ship, tells News Five his dad says he was asleep in their cabin when he heard the alarm and a 'man overboard' announcement.

"He woke up and the alarms were going off, and she wasn't in the room," said Erik Vilborg, who says there are no cameras on the boat and, as of right now, he does not know of any witnesses who saw his mom go overboard.

The cruise ship had only been sailing a few hours. It departed from the Alabama Cruise Terminal in Mobile Monday afternoon.

The ship is continuing it's voyage, while the Coast Guard continues their search. The Holiday will dock tonight in Cozumel, Mexico.

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bobcat Says:

Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 9:28 am

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/15/man-rescued-tampa-bay-buoy-after-falling-ship/news-metro/

taxpayer Says:

Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 8:39 am

I have been on three cruises; twice on the Holiday and once on the Inspiration…like everyone else, I don’t know how you could accidentally fall overboard without being forced or acting foolish. What about the guy that recently fell overboard from the Inspiration around Tampa and they found him hanging on a buoy? What is his story? Seems like Carnival would state that he was acting foolish or pushed if that was the case. Doesn’t make sense.

BamaBob Says:

Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 8:32 am

The son said the emergency warnings went off and his dad woke up to see that his wife was not in the room. He then wondered, if the warnings were about her. That is sort of a strange reaction, imo.

Did she leave her room and go to a casino? Did he leave her somewhere on the ship, while he went to bed? Hmmmm…....

minimay87 Says:

Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 8:17 am

Yeah. Why haven’t they, especially since there as been so many of these tragedies, put cameras all along the ship? Also making the husband continue the cruise while his wife is lost at sea!? How is he suppose to enjoy a cruise after his wife fell overboard? I am sure all he wants to do is go out there and help them find her if not at the least be able to be with his family at a time like this.

bobcat Says:

Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 8:12 am

Anyone who has been on a cruise can tell you that people are crawling up and looking over the railings especially just as the ship leaves port and after hours when they get plastered drunk.
Whoo Hoo!
Par-T time…..look at the waves…..can I see my room from up here? Woops….GONE. (plain and simple)

PLEASE PUT CAMERAS ON THESE SHIPS TO STOP THE “DRAMA THEORISTS” AND TO HELP GIVE THE FAMILIES CLOSURE.

BamaBob Says:

Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 7:39 am

What a heck of a situation! The woman falls off the ship and her husband has to stay on it all the way to Cozumel.

When it gets back to Mobile, J Taloney should get on that ship and show us how people can fall off so easily. Because it just doesn’t make much sense, imo.

dementfsu Says:

Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 7:23 am

....i know..C.C.,,,kindly weird to me,,, seem like someone would see these person or..??...fall over or,,,drunk,,high out of their mind..!!..??....i just don’t get it..!!....i’ve been on 1 cruise,,and no way,,i’ve could have fall over the handrails,,by accident..no way..!!...lol..

C.C. @>--}-- Says:

Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 7:07 pm

What is with all these people falling off these cruise ships here lately something just don’t sound right.