Unsolved at sea: ‘Amy Bradley Is Missing’ revisits one of the most puzzling cruise disappearances

What was meant to be a fun-filled family vacation turned into a nightmare for a family who, almost three decades later, are still frantically searching for their beloved daughter.

It all started in 1998 when 23-year-old Amy Lynn Bradley went on a cruise to the Caribbean island of Curaçao aboard the Rhapsody of the Seas with her family.

The American youngster, who recently graduated from college at the time and was accompanied by her parents, Ron and Iva Bradley, and her younger brother, Brad Bradley, spent the first few days enjoying the festivities.

They had feasts, made incredible memories as they partied it up.

But two nights into the trip, just as they were about to disembark onto the island, Amy vanished into thin air.

According to loved ones and passengers, she was last seen in the early hours of March 21, 1998, dancing at the ship’s nightclub.

Amy then returned to the room she shared with her family and spent some time chatting with her brother on the balcony of her cabin.

Brad then decided to go to bed, leaving Amy alone outside, and by the time her father went to check on her, she had vanished, leaving no trace but a polo shirt and a pair of sandals.

Every nook and cranny of the 10-floor cruise line, which was one of the biggest during the late 90s, was allegedly searched, but still, Amy could not be located.

Despite an FBI investigation and her family’s exhaustive efforts, which continue 27 years later, Amy has never been found.

Her chilling disappearance forms part of the riveting new documentary called “Amy Bradley Is Missing.”

The three-part Netflix show, directed and executive produced by Ari Mark and Phil Lott, revisits this harrowing ordeal and the decades-long investigative effort it sparked. It also explores the various leads and purported sightings over the years that have troubled her family’s ongoing quest for answers.

What I found fascinating about this series was how it provided informative and educational insights on this poignant case in a way which kept me intrigued to find out more.

I started watching it with no knowledge of Amy or her disappearance, but after I was done binge-watching the documentary, it sparked such a curiosity within me that I am now reading up on the matter.

It is also impressive how the film-makers managed to compress such a large amount of information into just a few easy-to-watch episodes. This must have been a challenging ordeal, considering that the incident took place almost 30 years ago.

Accessing this information, as well as finding experts who can vividly recall the matter and help to place it back in the spotlight in a refreshed bid to find Amy, is an admirable but strenuous task.

And those who were interviewed on “Amy Bradley Is Missing”, including eyewitnesses who were aboard the cruise ship as well as FBI investigators, did a stellar job on shedding light on an incident which took place such a long time ago.

The testimony from cruise director Kirk Detweiler was particularly insightful as he vividly recalled the events during that time and brought them to life in a vibrant yet eerie manner.

The interviews from cruise safety officials were also notable, as they raised questions about how passengers travelling through international waters are subject to the law of whichever country they are passing through.

Even more startling was how they delved into cruise lines' often unverified hiring practices, which means that those onboard a ship could be in the company of questionable characters.

“Amy Bradley Is Missing” also presents all evidence to viewers, allowing them to draw their own conclusions.

Some version of events which were unpacked included if she committed suicide by jumping off the boat. But many of the series argued that she was a confident and happy person who was about to start a new chapter in her life. 

In addition, another potential incidence of apparent foul play was also explored.

However, the most powerful aspect of the documentary was the testimony from Amy’s parents and her brother.

The close-knit group detailed how they have continued their search for Amy, ever since that fateful morning she vanished.

They reflected on the heartbreak of losing her and how, after all these decades, they are still emotionally torn about the incident which caused them so much trauma that they were unable to eat or sleep.

Their heartfelt pleas for any information which could locate Amy’s whereabouts left a lasting impression on me, and their unwavering quest to find her remains as strong as it was when she first disappeared.

• I rate this 3 out of 5 stars.