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Amber Malkuch, Cruise Passenger Commits Suicide, Found Overboard

by Amy Judd | August 4, 2009 at 05:48 pm

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Amber Malkuch, a cruise ship passenger on board Holland America's ship the Zaamndam, was found overboard in what authorities believe to be a suicide. The 45-year-old woman was last seen ordering room service just after midnight and then she vanished, and a spokeswoman for Holland America said it appears to be a suicide.

Malkuch was reported missing by a friend sharing her cabin on Monday morning when the ship was in Glacier Bay National Park. It embarked on the seven-day cruise from Seattle on Friday.

There was no apparent sign of foul play, authorities said. They launched a massive search for Malkuch after she disappeared.

Her cabinmate reported Amber's disappearance at 9am the next morning, but it is unclear why she didn't let authorities know earlier. Many of the circumstances are still a mystery.

The body was found at about 4:30pm near Douglas Island, about 12 miles northwest of where she would have gone overboard.

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gary george (not verified)

at 03:43 on August 13th, 2009

i was on this cruise .i saw amber fri-sat & sunday. she was always alone -always drunk and each time i saw her she was fighting with or trying to engage someone./anyone from ship workers to other passengers. it was clearly apparent this woman needed help. the cruiseline cut off her ship card so she could not buy alcohol & she was begging people to buy her drinks.. i think holland america should have had her removed from ship forseeing that the woman was not in right state of mind .. and perhaps she'd be alive receiving the help she obviously needed..very sad situation my thuoghts & prayers go out to her family..i pray she has now found peace.

Linda Griesman (not verified)

at 22:08 on September 15th, 2009

If you were on Amber Malkuch's final cruise, I would like to talk to you. Gary George please get in touch re: Malkuch. Seeking info on Michelle Vilborg & Bruce O'Krepki overboards in Gulf this summer. Also seeking new information about other cruise overboards. -- Chic area journalist, linchris@charter