Alaska is breathtaking. It’s the kind of place that feels like it’s built on a scale humans weren't meant to fully grasp. But for those of us who love the sea, the "Last Frontier" isn't just about the glaciers; it's about the adventure. Most people who step off a cruise ship in Juneau expect a few souvenirs and some photos of the Mendenhall Glacier. They don't expect to vanish.
Last July, a 62-year-old physician from Kentucky named Dr. Marites Buenafe did just that. She was a passenger on the Norwegian Bliss, a massive, beautiful ship making its way through the Inside Passage. When the ship docked in Juneau, she didn't head for the jewelry shops or the salmon bakes. She went for the mountains.
👉 See also: The 7 Gates of Hell in Pennsylvania: What Actually Happens if You Go to Hellam
She was experienced. Smart. A doctor. But Alaska doesn't care about your resume.
The Missing Cruise Passenger Alaska Story You Haven't Heard
It was a Tuesday morning, July 1, 2025. Dr. Buenafe texted her family, telling them her plan: she was going to take the Mount Roberts Tramway up and then hike toward Gold Ridge and Gastineau Peak. It sounds like a dream morning. The tram takes you up 1,800 feet, and the trails from there offer views that honestly make you feel like you’re on top of the world.
She was last seen on security footage leaving the tram station around 7:30 a.m.
The Norwegian Bliss was scheduled to leave Juneau at 1:30 p.m. When the "all aboard" call came and went, Marites wasn't there. That's when the panic starts—not just for the family, but for the crew. If you’ve ever been on a cruise, you know that missing the boat is the ultimate nightmare. But missing the boat because you're lost in the Alaskan wilderness? That’s something else entirely.
Why Juneau’s Trails Are Deceptive
You’ve gotta understand how Juneau works. The town is squeezed between the water and the mountains. You can walk from a bustling cruise pier to a trailhead that leads into vertical, unforgiving terrain in about fifteen minutes.
Dr. Buenafe was heading for Gold Ridge. It’s a popular trek, but "popular" in Alaska still means steep drops, unpredictable weather, and patches of snow that stay frozen even in the middle of July. The search was massive. We're talking Alaska State Troopers, Juneau Mountain Rescue, and SEADOGS (the local search dog team).
They used thermal drones. They sent up an Alaska Army National Guard helicopter. But the clouds moved in—thick, heavy Alaskan rain that basically blinded the aerial teams.
On July 3rd, the search ended. A helicopter crew spotted her body about 1,700 feet below the ridgeline of Gold Ridge. It’s a tragedy that hits hard because it could have happened to anyone who underestimates the transition from "tourist" to "backcountry hiker."
What Actually Happens When a Passenger Goes Missing?
People think the ship just sails away. Kinda true, kinda not.
When a missing cruise passenger Alaska report hits the bridge, the ship’s Security Director kicks into gear. They review every inch of CCTV. They check the keycard logs to see if the person scanned back onto the ship. If they're at sea, they use "Code Charlie" to start a ship-wide search.
If they're in port, like Dr. Buenafe was, the ship eventually has to leave. It’s a brutal reality of the business. They have schedules and thousands of other passengers. But they don't just "forget" the missing person. They leave behind a "Care Team" to stay with the family and coordinate with local police and the Coast Guard.
- CCTV Review: They look at the gangway footage first. Did the person actually get off?
- Cabin Search: Security enters the room. They’re looking for notes, clues, or a sign that the person stayed behind.
- External Authorities: The FBI and Coast Guard are notified immediately. By law (the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act), these incidents must be reported.
The Overboard Factor
The conversation about missing passengers often turns toward people falling overboard. It's rare—roughly 19 people a year out of 30 million cruisers—but in Alaska’s cold waters, the stakes are different.
The water in the Gastineau Channel or Glacier Bay is barely above freezing. If someone goes over, survival is measured in minutes, not hours. The ship will literally turn around—a maneuver that takes a massive amount of space—to retrace its path. They drop life rings with strobe lights. But honestly? If nobody saw the fall, finding a single human in the vast, choppy Pacific is nearly impossible.
How to Not Become a Headline
Most people think "it won't happen to me." And usually, they're right. But if you’re planning an Alaska cruise, there are a few things you’ve basically got to do to stay safe.
First off, solo hiking in Alaska is a bad idea. Even if you’re a pro. Dr. Buenafe was a physician, likely very capable, but a single slip on wet shale can change everything. If you're going to hike, tell the shore excursion desk where you're going. Text someone a photo of your map.
Secondly, watch the clock. Ship time and local time are sometimes different. If the ship says all aboard is at 1:30 p.m., you should be standing on that pier at 12:45.
Actionable Safety Steps for Your Next Port Call
- Download Offline Maps: Cell service vanishes the moment you get behind a ridge. Use Gaia GPS or AllTrails and download the maps for offline use before you leave the ship.
- The "Safety Text": Before you leave the pier, text a family member: "Hiking Gold Ridge, back by 1:00 PM." If they don't hear from you, they can tell the ship exactly where to start looking.
- Layers, Layers, Layers: Alaska weather is a mood. It can be 65 degrees and sunny at the pier and 40 degrees with a 30 mph wind at the summit. Hypothermia is a real threat even in summer.
- Stay on the Trail: In Juneau, the "shortcut" is usually a cliff. Seriously.
The tragedy of Marites Buenafe is a reminder that the wild is still wild. Cruise ships give us a comfortable way to see the edge of the world, but once you step off that gangway, you're in Alaska's backyard.
Respect the terrain, watch your window of time, and never assume that a "tourist" trail is a "safe" trail. If you're heading to the 49th state this season, keep your wits about you so the only thing you leave behind are footprints.
Stick to the marked paths, keep a backup battery for your phone, and always, always travel with a buddy if you're heading into the mountains. Alaska is beautiful, but it's much better seen from the deck of the ship than from the side of a rescue helicopter.