Body found in search for woman missing from cruise ship

A Washington state woman on a Seattle-based cruise ship is believed to have fallen overboard in Southeast Alaska, and those searching for her found a body Monday afternoon.

The woman disappeared from the Holland America ship Zaandam between Douglas Island and Glacier Bay National Park, said the Coast Guard's Juneau office. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the body was located by TEMSCO Helicopters on the west side of Douglas Island around 4:30 p.m. Monday.

KING-TV identified the missing woman as Amber Malkuch, 45, but did not have a hometown for her. Holland America said the woman's family has been notified, but it was not yet releasing her name.

The Coast Guard said it would continue its search until there is positive identification of the body.

The Zaandam sails from Seattle every Friday during the summer on weeklong round-trip cruises to Southeast Alaska.

The Coast Guard said the missing woman ordered room service around midnight, after the ship left Juneau. She was reported missing by her stateroom partner on Monday morning, said Sally Andrews, a Holland America Line vice president. The crew thoroughly searched the ship but did not find her, said Andrews.

The Coast Guard launched a helicopter from Sitka, diverted two patrol boats, and launched two rescue boats from Juneau to search for her. The Civil Air Patrol assisted in the search with two aircraft, and Glacier Bay National Park Service was conducting a shoreline search with multiple vessels.

Travel agents and travelers with questions can contact Holland America at 800-577-1728.