A statement from P&O Cruises said the woman fell around 4 p.m. AEST on Thursday, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
"A crew member notified the bridge straightaway and the 'man overboard' incident response was activated immediately," P&O spokesman David Jones said.
The ship turned around to follow the course it had been on at the time of the incident, Jones said.
Search conditions were described as poor, with 13-foot swells and 30-knot winds.
Woman overboard during cruise https://t.co/YTXOUiYY1l pic.twitter.com/Ubi7ekoORW
— news.com.au (@newscomauHQ) April 12, 2018
The ship issued a call for any nearby vessels to help in the search, and was conducting a search on its own in the meantime, according to a spokesperson with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
>> Related: Woman killed trying to save beloved dog on busy highway
The Pacific Dawn left Brisbane last weekend for a weeklong cruise of the Pacific Islands, AAP reported.
About the Author