Ocean liner saves 11 individuals drifting between Cuba and Mexican coasts
The cruise linership, sailing under Royal Caribbean, set sail from New Orleans on a seven-day voyage. Victims of perceived distress, later identified as refugees, caught the captain's eye on Wednesday. Randle Roper, chief executive officer of VACAYA, had chartered the ship for the journey. Upon learning of the situation, Roper described the ship's immediate response: turning around and launching a rescue mission.
As the good Samaritans approached, the refugees waved a distress signal. Passengers onboard witnessed the rescue, numbering at least 10 individuals in trouble. These unfortunate souls were bailing their boat out, clearly battling its imminent sinking. They had been adrift in the open Gulf with no assistance for an estimated day or two.
Orchestrating the rescue operation, the Brilliance of the Seas crew executed a triple ferry, conveying three individuals at a time to the safety of their vessel. The remaining refugees were issued life vests. Julie Brown, a former MTV host, observed and commemorated the rescue on video, noting the refugees' high spirits.
Upon boarding, the rescued individuals displayed signs of fatigue and malnutrition. Roper pointed out their resilient attitudes, even in such dire circumstances. Thanks in part to VACAYA guests who opened their hearts and wallets, the refugees received nutritional sustenance and water.
The US Coast Guard handled determining the refugees' immediate future. They disembarked in Mexico on Thursday, according to Roper's account. Royal Caribbean, too, did not issue a statement about the incident.
Roper acknowledged the compassionate kinship between his charter guests and the refugees. Both marginalized and scorned sections of American society—the LGBT+ community and refugees—came together in a moment of solidarity. The serendipitous rescue undertaken by the Brilliance of the Seas left an indelible impact on Roper.
The news of the rescue spread among travelers, making headlines around the world. The refugees, now safe, shared their stories of being lost at sea for days. Literally, the rescue mission on the cruise ship saved their lives, as the Brilliance of the Seas was their only hope of distress relief.
