Royal Caribbean cruise ship entertainer missing since Christmas Day

A British cruise ship entertainer is missing after going overboard on Christmas Day.

The United States Coast Guard said it was searching for crew member Arron Hough, 20, of the UK, who had been on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

The vessel was 267 miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, at the time.

Royal Caribbean said a member of the entertainment team on board Harmony Of The Seas en route to Philipsburg, St Maarten, did not report to work as scheduled on Tuesday.

A spokesman said: “We are saddened to report that after a review of the ship’s closed-circuit camera footage, he was observed entering an area on Deck 5 at around 4am and was not seen again.

“Local authorities were notified and a ship-wide search for the crew member was conducted.

“Our care team is providing support to the family and friends of our colleague, and our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.

“Harmony Of The Seas is currently sailing on a seven-night itinerary that departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sunday December 23, with port calls to Philipsburg, St Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico and Labadee, Haiti.”

The US Coast Guard said: “The Coast Guard is searching Wednesday for a missing crew member, who went overboard from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Harmony of the Seas 267 miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

“Missing is Arron Hough, 20, of the United Kingdom.

“Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan received a notification from the cruise ship stating a crew member went overboard Tuesday.”

In July, talent agency Russell Smith Associates tweeted that Mr Hough would be joining the cast of Grease The Musical on Harmony of the Seas.

The agency said he was a new graduate of the Urdang Academy, a dance and musical theatre college in London.

On Wednesday night, the college tweeted that they were praying for Mr Hough and his family.

The Royal Caribbean website says the Harmony of the Seas won the title of largest cruise ship in the world in 2016.

The ship cost one billion US dollars (£695 million), can carry 6,780 guests and 2,100 crew, and took more than two-and-a-half years to construct.

The website says it is the first ship to feature the Broadway hit musical Grease as part of its entertainment programme.