Cruises are supposed to be all about fun in the sun, but apparently, they’re also about playing hero on the high seas. This week, the Carnival Spirit did just that when it rescued 24 people who were “in distress” near the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. The crew brought them onboard and made sure they were all good before transferring them to a U.S. Coast Guard ship. And apparently, this isn’t the first rodeo for Carnival — it’s the fifth time it’s made a rescue this year alone. Other cruise lines, like Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises, have also come to the aid of vessels this year. Looks like cruises are the real-life versions of Baywatch.
While it might seem weird that big cruise ships are rescuing people, it’s actually totally legit. There’s an ancient maritime law that says larger ships have to help other vessels in distress. And people have been taking this duty pretty seriously recently. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, they’ve intercepted more than 6,300 Cuban migrants from Oct. 1 of last year to this week — more than the entire previous year. So if you’re in trouble on the water, it looks like there will be a friendly cruise ship to save the day.
When a rescue happens, there’s no set way to do it — each situation is different. A spokesperson for Carnival explained that the crew of each ship decides the best approach, which could, for example, involve deploying a lifeboat or lowering the ship’s hatch near the other boat. In January, the captain of the Celebrity Beyond even documented the rescue of 19 people on her Instagram account, showing how she turned the ship around and threw a line to the other boat so the passengers could hop aboard. And apparently, it’s all in a day’s work for these seafarers.
During a rescue on a Royal Caribbean ship, passengers were so stoked about the ship saving 17 migrants that they even cheered. And when it comes to what happens once the rescued people are onboard, they’re treated pretty well. Carnival provides food, clothes, blankets, and medical care for them, and crew members coordinate with the Coast Guard or other government officials to decide whether the rescued people should be transferred to authorities at sea or in port. And of course, any passengers onboard can say they were part of a rescue mission on their Caribbean vacation.
In the end, whether or not a cruise ship performs a rescue, it’s still a fun and luxurious way to spend some time. And if you happen to get stranded at sea, just hope a friendly Carnival employee is nearby to save the day. After all, who doesn’t dream about being rescued by a giant party boat?
Serious News: washingtonpost
