In a recent incident, the U.S. Coast Guard has made the difficult decision to suspend their search for a 41-year-old man who went overboard from the "Vision of the Seas" cruise ship just before Christmas. The incident took place on Saturday night when the ship was 127 miles east of Charleston, South Carolina.

According to the Coast Guard in Charleston, the crew members onboard immediately reported the incident to local authorities. Responding swiftly, a search and rescue mission was initiated. Over the course of eight hours, Coast Guard crews tirelessly searched over 1,625 square miles in hopes of finding the missing individual.

Due to privacy concerns, the ship's operator, Royal Caribbean Cruises, did not provide any additional details about the incident or the individual involved. They released a statement expressing their support for the guest and their family during this challenging time.

Passengers onboard the "Vision of the Seas" were alerted to the incident on Saturday evening when an announcement, saying "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar, Starboard," was made over the ship's loudspeakers. Colin Schappi, a passenger who was at dinner during the incident, shared his experience with NBC News affiliate WCBD in Charleston, stating that initially, no one knew what was happening until a few minutes later when another announcement explained the situation.

The cruise itinerary shows that the ship, which embarked from Baltimore, made its first stop in Orlando on Sunday and arrived at the Bimini Islands on Christmas Day. It is scheduled for two more stops in the Bahamas before returning to Maryland. The eight-day roundtrip was themed "Christmas," according to the cruise line's website.

Unfortunately, this incident is not an isolated occurrence. Just last month, a 28-year-old man jumped from a Carnival cruise ship that was bound for Jamaica. Despite an extensive search effort by the Coast Guard, covering over 5,600 miles, the individual was never found.

With the suspension of the search, the focus now shifts to supporting the family and friends of the missing man during this difficult time. Cruise ship accidents and incidents involving passengers going overboard raise concerns about safety protocols and precautions that need to be followed to ensure the well-being of all those on board.