Was Amy Bradley Taken While Her Family Slept Nearby?
It started like any dream vacation — Caribbean views, a luxury cruise, and family time. But by sunrise on March 24, 1998, that dream had turned into a nightmare. Amy Lynn Bradley, 23, had vanished from the Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas somewhere between Aruba and Curaçao. What followed was a decades-long mystery, a flurry of unconfirmed sightings, and an FBI investigation that's still open 27 years later.
A Family Cruise Turns Tragic
On March 21, 1998, Amy Bradley boarded the Rhapsody of the Seas with her parents and younger brother for a weeklong cruise departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
A recent college graduate, Amy was excited about the tropical trip. But just three days in, the unthinkable happened.
She was last seen alive in the early morning hours of March 24. Amy had spent the previous night at the ship's disco with her brother, Brad, and others — including cruise staff and fellow passengers.
Around 5:30 a.m., her father noticed her sleeping on the cabin balcony.
By 6 a.m., she was gone.
Despite extensive searches of the ship and surrounding waters, Amy was never found. Her sandals and cigarette lighter were discovered in the cabin, but no other physical trace remained.
Conflicting Reports and Lingering Questions
From the beginning, her disappearance raised more questions than answers. Some passengers claimed to have seen a woman matching Amy's description heading toward the upper deck that morning. Others believed she was last seen with a crew member. But nothing could be verified.
The Bradley family pleaded with cruise officials not to let anyone disembark when the ship docked in Curaçao, fearing that Amy may have been taken against her will. But the gangway went down anyway. By the time the ship left the port, any trace of Amy — or her possible abductor — may have been long gone.
Her disappearance occurred while the ship was in open waters between Aruba and Curaçao, adding legal complications and murky jurisdictional issues.
An Open Case and Unconfirmed Sightings
Over the years, there have been reported sightings of Amy in Curaçao, though none were confirmed. In 2017, the FBI released age-progressed images of what she might look like as an adult. They continue to list her case as open and are offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to its resolution.
She is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, with brown hair and distinctive tattoos: a Tasmanian Devil on her shoulder, a gecko on her stomach, a Chinese symbol on her ankle, and a sun on her lower back. These identifying marks fuel hope that someone, somewhere, might recognize her.
Her red Miata remains parked in her parents' driveway — polished, fueled, and waiting. A stark symbol of hope that she might return.
The Search Continues
Now, more than two decades later, Amy's story is getting renewed attention. Netflix's three-part documentary "Amy Bradley Is Missing" explores her case, including interviews with family members and investigators. The series raises possibilities ranging from accidental death to foul play — but offers no definitive answers.
Amy's family has never given up. "The last thing I ever said to Amy was, 'I love you,' before I went to sleep that night," Brad said in an FBI video reported by PEOPLE. "Knowing that's the last thing I said to her has always been very comforting to me."
Whether Amy Bradley was the victim of a tragic accident or something more sinister, one thing is certain — her case remains one of the most haunting mysteries in cruise ship history.
References: Inside the Terrifying Mystery of Amy Bradley's Cruise Ship Disappearance: Was It an Accident — or a Crime? | Where Is Amy Lynn Bradley, Who Disappeared on a Cruise Ship 26 Years Ago? | Amy Bradley Is Missing Investigates a Baffling Disappearance at Sea
