Amy Bradley’s disappearance on March 24, 1998, aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Rhapsody of the Seas remains one of the most infamous cases in the history of missing persons in the travel and cruise industry. The incident occurred moments after Bradley’s return from a night of partying. On the night of March 23, Bradley, along with her brother Brad, stayed up late, dancing in the Blue Orchid Lounge, a dance club on the upper deck of the cruise ship. It was around this time that Amy became increasingly interested in Yellow Douglas, the cruise ship’s bassist, who quickly gained her attention through his charisma and musical talent. Their interaction on the ship became the focal point of events that would later change the direction of the family’s life forever.
On the early morning of March 24, the two siblings returned to their cabin for a brief breather, spending time on the balcony, smoking and talking until Brad decided to go to bed. Approximately 5:30 a.m., Amy’s father, Ron Bradley, woke up to find her asleep on the balcony in a lounge chair. At first, nothing appeared amiss, but the situation quickly escalated when, shortly after 6 a.m., he checked on her again and discovered she was gone. The balcony door was slightly open, and her shoes and clothing were still within the room. The immediate search, led by the ship’s crew, proved fruitless, and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, as well as the FBI, were called in to assist in the investigation. Despite the extensive efforts of investigators, no evidence or definitive lead emerged, and the case became a mystery that has baffled authorities for over two decades.
The Netflix documentary,