By Adam Aspinall , Sam Webb From Daily Mirror UK

Fears are growing that the passenger, who has not been named, has fallen overboard after she was reported missing by her travelling companion

A British woman is believed to have fallen overboard from a cruise ship in the Atlantic.

The unnamed female passenger , 70, was reported missing by her travelling companion after she went missing in the early hours of Sunday morning,

She was travelling aboard the 600-passenger Saga Sapphire cruise ship which is currently on a 35 day cruise from Southampton to the Caribbean for Christmas and New Year.

The ship, specializing in holidays for the over 50s, has turned round and is conducting a grid search of the area she went missing in with the maritime authorities.

A Saga spokesman said: “During the morning of Sunday 13th December, whilst the Saga Sapphire was crossing the Atlantic, a passenger was reported missing by her travelling companion.

“Following a comprehensive search of the ship, she could not be found.

“Working in conjunction with maritime authorities the Saga Sapphire has turned round to conduct a search.

“Our heartfelt thoughts are with the family and travelling companion at this difficult time. We are providing support for her travelling companion onboard and for relatives in the UK.”

Saga declined to give any further details about the missing woman.

The search is ongoing.

The Saga Sapphire set off from Southampton on December 7 before stopping in Madeira on December 11.

From there it head out across the Atlantic towards the Caribbean where it was due to dock in Bridgetown, Barbados, on December 18.

Passengers on the cruise are set to return to the UK on January 10.

IMAGE; Saga Sapphire Cruise Ship Fears: A passenger on the Saga Sapphire cruise ship is missing

For more on this story go to: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/british-woman-goes-missing-saga-7009483