The search for a man who fell from a Norwegian cruise line ship the day after Christmas has been suspended.

The Norwegian epic was en route from Jamaica to the Bahamas on Thursday, December 26, when the 51-year-old passenger fell overboard around 3 p.m. local time, a spokesperson for the cruise line tells PEOPLE.

The ship departed Port Canaveral on Saturday, Dec. 22, for a seven-day voyage through the Western Caribbean, NBC affiliate WESH reported.

Authorities were “immediately” notified of the incident, “and a search and rescue operation was launched under the direction and supervision of the Bahamas Rescue Coordination Center,” the Norwegian Cruise Line spokesman said.

A second ship, that of Holland America ZuiderdamAccording to Cruise Hive, he joined the search for the man before it was called off.

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“After an extensive search that was unfortunately unsuccessful, the (Epic) was cleared by authorities to continue her voyage,” the Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson said in the statement.

The man who fell overboard was on the cruise with a “large” group of family members when the incident occurred, according to the spokesman.

The family members on the ship are now being “cared for and supported in this very challenging situation,” they added.

No further information about the person who fell overboard has been made available to the public.

The spokesman said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones at this difficult time.”