The search for a man who fell overboard on the Norwegian Cruise Line has been suspended

Authorities have called off the search for a 51-year-old man who fell overboard on a Norwegian cruise line ship on Thursday.

The man, who was traveling with his family, fell overboard around 3 p.m. as the ship was traveling from Ocho Rios, Jamaica, to Nassau, Bahamas, the cruise line said in a statement to USA TODAY. A rescue operation took place, but was ultimately called off so the ship could continue its journey.

“The guest was traveling with a large group and his family onboard is receiving care and support during this very challenging situation,” a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement to USA TODAY. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time.”

Man falls overboard on the Norwegian Epic

The ship the man and his family were traveling on was a Norwegian Epic cruise ship, a voyage known for its onboard amenities, activities and pampering experiences.

According to Cruise Hive, a cruise industry blog, Norwegian Epic is in the middle of a seven-day Western Caribbean voyage after departing Canaveral, Florida, on Saturday.

After cruise officials learned the man had fallen overboard, authorities were notified and a search was launched led by the Bahamas Rescue Coordination Center, the cruise line told USA TODAY.

Many passengers helped with the search and shared updates on social media as announcements on board suggested the person was wearing a blue shirt. The nearby Holland America Line Zuiderdam also took part in the search, Cruise Hive reported.

“After an extensive search that was unfortunately unsuccessful, the ship was released by authorities,” Norwegian Cruise Line spokesman said in a statement.