A family cruise turned into a nightmare after a 62-year-old woman disappeared while hiking alone during a port stop in Juneau, Alaska.
Marites Buenafe, 62, of Kentucky, was reported missing on Tuesday after she failed to return to the Norwegian Bliss cruise ship following a solo hike on Mount Roberts.
Buenafe, an physician with UK HealthCare, was on a family vacation when she told relatives she planned to ride the Mount Roberts Tramway and hike the trail from Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak while the sprawling cruise ship docked in Juneau.
She was last seen on security footage around 7:30 a.m. on July 1, leaving the buildings at the upper station of the Mount Roberts Tramway, according to a bulletin issued by Alaska State Troopers on Wednesday.
Her absence was discovered after she failed to return to the ship before its scheduled 1:30 p.m. departure.
After confirming she had not reboarded, her family alerted authorities, prompting a multi-agency search effort.
A Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson later confirmed the search for the missing doctor.
Marites Buenafe, 62, of Kentucky, was reported missing on Tuesday after she failed to return to the Norwegian Bliss cruise ship following a solo hike on Mount Roberts
Buenafe was last seen on security footage around 7:30 a.m. on July 1, leaving the buildings at the upper station of the Mount Roberts Tramway (pictured)
‘An active search is ongoing, and we are providing assistance to local authorities as appropriate. Our CARE team is providing support to the guest’s family, and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time,’ the luxury cruise line spokesperson said.
Alaska State Troopers are leading the extensive search, with support from Juneau Mountain Rescue, Juneau Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, and search-and-rescue dogs from Southeast Alaska Dogs Organized for Ground Search (SEADOGS), The New York Times reported.
Teams of volunteers have been searching the Mount Roberts area on foot, as well as deploying drones and helicopters. However, officials noted that poor weather has limited the effectiveness of air operations.
‘We remain optimistic that we will find Marites alive,’ Austin McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, said Thursday.
The search is concentrated in the mountains just south of downtown Juneau, which McDaniel emphasized is not considered a remote area.
Though popular with tourists and locals, the trail winds through steep and densely wooded terrain that can quickly become dangerous due to unpredictable mountain weather.
‘Backcountry travel in Alaska, even close to town, can present serious challenges,’ Alaska State Troopers said in a statement. ‘We urge anyone venturing into these areas to hike with a partner, carry communication gear, and leave a detailed plan with someone.’
Buenafe was on a family cruise when she told relatives she planned to ride the Mount Roberts Tramway and hike the trail from Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak while the boat stopped at a port in Juneau
The search is concentrated in the mountains just south of downtown Juneau (pictured)
Norwegian Cruise Line said it is continuing to work closely with authorities and that its CARE team remains in contact with Buenafe’s family. Pictured: The cruise ship Norwegian Bliss is shown docked in Juneau, Alaska
Buenafe is described as 5 feet tall, approximately 118 pounds, with short black hair and brown eyes.
Norwegian Cruise Line said it is continuing to work closely with authorities and that its CARE team remains in contact with Buenafe’s family.
The Norwegian Bliss has continued its scheduled route, with upcoming stops in Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, and Victoria before returning to Seattle.
As of Thursday evening, Buenafe had not been found.
Authorities are urging anyone who may have seen her on the trail or in the Mount Roberts area on July 1 to contact Alaska State Troopers in Juneau at (907) 465-4000, referencing case number AK25063914.
Search efforts remain active and will continue as conditions allow.
